Basketball betting online - VivatBet Ireland
Key Basketball Terms to Know
Free Throw: Unchallenged shots from the foul line, awarded after certain fouls.
Rebound: Securing possession of the ball after a missed shot.
Triple-Double: When a player records double-digit totals in three statistical categories (e.g., points, rebounds, assists) in a single game.
Travelling: A violation called when a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball.
Advantages of betting on basketball
A large number of equally probable events. As mentioned above, basketball is one of the most suitable sports for those who like to bet on equally probable events.
High betting limits on the NBA. The vast majority of big cappers bet on the NBA, including the lion's share of players from the United States, who traditionally place large bets. In pursuit of this traffic, the best bookmakers try to create the most comfortable conditions for basketball bettors, offering generous betting limits on the main outcomes, as well as handicaps and totals. However, this feature is more common among large Western bookmakers. Domestic gambling establishments most often offer limits on NBA matches that are no higher than those given on the Euroleague and the Russian championship.
Low margin on the NBA. The same competition between bookmakers in the fight for the biggest players has led to the fact that in almost all leading gambling establishments in the world, the margin on NBA matches is lower than on all other competitions and sports offered in the line.
Regularity of games. The fact that most basketball teams play 2 to 4 games a week makes this sport the most attractive for statistics enthusiasts in their calculations — the sample of analysed games is quite substantial and allows for fairly accurate predictions on the NBA. In addition, the NBA is often the only competition that can be bet on any day, including holidays — even on 31 December and 1 January, at least 2-3 matches are invariably played in this league.
Top Basketball competitions for Betting:
NBA: The Premier League has the biggest betting market between October and June. It is well-known for its in-depth markets, which include player props and live betting. The most important things are: playing two games in a row, managing the players' workload, and how teams are ranked for the playoffs.
NCAA March Madness: The college tournament is unpredictable (March–April) and there is a lot of money available to bet on it. When looking at which team is better, think about how good their guards are, how good their coach is, and how well they get ready for tournaments.
EuroLeague: The best basketball competition in Europe (October to May) is more focused on tactics and defence than the NBA. Home-court advantage is important, and how teams do in their home leagues often affects how they do in the EuroLeague.
Ireland Men's Super League is the top-tier professional basketball competition in Ireland. It runs from September to April. The tournament includes a variety of well-known teams, such as UCD Marian, Tralee Warriors and Belfast Star. They will compete in a league and a playoff format where the competition is fierce. The league is known for its strong community spirit, physical style of play and growing popularity, driven by a team of Irish international players and supported by key American and European players. While it is not one of the main European leagues, it has a betting market that is focused on specific things. This means that local knowledge, such as how teams perform in small venues, the impact of imported players, and classic rivalry games, can provide valuable insight.
International & Other Leagues: The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Olympics happen every four years. They involve national teams and the matches are less predictable. European domestic leagues (Spain ACB, Turkey BSL, Germany BBL) offer high-level play, but you'll need to do some research to find out more. Other smaller competitions may be worth it because markets don't always work in the best way.
Things to think about when betting: The NBA and EuroLeague have the best markets. The NBA is fast-paced and high-scoring, while European play is more systematic. The NBA has lots of data, while other leagues need more research.
Types of basketball bets
Spread Betting (Against the Spread)
This is where the real strategy begins. The spread levels the playing field between favourites and underdogs. For example, if the LA Lakers are -5.5 points against the Miami Heat (+5.5):
A bet on the Lakers (-5.5) only wins if they win by 6 points or more.
A bet on the Heat (+5.5) wins if they either win the game outright or lose by 5 points or less.
Money Line Betting
Keep it simple: just pick the team you think will win the game outright. Since there are no draws in basketball (games go to overtime if tied), your bet is settled on the final result after regulation or overtime.
Championship Winner Betting
Back your pick to win it all. We offer odds throughout the season on the NBA Championship, as well as the Eastern and Western Conference winners.
Over/Under Betting (Totals)
Bet on whether the total combined points scored by both teams will be over or under a set line. It’s not about who wins, but how high-scoring the game is.
Period Betting
Focus on shorter segments of the game. Bet on the spread or totals for individual quarters or halves, letting you capitalise on momentum shifts as they happen.
In-Play Betting
Jump into the action as it unfolds. Our live betting markets update in real time, letting you react to the flow of the game—whether it’s the NBA, EuroLeague, or college basketball.
NBA Player Awards Betting
As the season progresses, we offer markets on individual honours like Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year, so you can back the players you believe will shine.
Main outcomes
The number of main outcomes offered for a basketball match depends on which bookmaker you play with. Some gambling establishments offer 3 main outcomes: P1, X and P2, adding overtime wins to the list, while others offer only 2 outcomes — P1 and P2 (this means that in the event of a draw, the winner will be determined in overtime).
Before you start betting on basketball, it is very important to clarify which positions include overtime and which do not, as it is often the case that the handicap and total are calculated according to one set of rules, and the main outcomes according to another.
