With its galaxy of star players, an 82-game regular season, the play-in tournament and increasingly dramatic playoffs, the NBA provides an endless fast break of betting opportunities. Fans of Texas NBA teams can bet on whether Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will record a triple-double, whether Alperen Sengun will lead the Houston Rockets to the playoffs, or whether the San Antonio Spurs can improve on last year’s win total behind Victor Wembanyama.
While Texas has yet to introduce real money NBA betting, there are several options for those in Texas with social sportsbooks and fantasy sports sites. Read on for a guide to betting on the NBA in Texas including information about where you can do so now, what choices might come in the future, and some additional NBA betting tips and advice.
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How to bet on NBA basketball right now
Over recent years, lawmakers and lobbyists have been focused on the possibility of launching Texas sports betting. The majority of states have done so already, increasing the chances that Texas will join in as well sooner than later.
Meanwhile, there are available options right now for those in Texas wishing to wager on NBA action. Social sportsbooks offer opportunities for NBA betting using virtual currencies, although in some cases you can redeem winnings for cash prizes. There are also different daily fantasy sports sites, including both traditional DFS sites and “pick’em” sites that offer prop betting and other bet types that very much resemble traditional sports betting.
Here are just a few of our recommended NBA betting sites in Texas you can use today.
Fliff Sportsbook
Fliff Sportsbook is a social sportsbook that offers all the same popular bet types (moneyline, spread, totals, props, parlays and more). Instead of using real money, you bet with Fliff Coins and Fliff Cash, and you’ll find Fliff is often providing both for free via welcome bonuses, daily bonuses, and other promos. Fliff Coins are just for fun, but when you bet and win with Fliff Cash, you can later redeem your winnings for real cash prizes.
If you use bonus code PLAYTX when you sign up at Fliff, you’ll additionally be eligible to receive a bonus up to 600,000 in Fliff Coins and up to $100 in Fliff Cash.
Underdog Fantasy
Underdog Fantasy is a little different in that it is a “fantasy” betting site, but it diverges from traditional DFS by additionally offering so-called “pick’em” contests. With these pick’em games you can make predictions on player props (over/under bets). You can build parlays of several picks and earn big multipliers for getting them all correct. Underdog also has daily, weekly, and season-long fantasy drafts.
When getting a new account at Underdog Fantasy, enter the bonus code TXBONUS and you’ll be able to receive a matching bonus worth up to $1,000 in Bonus Cash.
Sleeper
Sleeper is like Underdog as it is a fantasy sports site that has paid DFS contests as well as free fantasy leagues. You can also make Sleeper Picks that similarly invite you to predict how individual players will perform statistically. You choose from two to eight players to build your card of picks, and the more you get correct the larger your win (up to 100x your stake).
With Sleeper there is also a welcome offer for new sign-ups. Use TXBONUS bonus code when creating an account, and you can get a first deposit match bonus worth up to $1,500.
Betr Picks
You can also try Betr Picks which is another example of a pick’em-style fantasy sports site. Bet on whether a player will get over or under a certain total (e.g., rebounds, points, assists), collect multiple picks into a single wager, and the more you get right the more you win.
At Betr Picks, if you use bonus code TXBONUS when you sign up you can get a 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $200.
Thrillzz
Bettors in Texas can also visit Thrillzz and bet on NBA games there. Thrillzz is a social sportsbook that like Fliff uses virtual currencies, in this case called Thrillzz Coins and Sweeps Coins. You can place bets just for fun with Thrillzz Coins, and you can also play with Sweeps Coins and win tickets you can later redeem for rewards. Thrillzz also lets you set up squads with your friends for competing with each other, try to place high on leaderboards to win prizes, claim daily log-in bonuses, among other promos.
You’ll get both Thrillzz Coins and Sweeps Coins when you first sign up. Also, if you use the bonus code PLAYBONUS when creating your account you can receive a 100% match up to $25 in Sweeps Coins as well as 150,000 in Thrillz Coins when you make an initial purchase.
