Our Top 5 Basketball Bookmakers
Amongst the range of betting sites, sometimes it is difficult to find the best bookmaker for betting on basketball. To compile our ranking, we have carefully analysed betting markets, bookmakers' bonus offers, margins, live streaming and more. Now we're ready to tell you who we think deserves to be in the top 5 basketball bookmakers in the UK.
10Bet
10Bet always has a lot of basketball bets. Even when the major leagues in the world (NBA, EuroLeague, Spain's Liga ACB, BSL, Adriatic League, etc.) are off-season, the bookmaker's daily match list is always full of other games.
During the summer, 10Bet usually covers the Philippine Basketball Cup, the championships in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Venezuela, Vietnam, Uganda, Brazil (U19) and the WNBA.
The average margin on the game winner (Moneyline) in well known leagues (e.g. WNBA) is 6%. However, in championships that are difficult to analyse properly, the bookmaker puts the margin at almost 9%. These are usually tournaments in Africa and Southeast Asia.
✅Pros:
- Detailed statistics
- Bet Calculator on the site
- Lots of Deposit/Withdrawal methods
- Over 20 leagues
- Cash Out
- Infographics for live betting
Unibet
Unibet has one of the lowest margins (around 5.3%) and a wide range of betting options. Outrights are available for the top tournaments (NBA, EuroBasket, NCAAB). The section with extensive stats for basketball teams and their individual players is a good help for betting.
✅Pros:
- Live streaming
- Sports statistics section
- Lots of self-restriction settings in the personal account
Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet is a well-known British Online Sportsbook with a wide range of sports betting options for basketball. During the pre-season before the big events (like NBA, EuroLeague, BSL, Adriatic League), there are more than 50 matches from 20 leagues to choose from every day. The average margin is 5.2%.
In summer, matches of WNBA, Mexico - Nacional League, New Zealand - NBL and Philippines Cup are covered live. Generally, 3-5 months before the start of the world's major leagues, Virginbet already presents the markets on the Outrights. You can bet on the winner of the season and the MVP.
✅Pros:
- Great selection of competitions
- Many outright markets
- Lots of bonuses
- Cash Out for Basketball bets
NetBet
The basketball betting lines at NetBet include the big leagues (NBA, WNBA, EuroBasket, NCAAB, BSL) as well as many niche championships. For example Brazil - Paulista, Bolivia - Libobasquet, Dominican Republic - Liga Nacional. There is a wide range of markets (Match Result, Spread Full Time, Over / Under, Team Total Points Odd/Even, Winning Margin, Overtime and etc.). In addition, NetBet's margins are excellent. On average, it is 5-5.2%.
✅Pros:
- Great selection of basketball games and tournaments
- Lots of bonuses
- Many deposit methods
- Cash Out
Bwin
Rounding out our Top 5 basketball bookmakers is Bwin. The basketball betting lines is pretty good. Over 25 games are available to bet on daily for the British bettors. You can choose from 44 leagues at Bwin.
Also worth mentioning is the margin. The margin is the lowest of all the sports betting sites on our list. The average margin is under 5%. This is an excellent figure that all online betting sites should strive for.
In the Outrights section the bookmaker usually presents markets for all major leagues (NBA, EuroLeague, BSL, etc.) already in August. Although the season doesn't start until October - November.
✅Pros:
- Best basketball odds
- Live streaming
- Prompt customer support
- Big list of payment methods
- Bet Builder and Cash Out
Best Basketball Sportsbooks In 2023
The popularity of basketball continues to grow, with leagues like the NBA, EuroLeague, and FIBA having millions of fans, the demand for basketball sportsbooks is growing too. Basketball is a fast-paced, end-to-end game perfectly suited to betting and so there is a search for reliable platforms that offer competitive odds, a wide range of betting options, and preferably the ability to bet from a dedicated app. There is no one “best” bookmaker, but we have tried to find who is, in our opinion, the best in each category.
| Category | Bookmaker | Full Review |
|---|---|---|
Best college basketball betting site | TonyBet | |
| Best British basketball league betting site | NetBet | |
Best mobile betting site for basketball | Unibet | |
Best basketball betting site for fast payouts | Betfair | |
Best basketball site for bonuses | Star Sports | |
Best In-Play NBA Betting Site | Matchbook | Here |
Comparing the Top 5 NBA Bookmakers
How We Rank Basketball Betting Sites
Almost all British Online Sportsbooks offer basketball online betting. So it can be difficult to choose the right one. Here are the basic parameters that we used to evaluate the quality of online basketball betting sites.
