With legal, regulated NY online sports betting sites now live, there are several New York NBA betting sites to consider, and lots of information that can help prospective bettors. Whether you want to wait to bet on NBA playoff games or hop right into the action and find the best New York NBA betting site, we're here to help.
How to Pick the Best New York NBA Basketball Online Sportsbook
We reviewed and experienced all the legal online sportsbooks that NBA bettors have to choose from in the US. Here’s how we evaluate each New York NBA betting site and app before deciding on whether to recommend it.
There are four quarters of 12 minutes in each NBA game. With live betting, you can make bets after the game has started, and one of the most popular live bets is to bet on what the score will be at the end of a quarter. The short duration of each quarter and the incredibly rapid speed at which scores change makes for very exciting in-game bets. Every licensed New York betting site offers live betting; what differs from site to site are the events on which you can place bets. Each site offers its own in-game prop bets and the characteristics of NBA games are ideal for offering a huge number of options for you to enjoy.
New York sports fans know their Nets and their Knicks inside out and backward. Now you have the chance to use that knowledge to make intelligent bets on your favorite team.
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Safety and Security Only online sportsbooks that are licensed and regulated in the states they operate in will make our list. That certification assures customers that their funds and personal information is secure and that they have recourse for all betting disputes. We never recommend offshore sportsbooks because they are not regulated in the US and do not offer the same assurances to customers. Additionally, we always suggest that prospective bettors gamble responsibly.
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User Experience of Online Sports Betting Sites If you’re like us, you’re going to be spending plenty of time on your sportsbook’s website and mobile app. Win or lose, you should enjoy that experience. A clear menu where you can view your open bets, betting history, bonuses and current bankroll is a must. We make sure both the betting site and mobile betting app are easy to navigate, provide a clear understanding of betting options and are enjoyable to use. We also make sure that you have plenty of payment options and that the cash-out times are not prohibitive.
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NY NBA Betting Site Bonuses and Risk-Free Bet Options All NY sports betting promos that can range from free bet stakes to a first-time, qualifying deposit match or a welcome bonus. We look for the best bonuses and make sure the terms and conditions are reasonable.
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New York NBA Betting Odds Variety Sportsbooks offer different NBA betting odds at different prices. It’s worth your time to compare and contrast numbers on the NBA games you’ll be betting on before choosing one sportsbook, whether it's the regular season or the NBA playoffs. The difference between a spread of 4 or 4.5, or the difference between a wager that costs -115 versus -110 may not seem like a huge deal, but it adds up over time.
Why Bet on an NBA Game?
The NBA is the highest-scoring of the major sports and touts arguably the greatest star power among all sporting events. Because of that, individual players can have the biggest influence on games and the playoffs than in just about any other sport. It also creates myriad player prop bet possibilities.
There are more nationally televised games than any other sport. That combination of scoring, watching live and individual storylines make NBA betting in NY truly special.
NBA: Sportsbooks vs. Apps
The main benefit for an NBA bettor using a mobile app is they can bet anytime and anywhere in a state that has legalized NY sports betting apps. No crowds, no lines to wait in, and the most recent odds directly at your fingertips with instant deposit and withdrawal options. You have all the access to a brick-and-mortar sportsbook from the comfort of your couch.
How to Sign-Up for a New York NBA Betting Site
Signing up for an NBA betting website in New York is not difficult. You will need to provide your name, email and the last four digits of your Social Security number, and create a username and password. You’ll also need to link some sort of payment method – either your bank or a payment platform like PayPal – to make your initial deposit as well as provide a copy of your driver’s license, passport and/or a recent utility bill.
You’ll also need to add a geolocator plug-in so the website can confirm you are inside state lines while placing your bets. The process is typically simple, takes just a few minutes and processes immediately. You’ll be allowed to start betting as soon as you complete the sign-up process.
Making Deposits, Withdrawals On A New York NBA Betting Site
Most online sportsbooks will give the option of depositing directly and instantly through a bank transfer, credit or debit card, Play+ and prepaid cards, e-wallets such as PayPal and PayNearMe, which is a cash-only payment method at 7-Eleven, CVS and Family Dollar stores. Withdrawal options include Play+, e-wallets, bank transfers and checks, though many bookmakers may require you to use a method you used to deposit funds.
Bettors should use whatever they feel most comfortable with while also understanding that some options such as credit card transactions may include fees from financial institutions.
Welcome Bonus and Promotion Offers to Claim
First-time users will almost always have some sort of sign-up bonus or welcome bonus they can claim upon their first deposit. It’s important to use our promo codes tab to shop around for the bonus that fits your NBA betting style best.
For returning users, odds boosters and specials are often available, especially for high-profile or nationally-televised games. Sign up for email notifications and always be checking the website for these specials.
How to Read NBA Betting Lines and Competitive Odds
Every game will have a point spread and an over-under, and each team will have a Moneyline. An NBA spread balances the difference between the favorite and underdog. If the Los Angeles Lakers are -4.5 against the Miami Heat (+4.5), the Lakers must win by 5 or more points to cover the spread and win the bet. If the Heat win the game or lose by 4 or fewer, they have covered.
Moneyline betting takes the spread out of the picture and is only focused on which team wins the game outright. Heavy favorites will have longer odds.
If the Lakers are -250 to win, a bettor would have to place $250 to win $100. If the underdog Heat were +175, a bettor could wager $100 to win $175.
The over-under is simply the number of points scored by the two teams combined. If the over-under is set at 221.5 and the final score is Lakers 114, Heat, 100, the under has hit.
