Vegas Odds: Gambling on NBA Basketball

If you are a hardcore sports fan and happen to be visiting Las Vegas any time soon, then you may be one of those sports nuts trapped in a sportsbook room, gambling all night on games until you pass out. The best advice you can receive regarding gambling is this . . . DON'T GAMBLE! However, if you cannot help yourself, then keep these three tips in mind if placing a bet on an NBA game.

1) NEVER underestimate the home team! No matter how bad their record is, every team is a threat to win on their home court. Stats don't lie. With the exception of a couple rare occurrences, teams (in all sports) have always had better records at home as opposed to the road. So, think twice about placing that $1,000 bet on the Los Angeles Lakers beating the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento. First of all, it's just plain risky. Second of all, the odds will probably be "-1000" for the Lakers, which means you'll have to bet a grand just to earn $100! Is that really worth the risk? The risk is much greater than the reward in a situation like this.

2) Be VERY careful if betting on the "under" in total points scored. You may think there is no chance of two teams combining for 215 points . . . and you may be looking good going into the 4^th quarter; however, things can change very quickly late in a basketball game. For instance, if Kobe Bryant's Lakers are trailing the Kings by 5 points with 40 seconds left, then you know what's going to happen. Foul! Foul! Foul! Hack! Hack! Hack! It is very possible for 12 or 15 points to be scored in the last minute, as teams are fouling their opponent every single chance they get so they can extend the game as long as possible. Normally, the guys being fouled at the end of the game are the team's best free throw shooters (because they're the only ones the coaches allow to handle the ball in those situations), so it's money almost every time they step to the charity stripe.

3) If by chance you want to bet on a heavy underdog, your best chance of winning is by betting on the first half rather than the "full" game or point spread. Some of the better teams out there, like the San Antonio Spurs, rarely have all of their stars on the court at the same time during the first half. They start with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker . . . then later, they sit on the bench and Manu Ginobili then enters the game. Theses guys don't play a lot together until it's later in the game, during crunch time; therefore, your best chance to bet against them is by betting on the first half. Plus, a team like the Spurs is experienced at closing out games in 4^th quarters, while the weaker teams often fade away and lose their concentration and discipline during the final key moments.

Takes these three tips with you to the Vegas sportsbook room and you may end up breaking even instead of breaking your bank!