Parlay Play is another pick’em-style fantasy sports site you can use in Texas. For more traditional DFS, you can also enter a huge variety of real money contests at both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Best prospective Texas sportsbooks for NBA betting online
When Texas legalizes sports betting, there will be a cluster of offerings from major sportsbooks trying to get into the market. We don’t know which NBA betting sites will put down roots in Texas. But we can look at what the major sportsbooks have done with their NBA offerings in the past and what makes them stand out.
- BetMGM Sportsbook has consistent specials on each game and options to boost. It has a deep list of offerings on the NBA season right through to the NBA Finals, like picking the Mavericks over the Boston Celtics.
- Caesars Sportsbook isn’t as flashy as its competitors in the sports betting market. But with its simple interface and competitive odds, it’s a smart place for new players to learn the nuances of the sports betting world.
- DraftKings Sportsbook boasts a different layout from other sportsbooks. But it has the same quality offerings, including multiple season-long bets, like how many points Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green will average this year. DraftKings compares favorably to other sportsbooks with its competitive odds, great live betting platform, and frequent boosts and bonuses.
- FanDuel Sportsbook is the single most popular online sportsbook in the US and will certainly be a favorite option once Texas launches online sports betting. FanDuel offers bonuses on parlays each day and has extensive offerings on the WNBA. Texas is represented in the WNBA by the Dallas Wings.
Best NBA odds boosts and promos
Many online sportsbooks will offer daily NBA odds boosts and promos for new users. They’ll also build promos around the NBA All-Star Game, Play-In Tournament, and the playoff push. Have a look at the following noteworthy examples.
- BetMGM Sportsbook is great for NBA “bet insurance” tokens (similar to DraftKings’ “No Sweat” promo) and more.
- Caesars Sportsbook offers frequent odds boosts on NBA games (e.g., get +300 instead of +200 if two players score 20+), as well as parlay boosts on long shots and occasional “bonus bet drops.”
- DraftKings Sportsbook also has “No Sweat Same Game Parlay” promos that let you build and bet an SGP on an NBA contest, and if your bet loses you get back an equivalent amount in bonus bets.
- FanDuel Sportsbook frequently offers same game parlay boosts that increase your payout (e.g., by 30%).
Note that there are many other sports betting sites up and running in other states, and many will also surely find Texas an inviting destination with its huge population.
Finding today’s NBA odds
NBA game odds are usually posted the day before a regular season game. But that can vary. NBA team schedules aren’t perfectly in sync. The Houston Rockets may play the San Antonio Spurs on a Monday and then the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Mavericks may have had a few days off before Wednesday’s game. In that case, odds likely won’t be posted until the day before.
However, if both teams have a few days off before a game, then the lines might be posted by the online sportsbook sooner. The sportsbooks will usually post the spread first and then, as the game gets closer, increase the offerings with parlays and prop bets. It is always smart to look at a couple of different sportsbooks to spot odds differences.
NBA spreads, moneylines and totals
The three common ways to bet on an NBA game are the moneyline, point spread, and total. Here’s a quick description of each:
- Moneyline: This is the most basic bet you can make. Pick a team to win the game. Don’t be worried about how many points they score or how many three-point shots they make. It’s just win-or-lose. Of course, if you bet a big favorite on the moneyline, your odds are lower and the payout will be smaller. Alternatively, you can bet on the underdog and hope to cash out big.
- Point spread: The sportsbooks will determine a favorite and underdog with the favorite noted by the (-) sign and then a point total next to it. That number is the spread. If the Mavericks are listed as (-9) against the Spurs, that means the Mavericks are favored to win by nine points. Bettors have the option of taking the Mavericks to win by more than nine points or taking the Spurs and the points, meaning you expect the Spurs to win or at least not lose by nine points. Point spread odds are created to encourage betting on both sides. The payouts are usually -110 on each side, meaning if you bet $110, you profit $100.
- Total: This is a way to bet on a game without worrying about the winner. Texas sportsbooks will predict a combined point total (over/under) for two NBA teams, and bettors have the choice of gambling whether the true figure will be more than that number (go over) or less (go under). Usually, this number will come with a half-point, like 223.5, eliminating any chance of a push (tie).
Best NBA props and futures
The NBA provides a fertile court for prop bets and future bets for a game or a season.