Convenience and ease of navigation
Sometimes a bettor can experience difficulties in using online betting sites. The web page may have an awkward layout of the main sections or be overloaded because of small details that cover the most important thing - the betting markets.
The main tabs that should open in one click on a good betting site:
- Pre-match on the most popular events
- Live bets
- Full list of available sports
- Personal Account
Odds
One of the bookmaker's advantages is the high odds. When determining the best betting site, we always compare the betting odds for the same event. If you bet for fun, the difference between the odds of 1.5 and 1.52, for instance, might not be that big of a deal. But if you bet regularly, that 2% will increase your winnings considerably.
Speed and stability of operation
The speed at which the site launches and pages load is important when you want to place a live bet and the sports betting markets take too long to load. This is especially important for basketball, as the situation on the court changes very quickly. If you miss out on a bet or two because the site is slow, you will definitely wonder if you should look for another bookmaker
Live betting and live streaming
The in-play betting option is now successfully implemented in all of the online sports betting sites we know. Therefore we will not focus on it. In the live betting, we will not look at how it is presented on the betting site, but what in-play betting options the bookmaker has in general.
Live streaming is not the most common product among UK Online Sportsbooks. Many betting sites do not have live streaming at all. An Online Sportsbook who provides a full live streaming service for basketball will undoubtedly stand out from the crowd.
Customer support service
Sooner or later, you will have questions that you need to clarify with the support team. The advantage goes to the bookmaker where you can get in touch with support quickly and without problems. Because sometimes there are reverse situations as well.
One common scam is when the bookmaker makes a live-chat support widget on the website, but in fact there is only a bot in this chat. The client tries to contact the operator but fails. The bot will always respond to various queries, where the expert has to think and give a clear answer, with a programmed set of phrases. In such a situation, there is a risk that the customer will get angry and abandon this online sports betting site for good.
It is great when the bookmaker has several ways of contacting support. If you can call, email or send a WhatsApp message, then you will know that you are communicating with a human being. Unfortunately, live chatbots are not yet smart enough to replace a real operator.
Security
We take into account factors such as the availability of a valid betting licence, the use of sophisticated protocol for data protection, and compliance with verification requirements for customer accounts and their payment details.
Unique features
We have put this parameter at the end of the list, because something truly unique is not often found on the betting sites. By unique we mean something that is not part of the basic package described above. For example, a well designed sports statistics section.
Best Basketball Betting Apps
In our article we have already reviewed the best betting sites for basketball betting. Now it's time to look at mobile apps as well. Modern people, who value their time and whose pace of life is quite fast, find it much easier to pull out their phone and place a couple of bets in a few minutes. That is why it is so important that all sports betting sites strive to develop their own betting apps for iOS and Android. Plus, it helps them expand their customer base, become the leading bookmaker in the market and reduce the costs of maintaining land-based betting shops.
Below we have compiled a selection of Top 3 Basketball Betting Apps, where we considered not so much the basketball markets and bookmakers features (we have already reviewed them above) but the technical parameters of the app itself:
- Speed of installation
- Ease of navigation
- Fast betting
- Stable performance
10Bet App
10Bet offers bettors its app for both iOS and Android. There are no visual differences between the app and the mobile version of the website. However, the app is easier to open, it loads quicker and the speed of betting is much faster.
Before you install the app, check compatibility with your smartphone. Your Android device must have an operating system version 4.0 or later. For iOS, version 5.0 or later.
Unibet App
Unibet has developed a sports betting app for Android and iOS devices. A special feature of this app is that only sports betting is available here. Unibet has created separate mobile apps for casinos and other products. Thanks to this approach, the online betting app is not overloaded with extra buttons and sections. You can open the basketball markets with literally two taps - "All Sports" - "Basketball".
