You can bet on basketball legally right now if you live in one of the two-dozen-plus US states — like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Colorado, and Arizona — that have passed online sports betting laws. The mechanics are straightforward: pick a licensed app, choose a bet type, read the odds, and place your wager. This guide walks you through everything, from your first look at a point spread to understanding why the house always takes its cut.
What Does "How to Bet on Basketball" Actually Mean?
At its core, basketball betting means predicting an outcome — who wins, by how much, or how many combined points are scored — and risking money on that prediction at a licensed US sportsbook. The sportsbook sets the odds, you decide whether the price is right, and the result of the game settles the bet.
Before anything else, you need a licensed app in a legal state. Our rundown of the best sportsbooks for betting on basketball in 2026 covers which platforms are available where and what separates them on features and markets. Names like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and ESPN Bet are licensed across most major legal states and are the safest starting points.
How Do You Read Basketball Betting Odds?
US sportsbooks display odds in the American format: a negative number (−) shows the favorite, a positive number (+) shows the underdog. The most common number you'll see is −110, which means you wager $110 to profit $100. That extra $10 is the vig — the sportsbook's commission — and it represents a house margin of roughly 4.5% on a standard two-sided market.
Say the Lakers are −150 on the moneyline and the Celtics are +130. A $150 bet on LA returns $100 profit if they win; a $100 bet on Boston returns $130 profit if they pull the upset. The gap between those two prices is where the sportsbook makes its money, regardless of which team wins.
What Are the Main Basketball Bet Types?
You have a lot of options once you open a betting slip. Here's a quick-reference breakdown — and we go much deeper on each in our dedicated basketball bet types guide.
- Moneyline — Straight pick on who wins. No spread involved. Dive into the details at our moneyline basketball betting explainer.
- Point spread — The favorite gives points, the underdog gets them. The bet pays around −110 either way. See how point spread betting works in basketball for the full breakdown.
- Over/under (total) — You bet whether the combined score lands above or below the sportsbook's posted number. Our basketball totals guide has the strategy side covered.
- Parlay — Two or more legs combined into one bet; every leg must win. Higher reward, higher risk. See how parlay bets work in basketball.
- Player props — Bets on individual stats like points, rebounds, or assists. Our NBA player props guide explains the market.
- Live (in-game) betting — Odds update in real time as the game unfolds; you can bet at halftime, after a run, or on the next possession. Full explainer at how live betting works in basketball.
- Futures — Season-long bets like NBA champion or conference winner, settled at the end of the year.
How Do You Actually Place a Basketball Bet Step by Step?
- Confirm legality in your state. Check basketball betting legality by state to verify you're in a live market before you download anything.
- Create an account. Download the sportsbook app or visit the desktop site, register, and complete identity verification (KYC). Have a government ID and proof of address ready — this step is required before any withdrawal. Our guide on how to create a sportsbook account walks through every field.
- Deposit funds. Common methods include debit card (Visa/Mastercard), PayPal, online banking/ACH, Play+, and cash at the cage. Minimums, fees, and speeds vary by operator — see every deposit method explained for a full comparison.
- Find the game. Navigate to the NBA or NCAA section, select the matchup, and browse available markets.
- Add to your bet slip. Tap or click the odds you want; the slip opens and prompts you to enter a wager amount.
- Review and confirm. Double-check the line, potential payout, and bet type before submitting. Most apps show the payout calculation in real time.
- Track and settle. Winning bets credit your account after the game ends; withdrawals usually go back through the same method you deposited. Our page on withdrawing basketball betting winnings covers what to expect.
Is Basketball Betting Legal in the US?
Sports betting — including NBA games and March Madness — is legal in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Colorado, Arizona, and Tennessee, among others. Texas, California, and Florida do not have fully operational statewide legal online sports betting as of early 2025.
Wondering about college basketball specifically? Most legal states permit NCAA betting, though some restrict certain types of college prop bets — our deep-dive on whether you can legally bet on college basketball covers the nuances state by state.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Bet on Basketball?
The minimum age is 21 in the majority of legal states. A handful of states — such as Wyoming and New Hampshire — permit betting at 18. Always verify the age requirement for your specific state before registering; our page on the legal age to bet on basketball in the US has the details.
What About Taxes on Basketball Betting Winnings?
Winnings are taxable income under federal law. The IRS requires you to report gambling winnings on Form 1040. A W-2G is issued when net winnings from a single wager reach $600 or more and the payout is at least 300× the stake for sports betting; federal withholding of 24% kicks in above $5,000 on qualifying bets. Bettors who itemize can deduct losses up to the amount of winnings on Schedule A. State tax treatment varies — consult your state's revenue department or IRS Topic No. 419 on gambling income and losses for the federal rules.
Quick Tips Before You Place Your First Basketball Bet
- Start with single-game moneyline or spread bets before exploring parlays — multi-leg bets compound both risk and complexity.
- Shop lines across multiple apps; the same spread can be priced at −108 on one book and −115 on another, and that difference adds up over a season.
- Understand the vig before chasing promos. Welcome offers vary constantly; pull current terms directly from each operator's site rather than relying on any third-party figures.
- Only use licensed, state-regulated sportsbooks. Offshore sites operating without a US license offer no regulatory recourse if they refuse a payout. If you're ever unsure whether an operator is legitimate, check your state regulator's official website for a current approved-operator list.
- Compare FanDuel and DraftKings side by side — our FanDuel vs DraftKings basketball betting breakdown covers the differences in markets, features, and availability.
Must be 21+ (18+ in some states). If gambling feels like it's getting out of hand, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling for free 24/7 resources.