Fans of the NBA in New Jersey can now bet on the upcoming basketball season. With the season running from October to June, plus playoffs and the championship to follow, there are tons of opportunities for bettors to put some skin in the game with NB betting sites.
Here’s your guide to basketball betting in NJ including live pregame lines & odds from the top sportsbooks, NBA futures odds and more.
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How to Bet on the NBA in New Jersey
In terms of where to bet, virtually all New Jersey sportsbooks accept NBA bets. The one exception is at Golden Nugget, which is owned by Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta, who also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets. You can’t bet on the Rockets there.
Other than that quirk at the Nugget (and BetAmerica – the app that operates under Golden Nugget Atlantic City’s license), New Jersey bettors can bet on everything else in the NBA. You can place bets on individual teams and players, bet before the start of any game or while it’s in progress with live betting (also known as in-play betting).
You can also tie the results of multiple events — e.g., the Knicks covering +9 points, Sixers winning the moneyline and the Nets covering -3 points — into a single bet or parlay. The number and type of events allowed in a parlay will vary from book to book, so it pays to shop around to get the best odds.
Best NBA betting apps in NJ
For those trying out basketball betting as their initial foray into New Jersey sports betting, learn more about the best NJ sportsbook apps.
For those already profoundly interested (or invested) in NJ sports betting, you likely already have a go-to sportsbook.
It’s an excellent time to check out how other apps price and promote their basketball lines and odds.
How to sign up for an online betting account
Signing up for an online account in New Jersey is straightforward. Typically, you will need to provide a minimal amount of individual information, which includes:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Home address
- Contact phone and email address
- Unique username and password
Once the sportsbook verifies this information, you can then choose the best option to add funds to your account. Again, the methods will vary depending on the sportsbook, but popular deposit options include:
How to make NBA bets
There are many ways to bet on NBA games in New Jersey. The “traditional” full-game bets are:
- Against a designated point spread.
- Straight up versus the moneyline.
- Totals: Under or over the total points scored in the game.
These bets are based on a full game and inclusive of any “overtime” periods. Additional game wagers will vary from book to book, but other types of NBA bets that may be available include:
- Winner and over/under total points in each of the four quarters and first or second half.
- The first team to score 5, 10, 15, 20 points and upward.
- Winning margin
- Team points odd/even
- Total team points over/under
- Will there be overtime? Yes or no
- Individual player props connected to scoring the first basket, over/under total points, rebounds, assists, 3-point field goals, etc.
How to make NBA parlays
Parlays combine the selections of multiple games into a single wager. The overall odds (and amount of payout) of the parlay will increase based on the pricing of the wagers and the number of events in the parlay.
Here is an example of a two-team parlay that would pay 2.64 to 1:
Each sportsbook may approach parlays differently.
For example, books will typically not allow you to combine the result of two events from the same game, i.e., total points and points spread into a single parlay.
Same game parlays NBA
FanDuel now offers “same game parlays” in the NBA that allow a bettor to combine select multiple outcomes from the same game into a parlay.
Also, how will sportsbooks approach the number of events allowed in each parlay? For example, DraftKings has a 12-team limit. FanDuel caps parlays at 15 events while Caesars allows 20+ events in a parlay.
With multiple online sportsbooks in NJ, it pays to shop around to see what is available in terms of NBA line pricing and NBA prop offerings.
NBA live betting (in-game betting)
If you miss out on getting a pregame bet in, there are still plenty of options to make bets when the game is underway.
The base wagers of point spreads, straight up versus the moneyline and under or over the total points are offered; however, the odds and spreads are updated in real-time during the game.
As you can see by the FanDuel example, the odds are updated continuously, with red and green color codes to denote the increases and decreases to the respective odds:
There will also be live NBA bets available on:
- Winner
- Over/under total points in each of the four quarters.
- Over/under on total points in the first and second half.
All of these odds will be updated as the game progresses. The opportunity to play specific player props typically ends once the game begins.
Beginner NBA betting tips
There are several factors that any new bettor should consider as the basketball season gets underway.
1. Give yourself some (sportsbook) betting options
As referenced in various sections of this guide, it will always be a bettor’s market. With nearly two dozen sportsbooks to choose from in New Jersey, it pays to shop around.
Downloading the mobile app is an excellent first step. Most books will allow you to review the odds and props without logging in or having an account.
To place bets, however, an account needs to be created, a funding source has to be linked to the account and, in most cases, a verification process from the sportsbook will occur.
That will require a new account holder to provide such elements as a driver’s license and/or utility bill.
You can then begin your comparison shopping for the best odds for the basketball games that interest you.
2. Go with what you know
A logical first step in basketball betting is to focus on the team you most closely follow, whether it’s the Sixers, Nets, Knicks or another NBA team.
Understand the team’s tendencies in such areas as:
- Are they a different team away from their home arena?
- Do they relax and let up when they get a lead?
- How do they perform as a favorite or underdog against the spread and straight-up against the moneyline?
- Which players are trending up in terms of scoring and minutes per game?
- Which players are battling a lingering injury or might be in the coach’s “doghouse?”
- Which player(s) are in the final year of a contract and might be giving maximum effort to resign or cash in as a free agent?
Focusing on one team also allows you to get a closer look at the other teams in the division. During the NBA’s 82-game schedule, each team will play their four other division foes four times (two home and two away) during the season.
For example, let’s say the Sixers gutted out a hard-fought overtime win at home versus the Celtics. How will they fare the next night when they travel to Toronto to play the Raptors?
Following the Atlantic Division teams carefully will allow you to formulate a strong opinion.
3. Watch for NBA promotions and bonuses
As the season progresses, it pays to be on the lookout for NBA-themed bonuses and promotions on offer from sportsbooks.
They may range from a sign-up bonus to open a new account to matching with a site credits if an NBA bet at a defined minimum is placed.
Not every book will offer a promotion. Even sportsbooks that do, they rarely tailor promotions around the local teams, so be on the lookout as you shop.
When LeBron James played his first game with the Lakers, a $25 moneyline bet on LA also included an additional $5 bonus for every 3-pointer made by the Lakers (they made seven that night, none by James).
As a whole if you are a fan NBA betting sites will have everything you need to get you started and enjoy placing bets on your favorite team.