NBA Mobile Betting Guide
This article will focus on the basic principles of NBA mobile betting. It will cover available markets and wager types, as well as the best strategies to adopt when wagering on the world’s premier basketball competition via an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Windows Phone, or other mobile device.
The lengthy NBA season tips off in October and culminates with the NBA Finals in July. In between, the league’s 30 teams play 82 regular season games each, with 16 of those teams progressing to the playoffs. All of that adds up to plenty of opportunities to load up the bankroll on your sportsbook app of choice, provided you play it smart.
The lengthy NBA season tips off in October and culminates with the NBA Finals in July. In between, the league’s 30 teams play 82 regular season games each, with 16 of those teams progressing to the playoffs. All of that adds up to plenty of opportunities to load up the bankroll on your sportsbook app of choice, provided you play it smart.
AVAILABLE MARKETS
Money Line
As with any other sport, NBA mobile betting allows punters to simply choose which team will win any given game. This bet type is known as the money line, and is often utilised by those that are just starting out in the mobile betting space. As there has to be an outcome in each NBA game (there are no draws, one team or the other must win), money line wagers often encompass overtime if the result of the match is not determined in regulation. This can vary from one U.S. friendly mobile sportsbook to the other, however, so its important to double check whether overtime applies before you place your bet.
Handicap / Point Spread
Referred to as either the handicap or point spread, depending on which part of the world you using your mobile betting app in, mobile bookmakers handicap the favoured team in order to balance the chances of either side winning the bet. They do this by giving the favourite a negative score, such as –6.5, while the underdog receives the same unit, only in positive terms (+6.5).
Using this example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers start as -6.5 favourites against the New York Knicks and win by eight points, they will have “covered the spread” and rewarded those that backed them at the -6.5 line. In contrast, had the Cavs only been victorious by six or less points, or if the Knicks pulled off an upset and won the game, mobile bettors that backed New York at +6.5 get paid out.
Mobile bookmakers handicap quite heavily in the NBA, given that games are high-scoring affairs that often see dominant teams ease to victory. Thus, it’s not uncommon for mobile sportsbooks to set spreads of 15 points or more across different NBA games.
Totals / Overs/Unders
A totals wager, also referred to as an overs/unders bet, challenges punters to pick whether the combined total score of each team will be below or above the mark set by a mobile bookmaker. It is important to note that the baskets are made quickly and frequently in the NBA, which makes it the highest scoring sport in the United States. That often sees sportsbooks set points totals that exceed 220, although this can vary depending on the teams involved. Still, in light of the high-octane offensive style pioneered by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in recent years, those points totals are now increasingly set higher. Whatever the total set, bettors using their iOS and Android smartphones or tablets need to simply decide whether the combined points will exceed or fall short of that mark.
Futures bets / Proposition bets
Futures bets allow NBA mobile bettors to back a certain team to win a specific division, the Western Conference or Eastern Conference, or the NBA championship. For example, through a few taps on their iPhone or BlackBerry a bettor can back the Houston Rockets to win the Western Conference, or put money on the Kyrie Irving-led Boston Celtics to go all the way and claim the NBA Championship.
Futures bets are not only limited to team achievements, either. Punters can also place mobile bets on who will become the league’s MVP, or back an NBA newcomer such as Lonzo Ball to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Importantly, futures bets can be made at any point during a season, with odds fluctuating according to a team’s and player’s fortunes as the campaign progresses.
Proposition bets in mobile betting are similar to futures bets, only that they apply to specific events that will take place in each game. For example, mobile bettors can back perennial NBA All-Star LeBron James to score over or under a certain points total per game.
NBA MOBILE BETTING STRATEGIES
There are a variety of NBA mobile betting strategies that can be utilised to boost your chances of winning. These strategies can often rely heavily on statistical data and, as such, require an inordinate amount of time to research. In the interests of keeping things clear and simple, we are going to focus on some of the more basic principles that can help underpin a successful mobile betting strategy for the NBA.
