Basketball

To bet on basketball, tell the ticket writer the bet number of the team you wish to bet, with the point spread, and the amount you wish to wager. The payout, unless stated otherwise, is figured at odds of 10/11. This means that a wager of $11 would win $10 and return $21.

This is called a straight bet.

The Point Spread: When betting on basketball, the team you bet on must "cover the spread." This means the team must win or not lose by a predetermined margin of points.

Example:

 

Bet No.
Team
Line
Total
201
Bulls
-3
 
202
Lakers
 
198
 

Note: The bottom team is always listed as the home team unless otherwise noted.

The point spread is always placed to the immediate right of the team that is favored. In this example, if you bet the Bulls, the Bulls must win by 4 points for you to win your bet. If you bet the Lakers, any of the following will declare you a winner.
(a) The Lakers win the game.
(b) The Lakers lose the game by not more than 3 points.

If the Bulls win by exactly 3 points then the wager is declared a push and all money is refunded.

Point spreads change constantly. The listed point spread the time you make your bet may be different from the point spread when the game starts. The point spread that is listed on your ticket is your official spread.

Total: Total points scored in a game. Also called the over/under.

You may wager that the total score of the game will be more or less than the number listed. It makes no difference which team covers the spread. Simply add the final score of each team. The payout, unless stated otherwise, is figured at odds of 10/11. (-110)

Basketball Parlays: More than one team on the same bet.

You may combine several teams into one wager. All teams and/or totals must cover the point spread to win the bet. Odds and the number of teams vary from casino to casino. The following are approximate odds:

 

2 teams
13-5
3 teams
6-1
4 teams
11-1
5 teams
22-1
6 teams
44-1
7 teams
90-1
 

Any game that results in a push reduces the parlay one team. A two-team parlay would become a straight bet.

Basketball Teasers: A wager that improves the point spread, but at reduced odds.

"Teasing" the point spread is done by adding points to a underdog or by subtracting points from a favorite. This increases the probability of winning your bet but decreases the odds of the parlay. Odds and the number of points available to "tease" vary from casino to casino. The following are approximate odds:

 

Number of teams
4 points
4.5 points
5 points
2 teams
10-12
10-13
10-14
3 teams
8.5-5
7.5-5
7-5
4 teams
3-1
5-2
2-1
5 teams
9-2
4-1
7-2
6 teams
7-1
6-1
5-1
7 teams
10-1
9-1
8-1