Where Can I Bet on NBA Games Legally?

Now that more and more states are adopting legal sports betting laws, people that are interested in betting on the NBA need to know two things, whether the state they live in has legal sports wagering allowed, and secondly, which online sportsbooks are available for them to bet with. We aim to cover both of those questions on this page to get you ready before the regular season starts.

What States Have Legal Sports Betting on NBA Games

As of now, over twenty states have approved sports betting, and among those many allow online sports betting. You can check if your state has legalized online sports betting on this page or go to our legal sports betting map of the United States to find out if your home state allows the activity.

Best NBA Legal Sports Betting Sites

Looking to bet on the NBA regular season, the NBA playoffs, or the NBA finals? Whatever game you’re hoping to get a big payout on your first step is to sign up for a sports betting site. Online sportsbooks are the easiest and by far the most popular way that bettors choose to make their bets. Below are some of the best NBA betting sites.

How to Do Sports Betting on the NBA

If you want to bet on the NBA then first of all you need to confirm that sports betting is legal in your state, or a state nearby that you frequently travel to. Once you’ve confirmed that you can bet in your state, for instance, New Jersey, then you have to decide which online sportsbook is right for you, take a look at the kind of bonus codes, welcome bonuses, risk free bets, and bonus offers given out by sportsbooks before you sign up so you don’t miss out on the free incentives. Once you’ve chosen and downloaded the sportsbook of your choice then you’ll need to create an account and make your first deposit to get started. From there you just start betting!

Check out our reviews and guides on betting on the NBA and other sports to get a headstart with your first bets!

Top Legal NBA Betting Apps in the United States

When it comes to online sportsbooks there are a lot of great options. DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the biggest and well known as is available in many states with legal betting. But DraftKings isn’t the only sportsbook out there, check out which sportsbooks are available in your state to find the one that is right for you. Remember that only legal online sportsbooks are available on the app store in your state since each state has its own legal oversight authority ensuring that what is available to you in your state is regulated and completely legal.

Are Offshore Sportsbooks Legal Betting Options for the NBA?

What is an offshore sportsbook? An offshore sportsbook is one that operates outside of the United States. Offshore sportsbooks that operated in the US, mostly illegally, were a major catalyst for the eventual legalization of sports betting in the US.

A lot of the thought behind legalizing sports betting in the US was to stop the flow of money going out of the country to offshore sportsbooks where the revenue could not be taxed. Since legalization by individual states, many have decided to make offshore sportsbooks illegal. Be careful of offshore sportsbooks and make sure that the sportsbook that you are signing up for is legal in your state. Every sportsbook that WSN reviews is legal in the US and can be trusted.

What if My State Doesn’t Allow Betting on NBA Games

If you checked and your state does not yet have legal sports betting then you’re not completely out of luck. With legal sports betting in the US only being around for a couple of years many states have yet to legalize. More and more states legalize every year meaning that it may be only a matter of time until it is legalized in your state.

If you live near the border of a state that has legalized wagering on sports then you can travel across the border in order to use your online sportsbook app. Online sportsbooks use geo-targeting software in order to make sure that bettors are only betting in legally approved spaces. For instance, many people in New York City are making the short trip to New Jersey in order to make their legal sports bets.

If you try to use your sportsbook app outside of the legal jurisdiction you may find that you are able to log on and place bets.

Does New Jersey Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

New Jersey does have legal sports betting and you can bet on the NBA while in the state. New Jersey has a special place among legal sports betting since it was New Jersey that played the pivotal role in the repeal of PASPA, which led to the ability for states to decide for themselves to approve or deny legal sports betting in their territory.

New Jersey may not have their own hometown NBA teams but they do have a lot of nearby pro teams to choose from. In New Jersey the most popular team is the New York Knicks with the Philadelphia 76ers being a close second choice for many fans in the state.

Check out these legal sportsbooks in New Jersey. Follow the links below to sign up to any of these online sportsbooks to get started!

Does Colorado Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Colorado legal sports betting has been allowed since May 1st, 2020 through a proposition on the state ballot meaning that you can now bet on the NBA while in CO. Colorado may be new to the betting market but they already have nice options when it comes to making NBA bets.

Colorado fans love their home state Denver Nuggets, who are the most popular team in the state. Wagerers in CO have nice options when it comes to picking out a sportsbook for betting on the NBA season. Check out the sportsbooks below to get started!

Does Illinois Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Illinois legal sports betting arrived in 2019 meaning that sports wagering is legal in the state. Few states are as lucky when it comes to the NBA as Illinois is with famous teams like the Chicago Bulls.

If you’re in Illinois and are excited to bet against the Los Angeles Lakers then check out the sportsbooks below to get started!

Does West Virginia Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Betting in West Virginia is legal! Sports betting was legalized in West Virginia back in August 2018, making WV one of the early states to adopt the activity. Unfortunately, basketball fans in WV do not have the option to root on a home-state team but a majority of fans in the state support the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards.