How Often Do NBA Odds Change?
NBA odds do not often change much over the course of the season. However, significant trades are more common in the NBA than in other sports, and injuries can quickly make a difference in the NBA championship odds given how top-heavy most contending rosters are.
Individual game odds are usually posted the day before a game and can change based on a team’s performance in the prior game, a team’s schedule or star players resting. Line movement is usually small but still something bettors should consider when watching for a change in odds.
Bet Types for the NBA Season
There are several types of basketball bets you can make on the NBA. Learn more about these types of bets below.
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Moneyline Pick which team you believe will win the game outright. Favorites do not provide as much value but are expected to win the game. Underdogs provide a chance to earn a larger payout but only if they pull off an upset.
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Point Spread The point spread balances out the discrepancy between the favorite and the underdog and balances the odds to about -110 for each side of the wager (meaning you have to bet $110 to win $100). A favorite must win the game by more than the spread in order for you to win the bet, while an underdog can lose by the point spread or fewer (or win outright) to cash.
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Futures Bets Different from individual game bets, a futures bet is made with an eye toward the end of a season, with the possibilities to win money including whether a team will win their division, which player will win NBA MVP (LeBron James, Stephen Curry, etc.), or who will be crowned the scoring champion. There are many futures that can be wagered on at any point in the season but are typically made during the offseason, such as betting on the Milwaukee Bucks to win the championship before the season begins.
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Over/Under Individual games all have an over-under in which bettors wager on whether the two teams will score more or less than the designated point total assigned to the game. There are also certain futures that include over-unders such as a team’s season-long win total or a player’s season-long points-per-game average.
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Prop Bets Props are bets that are not directly tied to a game’s outcome. Bettors can wager on an individual’s or team’s performance. Examples include a player scoring more or less than a certain number of points, which team reaches 10 points first or a team making more or less than a certain amount of 3-pointers. There are usually dozens of individual and team props for every game depending on the oddsmakers.
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Parlay Bets Bettors can combine multiple bets from different games, such as two NBA spreads and a moneyline – to create more favorable odds with a larger payout on a parlay bet. An example would be to take the Miami Heat (+4.5) over the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets (-4) over the Philadelphia 76ers, and the New York Knicks moneyline of +140 over the Chicago Bulls. A $100 bet would win $771. The caveat? All legs of the parlay must be won for it to pay out.
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Teasers Teasers are a form of a parlay in which the bettor can change the spread (while also changing the odds). All legs in the parlay would shift. For example, if the Bulls are +5, the Lakers -6 and the Pacers +2 in their games and you want to do a four-point teaser, all odds shift. The teaser would be: Bulls +9, Lakers -2 and Pacers +6. The payout would be less than a traditional parlay in exchange for the more favorable odds, and, like a parlay, the combined bets of a teaser must all win in order for a payout.
Bet on NBA Games
In addition to making NBA picks on individual games, bettors have plenty of season-long options to bet on in the preseason, in-season and postseason. Here are some of the most popular:
NBA Finals
The most common futures bet is on which team will win the NBA Finals. Bettors can also wager on individual games in the Finals, props on how many games will be played as well as which player will win Finals MVP at the conclusion of the series.
Playoffs
The two most common NBA bets in the playoffs are futures on which of the 16 teams will win the Finals and bets on which teams will win individual series. Bettors can also wager on whether a team will make the postseason as well as the leading individual point scorer, rebounder and passer in the playoffs.
All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game is always the highest-scoring game of the season, and bettors can wager on which player will take home MVP honors of the annual game. Bettors can also place futures bets on whether a player will be named an NBA All-Star for the upcoming season.
Most Valuable Player
Every player who has ever won NBA MVP is either in or on track to be enshrined in the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. It’s perhaps the most prestigious individual award in all of sports and is always the most popular player prop bet each NBA season.
Rookie of the Year
No league sees such an immediate impact from first-year players like the NBA does. That makes the Rookie of the Year race one of the league’s most exciting. Odds usually post right after the annual NBA Draft, which itself is a betting event.
Defensive Player of the Year
Though the NBA is becoming a more offensive-minded game, the Defensive Player of the Year is still one of the closest individual award races during the regular season. Because of this, bettors can usually find great value plays that produce bigger payouts.
Best New York NBA Betting Strategies & Tips
Strategies and tips should always begin with shopping for the best NBA lines. Sportsbooks offer different bets with different odds on just about all games.
The NBA is filled with back-to-backs, long road trips and is trending more toward a league that plays for the postseason. That means certain players will rest during the regular season, meaning checking availability before making a wager is paramount to success.
When considering futures bets on individual awards such as MVP, Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player, remember that it’s a media vote. There are no statistical thresholds. That means the winner typically has a narrative/intriguing storyline attached to him. These awards, like it or not, are about much more than raw numbers.
As juicy as those title odds and MVP odds may be for a longshot, favorites reign supreme in the NBA. From 1996 to 2020, the 25 NBA champions were the top seed in their conference 15 times, the No. 2 seed six times and the No. 3 seed four times. All NBA MVP winners are in the Hall of Fame or on track to get there.
New York NBA Betting Sites FAQ
Author
As the current Product Coordinator and Fact Checker editor for EmpireStakes.com, Matthew Asher has nearly a decade of experience working in public relations and digital media marketing with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers.Matthew is passionate about the sports betting industry and has been known to explain how to bet on the NFL, College Football and other major sports leagues. He is passionate about making sure you have the most up-to-date and correct information about New York betting regulations.