Best Basketball Betting Sites Ireland 2024 🇮🇪 Free Bets & Offers

How We Rank The Best Basketball Betting Sites

When deciding on the top basketball betting sites for Irish bookies, there are several elements we expect to see. Below are the main criteria we use to evaluate and compare bookmakers for the NBA.

Sign Up Process	The registration process is the first step towards an exciting world of betting on the NBA. It should be quick and simple, taking between 3 to 5 minutes to create an account. This includes inputting data like your name and payment information, as well as verifying it. Avoid sites that have unclear direction and too many unnecessary questions.
Promotions	The first promotion you will encounter when creating an account for a basketball betting site is the ‘welcome offer’. This is a huge bonus which you will receive once you place your first bet, although there are conditions. Other types of promotions include free bets and enhanced odds.
Range Of Payment Methods	Every punter will have a different preference when it comes to funding their NBA betting account. Some prefer debit cards, whilst others have an e-wallet or voucher. You can even wire transfer or use cheque. Ensure that the bookmaker has a variety of options.
Variety Of Betting Markets	Luckily, there is a huge array of NBA betting markets available. This includes money line betting, individual awards, under/ over betting, handicap betting, and accumulator betting. In addition, there are many niche markets, too.
Competitive Odds	Arguably the most important comparison to make between NBA bookmakers is their betting odds. The higher the value of a bet, the larger your profit will be if the wager is successful. As a result, sites should have competitive odds to make the betting experience worthwhile.
Engaging Features	The main engaging feature of the NBA is live streaming. Especially for Irish punters, it is important to have good quality, high resolution, and audible live stream. As games take place in the United States and Canada, it may be difficult to get coverage, so your bookmaker should offer this.
Mobile App	Having a mobile app is a vital feature to have. It should be accessible to all phone types, as well as operating quickly and seamlessly. If you find yourself wanting to place an NBA bet but you are on the go, this will allow you to wager remotely no matter the time.

Best NBA Bookmakers for 2024

Using the ranking criteria above, we have chosen our favourite NBA betting sites for Irish punters. They are all reputable, trustworthy, and secure bookmakers that are recommended to all bettors.

bet365

Pros

• User-friendly interface and modern website design
• Generous welcome bonus and other promotions

Cons

• Known to limit professional bettors

Bet365 is a famous betting site, renowned for its easy-to-use website, competitive odds, and accessible customer service. It is great for punters in Ireland because bet365 offer NBA live-streaming, which is available when you place a basketball bet.

When you first join, bet365 offer you €30 in free bets, which you can receive once you stake only €10 on your first wager. This is a generous offer, and amongst one of the best basketball welcome bonuses.

888sport

Pros

• Range of NBA betting markets
• High quality live streaming and in-play betting

Cons

• Longer processing times

888sport is a European bookmaker founded in 2008. The betting site is renowned for their in-play betting and live streaming, especially for basketball. Also, 888sports have a range of betting markets such as match winner, total points, over/under, and odds/evens,

Furthermore, you only need to spend €10 to qualify for the 888sport welcome bonus, which is worth €30 in free bets and €10 in free spins.

Ladbrokes

Pros

• Plenty of promotions and bonuses
• Extensive range of payment methods

Cons

• Betting odds are less competitive

Esablished in 1886, Ladbrokes is one of the largest and most popular basketball bookmakers. They are known for their NBA previews, betting tips, and fast updates. Additionally, they have a great coverage of markets, and are especially famous for their odds in points spread betting.

Lastly, The Ladbrokes welcome bonus is highly competitive. You can receive €20 worth in free bets, when you place a bet of only €5.

Novibet

Pros

• Generous welcome bonus
• Competitive odds

Cons

• No VIP programme

Novibet, founded in 2006, is a great basketball betting site with a strong reputation for its fiercely competitive odds and consistent bonuses. NBA betting is made much more exciting when you discover the extensive range of betting markets made available by Novibet, such as top scorer and Asian handicap.

Alsom it is worth noting that Novibet has amongst the largest welcome offer in comparison to other bookmakers. You will receive €50 in free bets when you stake only €10 on your first wager.

NBA Basketball Betting Markets

The more betting markets an NBA bookmaker has, the bigger the field of opportunity. Novice punters can start with straightforward options like money line, to ease into the betting experience. On the other hand, experienced punters can benefit more from accumulator betting, which takes more skill yet has fruitful rewards.

Money Line Betting

Money line betting is otherwise known as outright winner, and is perhaps the simplest type of NBA wager. As the punter, you must correctly predict which team you think will win. Money line betting can exist as a futures, pre-match or in-play bet.

For example, The Milwaukee Bucks are playing the Los Angeles Clippers. The bookmaker shows these odds:

• Milwaukee Bucks: 7/2
• Los Angeles Clippers: 3/1

Say the Los Angeles Clippers won. If you bet for them to win, you would get your stake back plus make a profit. If you bet on the Milwaukee Bucks, you would forfeit your stake and not receive any earnings.

Individual Awards Betting

Unlike money line betting, which focuses on the team who wins the match, there are several individual awards that are rewarded to players.

• The total points a player will score in the game
• Which player will score the first points
• Which player will score the most points
• Who will be awarded MVP of the game
• The number of assists in the game

Each match has these player props. Each team plays 82 games per season, so you can look forward to making a plethora of bets.

Over/ Under Betting

Over/ under betting is a common betting market that is used in most sports. Punters must predict whether the outcome of the match will be more or less than what the bookmaker has stated.

