The favorite is the team that is expected to win the contest, and conversely, the underdog is the team that is expected to lose. Almost every single game will have a favorite team and an underdog team. NBA moneyline bets simply require a bettor to select the winner of a particular contest. The most common betting types that you will encounter with NBA are:

Understanding the various types of NBA bets, and how they payout, is a must before placing a wager with any confidence. We will use the odds table between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers as an example throughout this guide. This NBA betting guide will give you the foundational information that you need to understand basic betting terminology, interpret game odds, and utilize moneylines to help you make educated NBA picks each week. If you’re new to sports betting, or specifically NBA betting, our standard odds tables may be a bit overwhelming. North Carolina sports betting is set to launch next between January 8-June 14, 2024! All you Hornets fans, get ready to back the Buzz for the 2023-24 season! Understanding NBA Odds Be sure to follow the news if you're in a pending state.

There are several states that are in the process of creating or voting on legislation that would legalize mobile sports betting. Legal online sports betting is currently available across 29 states, including Washington, D.C.! You can see the status of sports betting in your state with Action Network's legalization tracker.

Online sports betting odds