Basketball Gambling Sites: The Best 5 Apps and Basketball Bets Online in 2024

Best basketball betting sites

There are numerous basketball betting sites out there to choose from that all offer different things. Whether this is bet types, bonuses/promos, or a more developed user interface, no two sites are ever the same when you're looking for sports betting websites.

After looking over dozens of basketball betting sites that are available to be played at right now, we’ve found five sites we strongly recommend checking out. Below, we’ll discuss these sites and their pros/cons.

SI Sportsbook - Great live betting for basketball betting sites

Did you know that Sports Illustrated has a sportsbook? If not, now you do. The aesthetic resembles that of the magazine, too.

There are multiple ways to bet on basketball, but where SI Sportsbook shines compared to the rest is live betting.

There are multiple links to the live betting page on the homepage and you can filter these games by sport.  You can immediately bet on any basketball game that’s in progress there.

On the live basketball betting page, you can flip back and forth with ease between live and upcoming basketball games.

Here’s what we like about basketball betting on SI Sportsbook:

• Live basketball betting interface
• Perfect 10-game mode—win up to $10k
• Great variety of promotional offers for basketball betting sites

And this is what could be better when basketball betting on SI Sportsbook:

• Withdrawing basketball winnings could be faster

 

 

DraftKings Sportsbook - Kings of basketball props

The name DraftKings Sportsbook is notable for a reason—it’s one of the best sportsbooks in the world. The user interface is phenomenal both on the desktop and the mobile app.

However, where DraftKings shines more than any other basketball sportsbooks is the prop bets market for basketball. There are multiple types of NBA prop bets, but DraftKings offers a wide variety of player props that provide numerous ways to bet.

The welcome offer here is a $1,000 deposit match bonus that you can use when looking for a great basketball betting site.

DraftKings Sportsbook - One of the best basketball betting sites

Just look at the sheer number of player prop bets here. This is massive. Almost any player stat you can think of is available here.

Here’s why DraftKings is one of the all-time great online basketball betting sites:

• Incredible basketball player prop library
• Top-of-the-line user interface both on desktop and mobile
• Instant basketball winnings withdrawal is available

DraftKings could improve their sports betting experience here:

The welcome offer for new players is perhaps the worst in the industry—a 20% match, and you need to bet cash before accessing bonus funds. That's regardless of whether it's for college basketball, basketball bets, or other sports.

 

PointsBet Sportsbook - The most innovative way to bet on basketball betting sites

With roots tracing back to Australia, PointsBet easily has the most innovative way to bet on basketball—PointsBetting. This is a risky way to bet, but the rewards can be fantastic. You can use this on totals in basketball, which can be hundreds of points, and make the PointsBetting wager more thrilling.

As a new player at this basketball betting site, you’ll receive five $100 bonus bets that you can use for basketball wagering.

PointsBet Sportsbook - Enjoy PointsBetting with basketball totals

With PointsBetting, when you win a bet, you’ll get your stake multiplied by the number of points in which you were correct. You can use this when betting on the NBA Finals too, but totals are easily the most exciting.

PointsBetting can be a bit complex, but once you understand point-spread betting, you’ll never want to bet on totals the traditional way again.

PointsBet does well in sports betting here:

• PointsBetting makes college basketball infinitely more exciting
• Multiple bonus bet welcome offer
• Easy to use and understand rewards program

PointsBet could do this similarly to the other online sportsbooks:

• Accessing the online sportsbook on the desktop site could be easier.

 

BetMGM Sportsbook - Basketball parlays done right

On top of a first bet offer, BetMGM Sportsbook does an excellent job presenting and offering parlay bets on basketball games. You can create your own like with any other sportsbook, but there’s also a list of default One Game Parlays (also known as Same Game Parlays) for you to choose from.

Lastly, BetMGM has an “Easy Parlay” tool. This tool shows the basic betting options for each basketball game, and you can quickly select which you want to parlay together.

Example of BetMGM's basketball promo for One Game Parlays

BetMGM Sportsbook - Traditional or Same Game? Doesn’t matter

Parlays are a bit riskier to bet on, considering you need each leg to succeed, but BetMGM is the go-to place for it. You can create a One Game Parlay, and the page for it makes it simple to complete.

What’s also great about parlays at BetMGM is the generated parlays that BetMGM suggests. You don’t need to bet on them, of course, but this can make it easy to bet for new basketball betting players.

BetMGM is one of the great online betting sites for basketball because of…

• First bet offer on basketball games
• So many tools for parlay building
• Great sports-specific offers for big events such as the NBA finals

BetMGM could improve the experience for basketball betting here:

• The rewards program isn’t great for casual basketball bettors

 

Caesars Sportsbook - Best welcome offer for basketball betting

If you’re basing your decision on where to bet on basketball solely on the welcome offer, Caesars is the place to be. Here, you’ll get a $1,250 no sweat bet - which is the most lucrative welcome bonus in the United States sports betting market today.

Caesars is also well-known for unique promos like giving away jerseys when you bet a certain amount of money. In terms of sports betting offers, Caesars offers a nice variety of your standard moneyline bets, spread, totals, parlays, and prop bets too.