Handicap
The handicap in basketball shows the final difference in the score in favour of one of the teams. You need to guess whether it will be greater or less than the specified value. For example, if you bet on a team with a handicap of (-5.5), you need them to win by at least 6 points. And if you bet on them with a handicap of (+5.5), you would be rooting for that team to lose by no more than 5 points. The handicap in basketball is not much different from the handicap in other sports, and most bookmakers allow you to buy additional handicaps, with the odds usually falling by 8-10 points for each additional point purchased. You can usually buy between 4 and 12 points (each bookmaker determines the exact value for itself).
Total
A total is a type of bet in which you have to predict whether the final result of the game will be higher or lower than the proposed value. The odds for ‘over’ and ‘under’ are almost always the same. Totals, like handicaps, can be purchased, both upwards and downwards. In this case, the dynamics of the odds change is most often similar to the dynamics of the handicap odds change.
Bookmakers accept bets on both the total in regular time and the total with overtime in basketball, and it is important to understand that different time periods of the game will be taken into account when calculating these bets. The total in basketball in regular time is calculated based on the results of 4 quarters.
Betting strategy for the total in basketball
At first glance, the strategy for the total in basketball seems simple. It is enough to look at the previous results of the teams and analyse how many points they score per game. However, it is not that simple: anything can happen in a particular match, and several factors can influence a team's performance, from the psychological state of the players to their physical condition.
Quarterly basketball betting
The quarterly strategy in basketball also has its own characteristics. Here, you need to have an idea of how the team plays in the first half of the game and how it plays in the second half, as well as the characteristics and differences in the team's actions in different quarters. When betting on quarters, you should pay closer attention to what happened on the court in the previous quarter.
Quarter betting strategy in basketball
The strategy for betting on basketball quarters is to consider how the team performs in each half and any changes in their style. Betting on quarters requires watching the previous quarter.
Other offers: Most bookmakers also offer extra ways to bet on basketball, like handicaps and totals for each quarter, individual team or player totals, and if there will be overtime. There is also an 'even-odd' bet. Basketball scores can be even or odd, so bookmakers offer these types of bets. This is a pure guess and does not require any knowledge of the game.
Pre-Match Basketball Analysis
Sure look, when it comes to breaking down a basketball game before it tips off, it's a fair bit more straightforward than trying to make sense of a football match. For one, you've only a handful of lads on a basketball squad compared to a football team, and they play twice as often, so there's always a rake of information floating about. The only small hiccup can be finding a broadcast of the games around here, but sure, isn't the internet a mighty thing these days? That sorts that out grand. So, what's the story with analysing a basketball match, then?
Current Form of the Teams
The thing about basketball is that teams don't tend to have the same dramatic slumps in form you'd see in, say, tennis or the football. It makes it far easier to keep track of how they're getting on. It helps, too, that each team is playing two or three matches a week, so you're never short of fresh information on their current level and fitness.
Don't forget to have a look at the results from the last five or six games for each side. Pay particular attention to how they do at home versus on the road: basketball is a sport where playing on your own patch is huge—sometimes it's the deciding factor altogether. So when you're looking at the stats, judge the home and away form separately.
Head-to-Head History
You'd want to keep the history between the two teams in mind as well. Often enough, the story of their last three or four clashes against each other will tell you more than watching dozens of their other games. And again, don't forget that in basketball, the home and away stats can be wildly different, so you have to judge them separately.
League Position and Motivation
And sure, we couldn't forget about motivation—in a hard-nosed, physical sport like basketball, it counts for a fierce lot. You have to ask yourself, what does each team need from this upcoming match? Use that to shape your prediction, so you don't end up backing a team that's already on their holidays, up against a crowd that's absolutely desperate for the win.
The Injury and Suspension List
With the fierce schedule basketball teams have, it's no shock that injuries and suspensions are a regular occurrence. If you want to be sure your bet is an educated one, you'd want to be keeping one eye on the team news to stay up to date with any changes in the squads.
Popular events and sports news
Basketball Betting FAQ
Which types of bets can I place on basketball games?
There are four types of bets: Moneyline (who will win the game), Point Spread (how many points the winner will win by), Over/Under (the total number of points in the game) and Player Props (individual player statistics). You can also place Live Betting bets while the game is ongoing
What does the point spread mean?
It makes it harder for teams to level up. For example, if the score is -5.5, the team needs to win by 6 points or more to win the bet
Does overtime count in basketball betting?
Yes. All overtime periods count towards the final score for bets
What happens if a player is injured during a game?
The bets that have been placed cannot be changed. If you want to know about player props, check the sportsbook's rules on how long the players have to play for
What statistics are the most important when betting on basketball?
Team offense/defense efficiency, home/away performance, injuries, recent form, and head-to-head history
What's the best way for me to bet on basketball without risking too much?
Set a strict budget, never chase losses, and use deposit limits. Think of it as a form of entertainment, not a way to make money