If you want to start betting on the NBA in West Virginia then check out the legal sportsbooks below to get started.

Does Indiana Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Indiana sports betting was approved back in 2018 making it legal to bet on sports while in the state. If you’re looking to bet on the NBA while in Indiana then you might be betting for the home team the Indiana Pacers.

If you’re looking to start betting on the NBA in Indiana then check out the sportsbooks below, all of which are allowed to operate in the state.

Does Pennsylvania Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Pennsylvania legal sports betting was approved in May 2019 making them the seventh state in the country to legalize. This means that it is legal to bet on the NBA while in the state. Basketball fans in Pennsylvania love cheering on their home team the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sports fans wanting to bet in Pennsylvania have some nice options since legal sports wagering has been around for a while. Check out the list below to see your betting options when it comes to opening a sportsbook account.

Does Iowa Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Iowa legal sports betting arrived in May 2019 when the state senate passed Senate Bill 617, this means that you can wager on NBA games in the state. Iowa doesn’t have its own NBA but they are huge supporters of the Chicago Bulls, and why wouldn’t they be?

If you are located in Iowa and want to start sports betting today you can check out the available links below to see your betting options to start today!

Does Nevada Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Of course, if there is one state in the country that has legal sports betting then it will be Nevada. No other state has such a storied history with legal wagering than Nevada where legal sports betting has been around since 1947.

Nevada does not have an NBA franchise of their own but the Los Angeles Lakers have the most fans in the state followed closely by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sports bettors in Nevada, whether they live there or are just visiting have a massive amount of betting options when it comes to opening an account. We listed some of the best options below for you to look at.

Does Tennesee Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Legal sports betting came to Tennessee on November, 1st 2020, meaning that you can bet on the NBA within the state lines!

In Tennessee there is no more popular team than the hometown Memphis Gizzlies! The Grizzlies may not be very old, having been founded in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies and moving to TN in 2001, but since they have relocated TN natives have gone all in as a stallwart fanbase.

Sports bettors in Tennessee, whether they live there or are just visiting have a massive amount of betting options when it comes to opening an account. We listed some of the best options below for you to look at.

Does Michigan Have Legal Sports Betting for NBA Games?

Legal sports betting has been approved in Michigan with the first bet being taken in person March, 2020. Legal sports betting became available in early 2021 to those in Michigan with several sportsbooks arriving for business in the state.

In Michigan the Detroit Pistons are the most popular NBA team with the Chicago Bulls being a close runnerup. The Pistons ot their start way back in 1941, but it wasn’t until 1957 that they were given their current home town of Detroit.

Sports bettors in Michigan, Michigan is new to sports betting and so those living in MI may find that they do not have the wide range of sportsbooks that those who live in New Jersey or other states may have access to. Still, the ones that do operate in MI are some of the best in the nation. Check out the below links to see which one is right for you.

Most Loved Teams in the NBA

The NBA is full of beloved teams, and it often comes down to your zip code when deciding which team you are a fan of. Teams that draw large fan bases are the Milwaukee Bucks, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Boston Celtics to name a few.

Common NBA Betting Options and Terms

Moneyline Bets / Betting Lines. Moneyline betting is the most popular form of betting around. It goes exactly how one would assume, you pick the team you think will win and wait for it to happen. If you are moneyline betting then you will hear a lot about the “moneyline” or “betting lines”, these are the odds for and against a team winning or losing. Obviously, not all teams are equal when it comes to skill so therefore the underdog (who is likely to lose a game) will reward more payout than a team that is very likely to win a match.

Parlay Bets. Parlay betting, otherwise known as multi-bets, are bets where you have to call the outcome of several factors in order to win your bet. This makes parlay betting very difficult. A common form of parlay betting would be to guess the outcome of several games.

Live Betting / Real Time Betting. Live betting, also known as in-game betting or real time betting, is a form of betting where the wagers that you’re placing are done while the game is taking place. This is a highly engaging form of betting for obvious reasons with the odds constantly changing while the game is taking place. It is important to keep a sharp eye when betting live since the odds can change at a moment’s notice so that your bankroll doesn’t take a hit.

Point Spread Bets. Point spread bets are perhaps the most popular forms of betting when it comes to the NBA. In point spread bets the odds are adjusted so that there is an even playing field when it comes to the odds. This means that a very good team and a poor team can play against each other with an effective handicap making the betting a little harder to call.

Prop Bets/Proposition Betting. Proposition bets in the NBA can be on just about anything including which color sneakers a certain player will end up wearing for the big game or just about anything else such as how many rebounds will take place in the game. How this looks in other sports leagues could be the famous example of a prop bet is the famous coin toss in the NFL.

Futures Bets. A futures bet is a bet on an event outcome that you are predicting far into the future. A good example of futures bets could be who is likely to win the NBA Finals or who will be the MVP choices for the year. Another example being who might win the world series in the next MLB season. If you want to know about this kind of betting then check out futures betting guide.