Caesars - Don’t pass up on this basketball betting site

Let’s face it—promos and bonuses make betting more fun. You have access to a pool of funds that you didn’t have beforehand. As mentioned, there’s the $1,250 risk-free bet, but it also comes with bonus rewards points that can be redeemed for bonus funds or retail Caesars perks and benefits.

You can also find other basketball-specific promos for new and existing players.

Caesars sportsbook is awesome as an basketball betting site because of:

• Great welcome offer
• Existing player promos
• Great basketball betting options, including international league offerings
• Awesome rewards program

Caesars is great for basketball bettors, but:

It has all the betting options, but other sportsbooks simply offer more basketball bets, better basketball odds, and more markets.

 

So, what makes a good basketball betting site?

There’s not going to be an end-all, be-all when recommending a basketball site for sports betting. We all have our own sensibilities and what is important to us.

However, there are a few traits that you can look for to guide you in a more general sense for the best betting site for basketball.

Safety and security - The end of PASPA opened up Basketball betting sites

With the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act getting overturned in May 2018, sports betting was officially allowed to become legalized on a state-by-state basis. With that came state-wide agencies (Control Boards or Gaming Commissions) that oversee, license, regulate, and enforce these basketball betting sites.

We’ll never recommend or suggest an online sportsbook for basketball betting that isn’t licensed and cleared to operate in a US state. You can also check the individual basketball betting site for information telling you where they are licensed. Another solid option is to check on the governing board in the state you are in. Let’s take Colorado as an example.

SI Sportsbook also has legal information telling you that they are licensed in Colorado under the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission. It also explains that the site has been authorized by the Colorado Division of Gaming. Additionally, SI has licenses to accept basketball bets in the states of Virginia and Michigan.

Banking methods - The more the merrier for basketball online betting sites

The most popular banking methods fall under two categories:

• Traditional: Debit/Credit Card, Check by Mail, Wire Transfer, Bank Transfer
• eWallets: PayPal, Skrill, NETELLER, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle

You’ll find other ones, such as PayNearMe, Gift Cards, or the Cash Cage (in-person transactions at the retail casino partner). Depending on what state you are in, one of our favorite basketball betting sites, BetMGM, offers both deposits and withdrawals with the Cash at cage option. You can see for yourself here for Michigan players. (Screenshot is taken from BetMGM Michigan's FAQ.)

The more options available at an online sportsbook, the more potential players there can be, leading to more basketball promo offers.

As for withdrawal methods, you’ll want to review the processing and payout times and determine whatever you’re comfortable with.

Different versions of bonuses and promotions on the top basketball sportsbooks

Like banking methods, the more bonuses and promotions a site has, the more potential for making money you have. Here’s an example from BetMGM with its basketball promotion for new customers looking for basketball betting:

However, it's vital to check out each offer and the terms and conditions when looking into an online sportsbook with basketball betting.

When looking through the bonuses and promotion terms and conditions, you should pay attention to the following attributes of the offer:

• Minimum age
• Market restrictions
• Minimum deposit 
• Wager requirements
• Minimum odd requirements.

Available live betting markets and betting lines

When referring to betting markets, we mean the available bet types. For example, some basketball betting apps may or may not offer player props. This is a potentially lucrative way to bet; without them, some bettors may be less interested.

Also, if you’re in a state with multiple sportsbooks such as Michigan or New York, compare the live odds from one book to the other to ensure you’re getting the best odds—this is known as odds-shopping.

How the customer service is at basketball sportsbooks

Customer service may not be something you usually think of when it comes to sports betting, but there may come a time when you wish you had it.

Here are the most frequently offered customer service options on basketball betting sites:

• FAQs
• Live chat
• Email
• Phone support

Some mobile betting apps will also provide text support or through social media. Live chats can either be 24 hours a day or have a set schedule. When mobile betting first started, a live chat was a big deal. Today, most basketball betting sites have it.

So, instead of just checking for these, it’s probably a good idea to reach out to customer support and see how knowledgeable and responsive they are on NBA teams, March Madness, or basketball lines. This is something we’ll do when suggesting basketball betting sites.

User interface design for desktop and mobile betting

The user interface design may or may not be as important to you when checking a risky betting line, but you must be certain you can navigate the betting sites as easily as possible.

Being able to locate the sports to bet on, the futures bets, customer support, competitive odds, and banking information are essential to making the legal basketball betting experience as seamless as possible.

Final checklist when getting started on basketball Betting Sites

• Research the basketball betting sites welcome bonus
• Pick which sportsbook(s) you want to play at
• Download the basketball betting apps
• Most basketball betting apps are available for both iOS and Android devices
• Create an account & prepare for the betting action
• Make your first initial deposit and start live betting
• Research some creative prop betting options, and make your best bet with the terms and conditions of the welcome offer in mind
• Collect your winnings!

Conclusion - Best basketball betting sites

No matter which basketball league you want to bet on, each league has numerous games per season. With this, there are ample opportunities for using welcome bonuses and other existing player promotions.

Each basketball betting site has its unique characteristics for betting on basketball, be it the bonuses/promotions of specific betting types, as mentioned in our mini-reviews above.

With everything in mind, PointsBet is arguably the best basketball betting site with its PointsBetting feature and how it can be used on totals, player props, and more.

Don’t worry—basketball betting is alive and well in the United States.

Basketball betting FAQ