The most inconvenient thing is that the statistics section is displayed as a link to the mobile version of Unibet. By clicking on Statistics you automatically leave the app and wait for the browser window to open.
The technical requirements to install the app: Android - at least 4.0, iOS - at least 5.0.
NetBet App
The NetBet mobile betting app is available on iOS and Android. The app is easy to use. There is quick access to the main basketball markets as well as to live betting. Switching between sections is quick.
Downloading the NetBet app requires an Android version at least 4.0. The app is easy to install on Samsung (Galaxy S6, S7, S8, S9, Tab, Edge, Edge+), Sony (Xperia, Tablet Z4, Z3, Compact, Plus) and LG (K8, K10, LTE, X cam, G Pads 7.0). The NetBet App for iPhones runs on iOS version 5.0 or later.
Available Payment Methods
Visa / Mastercard (Debit cards)
International payment systems. Visa differs from Mastercard mainly in its focus on transactions in dollars, whereas Mastercard prioritises transactions in both dollars and euros. Since the UK left the European Union, there is no particular difference in usage between the payment systems. Visa and Mastercard work closely with UK bookmakers and offer bettors the option of making deposits and withdrawals to these cards.
Both services have fast transaction speed and strong transfer security.
Bookmakers who accept Debit cards
Skrill
An English payment system that has been working with bookmakers around the world for many years. Before you can use its services, you have to go through a strict identification procedure. This way, Skrill tries to reduce the number of frauds to zero. On the payment market, the company is known for its multiple deposit methods, low fees and ease of navigation, both on the website and the mobile app. A physical debit card can be issued to the Skrill account.
PayPal
The largest debit payment system. A huge advantage is that there are no fees when transferring funds within PayPal. The process of sending money takes only a couple of seconds. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the company does not disclose personal data of the client, adhering to a policy of complete confidentiality.
Neteller
This E-wallet is second only to Skrill in popularity. Not surprisingly, most UK bookmakers also have it. The company has been operating for more than 20 years, and in that time it has managed to gain the absolute trust of its users. An extensive range of deposit and withdrawal methods, a high level of security, and extremely low transfer fees are what makes this service one of the best in the world.
Bookmakers who accept Neteller
Basketball Betting Offers
A bonus is a great tool for bookmakers to attract new clients and a good way to keep active customers interested in betting. There are two different types of people who can qualify for bookmaker bonuses:
Welcome Bonuses
New customers are often rewarded for joining and are given a Welcome bonus, some of the most common types are:
Free bets for qualifying bets
The most common type of bonus offer is a Free bet awarded after a new customer has deposited money (with an eligible payment method) and then bet on a valid event and at odds greater than the minimum required. Once this bet has settled the next time you log in you will see this Free bet credit or bonus money applied to your account. Any winnings from this bet you are usually able to withdraw at this point, but you can not keep the Free bet stake amount.
Risk-free bets
These allow you to place a bet with no (or at least very little) risk to your own funds. You can normally bet on pretty much anything you want and In case of a loss, the bookmaker will return the full bet amount either as cash or as another Free bet.
Despite the name, such bets are not actually risk-free at all. In 90% of cases, the money is refunded to you in the form of a free bet after a loss. And they cannot be withdrawn immediately, you have to place another bet first. Just like any other bet, it can lose, and then your money is lost.
Deposit bonuses
Quite rare to find these days deposit bonuses are just that, a bonus that is activated when you make your initial deposit. It can be added either at the start (before you have even placed a bet) or at the end of any wagering requirement. They often match 50% to 100% of the first deposit amount. There can be a number of conditions and restrictions from the bookmaker that may make wagering and eventually withdrawing this kind of bonus difficult regardless if it is pre-wager or post wager. All things being equal a pre wagering bonus is considerably better value.
Existing Customer Bonuses
These are, obviously, given to people who are already customers for various reasons, sometimes to encourage more wagering in the future, and sometimes to reward wagering that has already occurred.
Reload Bonuses
Online Sportsbooks often offer bonuses to those who, for whatever reason, have not bet for a long time. Since it is a matter of "activating" the bettor, the conditions for wagering the bonus can be very lenient sometimes with no conditions at all, you simply log in and bet with the bonus money.