Some of the more popular future bets involve the NBA’s biggest individual honor: the Most Valuable Player award. Online sportsbooks in Texas will provide NBA MVP odds on whether Mavs star Luka Doncic and as many as 30 other candidates will win the award. Those odds will change throughout the season.
Other future bets can include:
- Division winner
- Rookie of the Year
- Conference champion
- NBA champion
Meanwhile, each individual game comes with a hoop-full of prop bets. Fans will have the ability to bet an over/under on how many points the Rockets’ Fred VanVleet will score in a single game, but it doesn’t end there. Sportsbooks will also post totals on how many rebounds, assists and blocks Smith will record, adding depth to the game offerings. You’ll also be able to bet on head-to-head outcomes among players. Who will score more points in an all-Texas matchup? VanVleet of the Rockets or Devin Vassell of the Spurs?
The game itself is broken down into multiple betting options. You will have the option of betting on the team that has the lead at the end of the first quarter, halftime and third quarter. If you want to go even deeper into the numbers, you can bet over or under point totals for specific players in each quarter.
When the playoffs begin, sportsbooks will let you pick the exact outcome of each series. You will be able to pick the Spurs to win 4-1 or make it a clean sweep.
NBA alternate lines
So you think you are smarter than the sportsbooks? Or maybe you just wish that the point spread was one more point another way.
If you feel this way, explore the option of setting an alternate line at online sportsbooks for an NBA game. You can slide the point spread one way or the other at your own discretion; however, this comes with decreased or enhanced odds.
Say you really like the Spurs to thump the Charlotte Hornets, but the line is Spurs -3.5 (-110). Sportsbooks can give you the choice to set an alternate line, say in this case pushing the spread up to -6.5 (+135), and then if the bet pays off in your favor, you win more.
Only employ this bet type if you have the utmost confidence in your choice. Sportsbooks have mountains of data and experience in setting lines, so think hard before setting an alternate line.
How to find the best NBA lines
NBA betting lines shift, and it’s smart to keep your eye on multiple sportsbooks. Most of them will mirror one another, but you may find a half-point or point in your favor, and that can be the difference between a big win or loss. As we explained earlier, the point spreads usually come out a day before a game because of the inconsistencies in the NBA schedule.
But injuries or having an NBA star player sit out to rest is a reality in today’s NBA, and savvy bettors would be smart to always pay attention.
That said, NBA lines don’t change as much as NFL lines do because there isn’t as much time between games. This is one of the best things about NBA sports betting: the vast inventory of daily games can help you win big.
Live betting on the NBA
Live betting has become a popular part of the US sports betting scene. Even after a game starts, multiple sportsbooks (like Caesars) will maintain a line on the game based on the current score until almost the end.
If you’re watching the game, you may feel confident that a game is about to turn into a blowout, or maybe an upset is brewing. This is when you can log in to your favorite sportsbook and still bet on the point spread.
What makes NBA betting special?
Betting on the NBA is a fun way for new bettors to learn the daily ins and outs of the sports betting scene.
The NBA season is long, and teams often rise and fall. There are great players and great rivalries. The sportsbooks do a stellar job with boosts each day and unique prop bets to draw interest.
It isn’t like the NFL or college football with one game a week. In the NBA, teams play 82 regular season games. This gives you valuable data points and a season-long flow to consider when placing a bet.
NBA betting rules at online sportsbooks
NBA betting rules will have subtle differences depending on the sportsbook regarding a date or venue change, but generally those changes won’t void a bet.
Most sportsbooks cancel your bet only if there is a sudden home-and-away switch by the two teams, like if the Rockets and Mavericks have to switch sites at short notice. For postponed games due to weather or travel difficulties, sportsbooks will refund your bet in full.
This rule doesn’t pertain to live NBA bets though if the result is already determined. If you were betting on which team was leading after the end of the first quarter, that bet remains valid if there is a suspension of play in the second half.
Also, when it comes to point spreads or totals, if a bet falls right on the number—like you bet on the four-point favorite Mavs and they win by four exactly—it’s a push and your money will be refunded with no profit.