Basketball is widely played in Tanzania, whether in professional clubs, schools, or streets. Besides, the sport has always been in the limelight of the national gambling community. This post will clue you in on all about basketball betting and its most star-studded league, the NBA.
This NBA betting guide is a part of our special content series that addresses all aspects of wagering on sports Tanzanians choose for gambling. To become a pro, you should not skip the essentials, and a good start is checking out our comprehensive guide to sports betting, an all-embracing course for novice punters.
How to Bet on Basketball
Before getting to the practical steps, let us figure out where to play in the country to derive maximum profits. In other words, let us determine the criteria for the online sportsbook to fit. So, in addition to the website availability from Tanzania and a free signup, the bookie should have:
- A registered trade name and an active license
- Good reputation and positive customer reviews
- A broad range of basketball events and markets
- Attractive odds and moneymaking opportunities
- Sufficient bonuses and ways to reward players
- Convenient payment methods and procedures
- A smooth-running and swiftly-loading website
Things to Know in Advance
You will hardly be able to make accurate basketball predictions unless you have some background knowledge under your belt. Such information relates to both the betting theory and the sport’s specifics. Here are the things you should be knowledgeable about beforehand:
- Odds and how they work
- Markets and their meanings
- Bet types and ways to wager
- Basketball rules and regulations
- NBA and other major leagues
- World’s top teams and players
Steps to Place a Wager
Once you have chosen a bookmaking website and expanded your knowledge base, you may get the ball rolling. Below are the first-to-last steps to place your NBA basketball wager.
Open an Account
Go to the site, sign up, and activate your account. Also, pick up a welcome offer if available.
Top Up Your Balance
Navigate to the website’s deposit section and add the money you see fit to your balance.
Opt For a Match
Select basketball from the menu, pick out the NBA events, and click your preferred game.
Predict the Result
Choose one of the markets, make your prediction, and click the odds supporting the result.
Put Your Wager
Enter a stake in your betting slip, check your potential wins, and put the bet with a button click.
Most In-Demand Basketball Betting Markets
Plentiful basketball markets may have you baffled when you approach them for the first time. However, they are not that difficult to grasp, at least the ones from a beginner kit that we offer you below. These are the markets commonly found on betting websites for the NBA events.
Moneyline
If you do not know what to start with, go for the moneyline! It is simply about deciding on the winner, that is, supporting either team A or team B with your money staked. Based on the sportsbook’s options, you can make moneyline predictions on the quarter, half, or entire game.
In the decimal odds format, typically used on Tanzanian sites, higher values are assigned to projected losers, and smaller values are given to the teams expected to win. The example below shows the moneyline market, with the New York Knicks presented as the favorite.
| New York Knicks | 1.10 | Brooklyn Nets | 4.90 |
Totals (Over/Under)
If the rivals are neck and neck, and you are uncertain who is going to win, you may place your stake on their common input to the final score. This way, you predict whether the total collective points on the scoreboard will be above or below a particular line when the match is over.
Over/under is a widespread market provided for all basketball events and on all betting platforms. Bookies may offer totals for the whole match, as well as its halves and quarters. Also, there may be several options for the over and the under, just like in the totals market below.
| Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 220.5 | 1.77 | Under 220.5 | 1.90 |
| Over 221.5 | 1.80 | Under 221.5 | 1.83 |
| Over 222.5 | 1.95 | Under 222.5 | 1.78 |
Top Scorer
The top scorer market belongs to props—picks that have no bearing on the game’s final outcome. You simply choose a player of either team who you think will lead in points scored. Your top scorer bet may relate to one game or a series of games within an NBA’s night slate.
Since this market concerns individual performance, you have to dig deep into the player’s personal statistics and rankings to make your prediction a slam dunk. You may also find the top scorer among futures markets, such as the player to score the most points in the NBA Finals.
Match Winner
This clear-cut market seems like the moneyline’s double, and it, to some extent, is. The bettor’s task is to predict the team winning the match, while in the moneyline market, it could also be the wager on the team winning one of the halves or quarters, not necessarily the whole match.
Some sportsbooks mix the match winner with other markets, producing challenging combinations, such as the match winner + totals. So, besides predicting the outcome, you might be asked to decide on the total points. Below is an example of the standard NBA match winner.
| Sacramento Kings | 2.22 | Golden State Warriors | 1.93 |
Handicap
This market focuses on the difference in points; hence, it is also called the point spread. The truth is not all players and teams are equal, so the weaker side may be given a head start to balance the stronger side out. As a result, you need to back one team with a certain handicap.
The more disproportionate the rivals’ abilities are, the greater the handicap or point spread is. A positive handicap is given to the underdog, and a negative one is allocated to the favorite, meaning points are removed from them, like in the following case with the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Handicap (-6) | 2.10 | Handicap (+6) | 1.81 |
| Handicap (-5.5) | 2.05 | Handicap (+5.5) | 1.86 |
| Handicap (-5) | 1.96 | Handicap (+5) | 1.83 |
| Handicap (-4.5) | 1.90 | Handicap (+4.5) | 1.88 |
Correct Score
This wagering category is pretty straightforward to understand but not that easy to predict, as you need to determine the correct figures, which will appear on the scoreboard at the end of the game. What will compensate for your pains is the odds that are usually alluring for this market.