Enhanced odds
The essence of the bonus is that the bookmaker increases the odds on certain sporting events in order to pay bettors more potential winnings. To get the enhanced odds, simply select an event marked 'Boost Up' or similar. Sometimes these can be great value but not always, the boost just means it is more than it was before, but if the bookmaker had terrible odds before the boost just means the odds are now average, and may still not be the best available. There is no guarantee that enhanced odds are good value, but they definitely can be.
Cashback
This is a refund of part of the money that has been wagered. Most often it is a part of the amount lost, and less often it is a part of the total amount of bets placed over a certain period. Usually betting sites refund the money in the form of free bets, but there are exceptions and sometimes the bonus is paid in cash.
The Most Popular Basketball Betting Markets
Basketball is considered one of the most spectacular sports, attracting millions of fans worldwide. If you are betting on this sport for the first time, you should start by finding out what types of basketball betting are available.
Moneyline Bets
The simplest kind of bet is a Moneyline bet, where you decide who will win the game. If two basketball teams meet, the odds for winning the basketball game outright can be quite extreme since there is usually a heavy favourite, an underdog and no draw option.
Point Spreads (Handicap)
In each match, a Point Spread is used to even out the odds between the favourite and underdog. The 'minus' indicates how many points will be subtracted from that team's score at the end of the game when the bet is settled. As an example, the Golden State Warriors are -4.5 against the Phoenix Suns. In order for your bet on the GSW to win, they must win by at least 5 more points.
Totals (Over/Under)
In the game, "totals" are the predicted number of points scored. A betting site usually offers the same odds on both over and under the predicted total amount. Each total has a +0.5 attached to it. A half-point is obviously impossible, so bets only win or lose, but never push.
Prop Bets
Props are bets that suggest something may happen, or may not happen a certain number of times, and have nothing to do with the final outcome. A prop betting market is most commonly placed on an individual player, but it does not have to be. In addition to team prop bets, you can also bet on match prop bets. The purpose of prop bets is to provide entertainment value throughout the course of the game, since they can still be made long after the winner of the game has been determined.
Depending on the team, betting on an individual player to score over a certain number of points may be better than betting on the team to win, although the two events are related. With basketball being a high-scoring sport, you will have something to cheer for as soon as the game begins. Whether the team wins or loses, your focus will be on one player.
Outrights
Rather than betting on an upcoming match, Outright bets are based on events that will occur in the future throughout the basketball season. Alternatively, they can be called future bets. For example, the most popular bets will be on who will win the upcoming final.
It is also possible to bet "Each Way" where you will still be paid if your choice does not win but finishes second. If that is the case, you will win much less, but you will still win something. There are a number of different futures markets available where you can bet on each conference winner, as well as on many betting options surrounding individual player performances. You can even place a bet on this year's best coach!
Top Basketball Tournaments & Leagues
NBA
The Professional Basketball League of North America (USA/Canada) was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America. It was later renamed as the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since 2004, the Association consists of 30 teams, which are divided geographically into Eastern and Western Conferences. Each conference is divided into 3 divisions of 5 teams. During one season, each club plays 82 matches to make the playoffs. In the playoffs the teams play according to the Olympic system of a series of games up to 4 wins in their conference. Then the two conference champions meet in a grand final to determine the winner of the NBA Championship.
The winner of the 2021/2022 season is the Golden State Warriors (Western Conference). However, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are tied for the most NBA titles (17 each).
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games are held every four years. The first Olympic champion was the US team. Subsequently, U.S. basketball players have lost first place in the Olympics only four times - in 1972 and 1988 to the USSR, in 2004 to Argentina and in 1980 they did not participate at all due to a boycott of the games. The last Olympics were held in Tokyo in 2020. The winner was again the US team, beating the French 87-82 in the final.
Basketball World Cup
An international basketball tournament held every four years under the auspices of FIBA. After the Olympic Games, it is considered the most prestigious competition in basketball. The last World Cup was held in 2019 in China, where 32 strongest national teams took part. The reigning winner is Spain.