1.Monitor team schedules closely
Given the length of the NBA season, the travel involved and the amount of games each team plays, many sides rest key players when schedules get hectic. Teams who have had a day or two of rest, therefore, are often well placed to beat opponents that are playing back-to-back games, or playing four games in five days, which is a reality of NBA scheduling. Particularly as the season wears on and players start to fatigue, there is an increased amount of squad rotation as the likes of James, Curry, Westbrook and Kawahi Leonard sit out games.
Mobile bettors must therefore be on top of the constantly updated line-ups and rotations that take place on a daily basis. Even when the superstars do play, a busy schedule can heavily impact their performance and, subsequently, their team’s chances. This represents an opportunity for the shrewd NBA mobile bettor, who will spot instances where overworked players and teams may falter.
2.Keep an eye on the key stats
If you are a stats geek, mobile NBA betting could turn into a successful pastime – or career – for you. NBA statistics can be an endless abyss of numbers that often sees bettors use mathematical equations to determine where their money goes. We will save the math and instead point to one vital statistical trend that impacts all of the aforementioned bet types.
In light of the Curry-led revolution and other teams such as the Houston Rockets following suit, the NBA is seeing more three-point shot attempts than ever before. This is leading to some teams – and players – posting huge numbers that have an obvious impact on totals, point spread and individual proposition bets.
It’s thus important for bettors to spot the high-scoring teams and players, and also assess their opponents to determine the chances of the contest becoming either an evenly matched shootout, or a lopsided victory for the favourites.
Of course, it’s not all about defence. Some teams, such as the Utah Jazz, still implement a defence-first approach, which can make the under bet a smart play in points total categories. Whatever the case, mobile NBA bettors must do their research to determine how each team behaves on both offence and defence, how they match-up with their upcoming opponent, and what kind of impact these factors will have on both the result and points totals of the game.
3.Bet as the action unfolds
Given the fluctuations that can take place during an NBA contest, the smart money will often be put on the line after tip off. Successful in-play NBA betting is often determined by line-up combinations and coaching habits, all of which can cause wild swings in the action on the court.
For example, when certain players are taken off the court to rest, statistics often prove that their side struggles to keep up with the opposition. This has significant impact on the point spread, as well as a range of other bets for that particular quarter. The savvy mobile NBA bettor will quickly turn to their smartphone or tablet and wager accordingly.
In-play betting in the NBA is about getting to know particular team, coaching and player habits, and developing a gut feel for when these will impact the action on the court. The more you pay attention, the sharper your sense for it will become.
Money Line
As with any other sport, NBA mobile betting allows punters to simply choose which team will win any given game. This bet type is known as the money line, and is often utilised by those that are just starting out in the mobile betting space. As there has to be an outcome in each NBA game (there are no draws, one team or the other must win), money line wagers often encompass overtime if the result of the match is not determined in regulation. This can vary from one U.S. friendly mobile sportsbook to the other, however, so its important to double check whether overtime applies before you place your bet.
Handicap / Point Spread
Referred to as either the handicap or point spread, depending on which part of the world you using your mobile betting app in, mobile bookmakers handicap the favoured team in order to balance the chances of either side winning the bet. They do this by giving the favourite a negative score, such as –6.5, while the underdog receives the same unit, only in positive terms (+6.5).
Using this example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers start as -6.5 favourites against the New York Knicks and win by eight points, they will have “covered the spread” and rewarded those that backed them at the -6.5 line. In contrast, had the Cavs only been victorious by six or less points, or if the Knicks pulled off an upset and won the game, mobile bettors that backed New York at +6.5 get paid out.
Mobile bookmakers handicap quite heavily in the NBA, given that games are high-scoring affairs that often see dominant teams ease to victory. Thus, it’s not uncommon for mobile sportsbooks to set spreads of 15 points or more across different NBA games.