The correct score variations involve betting on the exact number of points a team will have after a specific quarter or half ends. Based on bookmakers’ offerings, you may be able to wager on the exact score of an ongoing or upcoming matchup or the final game of a championship series.
Here are some of the correct score options to bet on for the New Orleans vs. L.A. Lakers match.
| New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 118:115 | 12.10 | 118:116 | 10.50 |
| 117:115 | 10.05 | 117:116 | 8.70 |
| 116:115 | 5.02 | 116:117 | 4.50 |
Best Basketball Tournaments to Wager On
Just like true fans of the game, basketball bettors never miss the NBA matchups. These are the most gripping entertainment to follow and the most sought-after events to wager on. As a rookie basketball bettor, you should become familiar with both the NBA and other top-tier leagues.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
| Who participates | 29 teams from the U.S., 1 team from Canada |
| Most decorated teams | L.A. Lakers/ Boston Celtics/ Golden State Warriors/ Chicago Bulls/ San Antonio Spurs/ Philadelphia 76ers |
| High-ranking players | Luka Doncic/ Giannis Antetokounmpo/ Nikola Jokic/ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/ Joel Embiid/ Jayson Tatum |
| Competitions | Preseason/ Regular Season/ Play-In Tournament/ Playoffs/ Championships |
EuroLeague
| Who participates | 18 teams from Europe |
| Most decorated teams | Real Madrid/ CSKA Moscow/ Maccabi Tel Aviv/ Panathinaikos Athens/ Varese/ Olympiacos Piraeus |
| High-ranking players | Walter “Edy” Tavares/ Mike James/ Nikola Mirotic/ Kevin Punter/ Will Clyburn/ Facundo Campazzo |
| Competitions | Regular Season/ Play-In Tournament/ Playoffs/ Championships |
Liga ACB
| Who participates | 18 teams from Spain |
| Most decorated teams | Barcelona/ Real Madrid/ Joventut Baskonia/ Malaga/ Valencia |
| High-ranking players | Markus Howard/ Chima Moneke/ Ike Iroegbu/ Andres Feliz/ Deshaun Thomas/ Jean Montero |
| Competitions | Regular Season/ Playoffs |
Chinese Basketball Association
| Who participates | 20 teams from China |
| Most decorated teams | Guangdong Southern Tigers/ Liaoning Flying Leopards/ Xinjiang Flying Tigers/ Zhejiang Golden Bulls/ Zhejiang Guangsha Lions/ Shanghai Sharks |
| High-ranking players | Trae Golden/ Scottie James/ Antonio Blakeney/ Jared Sullinger/ Eugene German/ QJ Peterson |
| Competitions | Regular Season/ Playoffs |
Basketball Betting Strategies
Now, you know almost everything there is to learn about basketball betting: the wagering process, popular markets, and top-level leagues, teams, and players. What is left is to take note of our recommendations on betting tactics and put them into practice on a bookmaking website.
Be in the Know
You should be aware of every facet of the matchup: who the opponents are, what they compete for, where the game is played, who officiates, and so on. You should know about the players’ injuries and all of their other recent ups and downs not to be taken aback by substitutions.
When betting on the NBA, join the dedicated communities, follow the teams on social media, and remember to bookmark the Association’s official website to check such handy sections as:
- Schedule
- News
- Stats
- Standings
Cherish Your Gain
Although playing for fun, you should always keep the money in mind. Therefore, the first rule is to bet only what you can afford. Put aside a separate affordable budget exclusively for gambling purposes. Inexperienced punters may feel comfortable staking 1-3% of their bankroll at a time.
The second rule is to ensure the return is worth it. So look for the most compelling odds and verify potential profits before confirming your wager. Risking is not a good idea if you are not quite sure and lack information about the matchup. Any risk you take should be fully justified.
Utilize Features
Present-day sportsbooks offer diverse features, and your goal is to use them to your advantage. Live betting is one such remarkable feature that enables you to predict the outcome as the match progresses. If streaming is provided, you can even watch the game right then and there.
Your live wager is much more informed as you witness the event in real-time and are able to grasp the mood and balance of power on the court. Moreover, live odds shift together with the momentum, so you have an excellent chance to lay your hands on the best-priced deal.
Pros & Cons of Basketball Betting
Pluses
- Regular events in major leagues
- Accessible on all betting websites
- Suitable for props and live wagers
- Massively covered and publicized
Minuses
- Frequent injuries and substitutions
- Risks caused by unpredictability
Bottom Line
Basketball events, the NBA games in particular, are must-haves on all online Tanzanian sportsbooks, so you will not have trouble finding them. Bookies are lavish in markets, but we advise you to take your time, heed our tips, and begin with simple options like moneylines.
F.A.Q.
NBA odds show the winning probability of the teams participating in the match, with the greater value assigned to the underdog and the lower value given to the favorite. Odds may fluctuate based on the circumstances around the game and the number of wagers placed.
Wagering on the NBA can earn you tangible profits if you stick to the tried-and-true tactics, such as researching deeply before playing, reasonable budgeting, and hunting for favorable odds and offers. If you watch the basketball news closely, you will likely capitalize on your awareness.