Argentine League LNB
The top division of basketball in Argentina. 20 teams compete each year, 8 of which are based in the province of Buenos Aires. The country's most decorated club is Atenas, with nine titles. However, the most recent championship (2021/22) was won by the Instituto de Córdoba.
Euroleague
The European men's professional basketball tournament. The tournament gathers only real giants with a club history, a huge army of fans and big budgets. The Euroleague is organised by Euroleague Basketball. The headquarters are in Barcelona. Since the 2010/11 season, the tournament is officially called the Turkish Airlines Euroleague as Turkish Airlines signed a sponsorship deal with the league. The current agreement has been extended until 2025.
There are 18 teams participating in the Euroleague regular season. They play against each other in a round-robin system. After 34 regular season matches, the top 8 teams advance to the quarter-finals, which are played in best-of-three format. The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the Final Four, where they compete for the EuroLeague title. The Final Four is played according to the Olympic system over two days. On the first day there are two semi-finals. The next day there are matches for 3rd place and the final.
The Turkish basketball club Anadolu Efes is the winner of the 2021/22 season.
European Championships
Also the European men's professional basketball tournament. The third highest-ranked tournament in Europe, after the Euroleague and the Eurocup. It was launched in 2016/17, when FIBA failed to regain control of the Euroleague. Leading European clubs refused to change the Euroleague format and decided to remain under the control of another organisation, Euroleague Basketball. In response, FIBA announced the creation of a new European club tournament, where not the most famous and titled basketball clubs in Europe began to compete. The reigning winner of the 2021/22 season is Spanish club Lenovo Tenerife.
Spanish ACB League
The Spanish Basketball Super League. There are 18 clubs from two countries: Spain (17 teams) and Andorra (1 team). The name of the Spanish Basketball Championship has changed three times throughout its history. From 1956 to 1983. - "Liga Nacional", from 1983 to 2011 - "Basketball Clubs Association", from 2011 up to now - "Liga Endesa" (general sponsor of the tournament). The most titled team is Real Madrid (33 championships). The winner of the 2021/22 season is Barcelona (19 titles in total).
EuroCup
A European club basketball tournament that is the second most important in Europe after the Euroleague.The first season was played in 2002/2003 after the Saporta Cup and the Korach Cup merged in 2002. The winner of the tournament receives a direct entry to the Euroleague the following season. The reigning champion of the 2021/22 season is Italian club Virtus.
Asian Championships
An Asian club basketball tournament that was founded in 1981. The 10 strongest teams in Asia take part in the competition. The most titled team is the Lebanese club Sagin (3 championships).
Basketball Africa League
African club basketball tournament. The first season was played in 1972. Basketball Africa League is considered to be the strongest continental tournament within Africa. It is held under the auspices of FIBA Africa. Until 2020 it was called the African Championship. After that the name was changed to the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The management of the league has also reduced the number of participants to 12 (previously there were 16 clubs). The reigning winner of the 2021/22 season is Tunisian club Union Sportive Monastirienne.
How to Place a Basketball Bet Online
If you have never bet on basketball before, here are the simple steps you should follow to place a bet.
- Choose an online basketball betting site and register.
- Verify your account.
- Choose a convenient payment system.
- Top up your account.
- Find the desired match and market.
- Enter the bet amount.
- Confirm the bet.
Special mention should be made of the account verification. This procedure is just necessary. That is how you confirm that you are over the age of 18. The verification procedure is not complicated. Upload two documents to your personal account or send them to the bookmaker's support email:
- Copy of your passport
- Proof of residency in the UK (your local bank statement or a utility bill in your name).
Strategies & Tips for Basketball Betting
It is important for all bettors to take note of the following tips before betting on basketball games, regardless of whether you are a betting veteran or a sports fan looking to learn about it.
Prepare in advance
It is important to prepare thoroughly before placing a bet on basketball. There are a number of websites on the internet that provide up-to-date data, so when it comes to placing a bet on basketball, you should be just as informed as the bookies. On these sites, you will not just find the final score, but also the quarter-by-quarter performance, as well as player statistics, which break down every NBA point scored. Check out the Basketball Reference website as a starting point.