Totals / Overs/Unders
A totals wager, also referred to as an overs/unders bet, challenges punters to pick whether the combined total score of each team will be below or above the mark set by a mobile bookmaker. It is important to note that the baskets are made quickly and frequently in the NBA, which makes it the highest scoring sport in the United States. That often sees sportsbooks set points totals that exceed 220, although this can vary depending on the teams involved. Still, in light of the high-octane offensive style pioneered by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in recent years, those points totals are now increasingly set higher. Whatever the total set, bettors using their iOS and Android smartphones or tablets need to simply decide whether the combined points will exceed or fall short of that mark.
Futures bets / Proposition bets
Futures bets allow NBA mobile bettors to back a certain team to win a specific division, the Western Conference or Eastern Conference, or the NBA championship. For example, through a few taps on their iPhone or BlackBerry a bettor can back the Houston Rockets to win the Western Conference, or put money on the Kyrie Irving-led Boston Celtics to go all the way and claim the NBA Championship.
Futures bets are not only limited to team achievements, either. Punters can also place mobile bets on who will become the league’s MVP, or back an NBA newcomer such as Lonzo Ball to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Importantly, futures bets can be made at any point during a season, with odds fluctuating according to a team’s and player’s fortunes as the campaign progresses.
Proposition bets in mobile betting are similar to futures bets, only that they apply to specific events that will take place in each game. For example, mobile bettors can back perennial NBA All-Star LeBron James to score over or under a certain points total per game.
NBA MOBILE BETTING STRATEGIES
There are a variety of NBA mobile betting strategies that can be utilised to boost your chances of winning. These strategies can often rely heavily on statistical data and, as such, require an inordinate amount of time to research. In the interests of keeping things clear and simple, we are going to focus on some of the more basic principles that can help underpin a successful mobile betting strategy for the NBA.
1.Monitor team schedules closely
Given the length of the NBA season, the travel involved and the amount of games each team plays, many sides rest key players when schedules get hectic. Teams who have had a day or two of rest, therefore, are often well placed to beat opponents that are playing back-to-back games, or playing four games in five days, which is a reality of NBA scheduling. Particularly as the season wears on and players start to fatigue, there is an increased amount of squad rotation as the likes of James, Curry, Westbrook and Kawahi Leonard sit out games.
Mobile bettors must therefore be on top of the constantly updated line-ups and rotations that take place on a daily basis. Even when the superstars do play, a busy schedule can heavily impact their performance and, subsequently, their team’s chances. This represents an opportunity for the shrewd NBA mobile bettor, who will spot instances where overworked players and teams may falter.
2.Keep an eye on the key stats
If you are a stats geek, mobile NBA betting could turn into a successful pastime – or career – for you. NBA statistics can be an endless abyss of numbers that often sees bettors use mathematical equations to determine where their money goes. We will save the math and instead point to one vital statistical trend that impacts all of the aforementioned bet types.
In light of the Curry-led revolution and other teams such as the Houston Rockets following suit, the NBA is seeing more three-point shot attempts than ever before. This is leading to some teams – and players – posting huge numbers that have an obvious impact on totals, point spread and individual proposition bets.
It’s thus important for bettors to spot the high-scoring teams and players, and also assess their opponents to determine the chances of the contest becoming either an evenly matched shootout, or a lopsided victory for the favourites.
Of course, it’s not all about defence. Some teams, such as the Utah Jazz, still implement a defence-first approach, which can make the under bet a smart play in points total categories. Whatever the case, mobile NBA bettors must do their research to determine how each team behaves on both offence and defence, how they match-up with their upcoming opponent, and what kind of impact these factors will have on both the result and points totals of the game.
3.Bet as the action unfolds
Given the fluctuations that can take place during an NBA contest, the smart money will often be put on the line after tip off. Successful in-play NBA betting is often determined by line-up combinations and coaching habits, all of which can cause wild swings in the action on the court.
For example, when certain players are taken off the court to rest, statistics often prove that their side struggles to keep up with the opposition. This has significant impact on the point spread, as well as a range of other bets for that particular quarter. The savvy mobile NBA bettor will quickly turn to their smartphone or tablet and wager accordingly.
In-play betting in the NBA is about getting to know particular team, coaching and player habits, and developing a gut feel for when these will impact the action on the court. The more you pay attention, the sharper your sense for it will become.