Walk before you run
Ideally, all of your bets should be based on some form of strategy. There are many strategies on the internet, but only a few of them actually work. To determine how much you would have won (or lost) if you had placed the bet for real, do a paper trade before risking your money. You should only bet on basketball for real if you are confident that your strategy is reliable.
You don't have to be so serious if you are betting mainly for fun and enjoyment of the game you are watching. However, for those who want to succeed, making money requires a well thought-out strategy. Consider this strategy:
"Middle" betting strategy
When you place an "Under" bet, you are betting that the number of points scored will be less than the number offered by the bookmaker. "Over" bets are the opposite, betting on more points than the amount offered. We are trying to bet twice at different points of the game, where the predicted amount of total points has changed and we can hit the "Middle" of the two bets. In order to bet with this strategy, you must find games where you think the first half of the game will have the most points. For your bet to be successful, the first half must have 10 more points than the predicted 50% of the total points in the game.
The initial bet in these games should be "Over" the total predicted. Then, if, as predicted, there will be a high score at the start of the game, as long as the betting site offers live betting, they will shift the predicted total upwards. You can now place the opposite bet on the total being "Under". So you now have two bets, for example:
A bet on Over 151.5 points, and one more on Under 161.5 points.
When the score is 151 or less, you have one losing bet and one winning bet, so you will lose the bookmaker's margin, probably about 9% if you bet at 10/11.
With a score of 162 or more, you also have one losing bet but one winning bet, which means you will lose the bookmaker's margin, probably about 9% if you bet at 10/11.
But you have TWO winning bets if the score is between 152-161. Your return is now 181% if you bet at odds of 10/11. Those numbers were assumed to win around half the time when you placed your bets.
When you lose, you lose 9%, but when you win, you win 181%, so you only need to have one hit out of twenty to break even.
As a result of a dramatic start of the game with high scoring, basketball players often slow down. In the second half, they will score fewer goals.
Summary
Basketball is one of the most popular sports for both spectators and bettors, and its fast-paced and relentless style makes it ideal for in-play betting. Our list of recommended basketball bookmakers provides hundreds of different betting options on a daily basis. The NBA and Euroleague continue to be the most popular tournaments, and many Online Sportsbooks now offer props and player markets to reflect this. We hope our comprehensive guide has helped you improve your basketball betting skills.
The top betting sites are…
Here at Legalbet we have also categorised the top betting sites and their features to make them easier for you to find. They are:
By Sport: Football | Tennis | Boxing | Cricket | Snooker | Golf | UFC | Darts | Greyhound | Rugby | Horse Racing | Basketball | Baseball | Formula 1 | Ice Hockey (NHL) | Volleyball | Cycling
By Payment Systems: PayPal | Skrill | Klarna | Boku | Debit Cards | Apple Pay | Paysafecard | Neteller | Google Pay | Prepaid Cards
By Features: Cash Out | £5 Minimum Deposit | Minimum Bet Sizing | Live Streaming | Betting Exchanges | Safest | Fast Withdrawal | Daily Free Games
By Events: Politics | Superbowl | WWE
By Esports: CS:GO | Dota 2 | League of Legends | PUBG | Valorant | FIFA
Frequently Asked Questions
Double result is a single bet, when the bettor tries to correctly predict two outcomes at the same time: the winner of a particular quarter and the overall game result. If one of the events does not happen, the bet is lost.
A point spread (handicap) is the difference in the number of points scored between the teams. Basketball is a high-scoring sport and the range of handicaps can be quite wide, e.g. from +3.5 to +28.5.
To bet on the point spread, open the basketball markets, select the upcoming match, analyse it and place your bet. If you think that team 1 is the clear favourite, then you can choose a negative handicap (-13.5). It means that the home team has to win the match by 14 points or more.
A moneyline bet is a bet on the result of a match. As draws after regular time are extremely rare in basketball, most bookmakers will only have two markets: Team 1 or Team 2 to win.
We cannot really say which basketball betting app is the best. There are three apps in our top list: 10Bet app, Unibet app and Netbet app. All of these apps have a valid gambling licence, a wide range of markets for basketball and they can be installed on a smartphone (iOS/Android) fairly quickly.