In basketball, over under betting is often referring to the total points in the match. As a result, you will need to have a good idea of the top-scoring teams, and their ball possession percentage.

For example, you may see this on a betting sites over/ under market:

Total Points	Betting Odds
Under 250.5 points	5/3
Over 250.5 points	3/2

Say you were betting on the Brooklyn Nets versus the Charlotte Hornets and staked €15. The match finished 126-113. This means 239 total points were scored.

• If you bet under, you would get returned earnings of €40
• If you bet over, you would lose your stake

Handicap Betting

Handicap betting is extremely popular in team sports. Punters usually have a favourite, but this isn’t always the better team. If you are interested in basketball, however wish there was a way to support your favourite team by giving them an advantage, handicap betting is ideal.

By assigning one team an advantage (+) and the other a disadvantage (-), the playing field becomes more level. You must then predict by how many points will score, or what the winning margin will be.

Accumulator Betting

Accumulator betting is where you create a unique wager made up of many different selections. It is great for experienced punters, as you can customise your own bet, spanning a variety of betting markets.

For example, you could make an accumulator bet that looks like this:

• The Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Championship
• Nikola Jokic to win MVP
• The total points scored from both teams to be over 250

In order to win, every individual wager would need to be successful. If you are new to accumulator betting, consider placing wagers with low odds, as they are more likely to come true.

Types Of Betting Offers For Basketball

NBA bookmakers have a variety of betting offers available. Below we have listed the most popular basketball promotions, which you should look out for when comparing different bookies.

Welcome Offers

Welcome offers are hugely important when it comes to NBA betting sites. This is because the promotion is wildly competitive, and so it is important to get the most value for your money.

Usually, it is in the form of free bets. For example, you may see:

• Bet €10 on your first wager and get €40 in free bets

There are many conditions you should consider when it comes to the welcome bonuses:

• The minimum value of odds your bet must have
• Which payment methods are excluded (e.g. Skrill, Neteller)
• How long you have to redeem this offer

Enhanced Odds

Enhanced odds, also known as odds boosts, are another common type of basketball betting offer. This is where betting sites astronomically increase the betting odds of a wager, means that you can make more money from it.

For example, say you were betting on the winner of the NBA championship. As this is a huge game, the bookmaker may temporarily promote enhanced odds, to encourage you to play.

• The original odds for the Los Angeles Lakers to win were 7/2
• The new odds for the Los Angeles Lakers to win are 13/1

You stake €10. If the Lakers won, your total returns will increase from €45 to €140, over triple the original bet! On the other hand, if they lose, you forfeit your €10 in both cases.

In-Play Betting

In-play betting is an innovative form of wagering, where the betting market opens as soon as the match begins. It closes minutes before the game is over.

Unlike pre-match betting, which can open months in advance, in-play betting is much more dynamic. You have the length of the game to place a bet, meaning you must be a quick thinker and relatively experienced.

There are several advantages of in-play betting:

• Watching NBA games live puts you at an advantage to other punters because of your real-time perspective
• The majority of betting sites will offer you free live-streaming after you stake on an in-play bet
• In comparison to pre-match betting, the outcome of the wager is revealed quicker
• It is a great way to improve your betting experience

Early Cash Out

Early cash out is a type of basketball offer which lets you close your wager at any time after placing it. This is perfect for new punters, because you can turn a profit despite the match result.

There are several different types of early cash out, but the most common are full or partial.

• Full cash out: this is the most common, where you close your entire wager. You profit you receive is a percentage of your original bet depending on how much time is left in the game, and the current match standings.
• Partial cash out: you can close half of your wager, but keep the other half open until the end of the game.

Early cash out can also be used in accumulator bets.

Basketball Betting Strategies

Whilst it is impossible to guarantee a winning bet, there are many strategies that punters can employ to give the wager a higher likelihood of success. Consider the tips below, whether you have years of experience or none whatsoever!

Check For Updates

No matter which sport or championship you are betting on, the main rule is to research. There are a few key factors that go into this.

• Knowing the previous winners of the NBA championships
• Comparing the betting odds of several bookmakers to ensure that you are maximising your profit
• Analysing the strengths and weakness of different teams (e.g. average points scored, ball possession, offense and defence tactics)
• Checking any roster updates that may affect the outcome of the game
• Being aware of injuries or sickness

Home Game Advantage

Each team plays approximately 82 games per NBA season, half of which are home games. When you are placing bets, consider that teams are more likely to win matches held in their home stadium. Not only are they accustomed to the conditions of the stadium, but they also have better morale because of their fans.

Compare Betting Sites

Comparing betting sites is imperative. There are hundreds of NBA bookmakers, and not all of them are worth your time. When placing a basketball bet, look out for:

• Search for the most competitive odds. The higher the odds, the bigger your profit will be if you win.
• Features like in-play betting and early cash out are key indicators of a good betting site
• Consider the reputation of the bookmaker and how existing customers review them

Track Your Bets

A great method to creating a more successful bet is by tracking previous ones. Every time you wager, keep a record of:

• The betting site you used
• When you placed the bet
• The betting markets
• How much money you staked
• Whether you won or lost
• The total profit or loss incurred

Although this may seem like overkill, most betting sites already have an activity log which displays your history. Consequently, you can then see your strengths and weaknesses laid out in front of you. For example, you may be more skilled within a certain market, or do better when you place bets closer to the match.

Have Financial Boundaries

Before you place a bet, you should have pre-existing financial limits. This means calculating how much money you can afford to spend on betting, and sticking to this figure. There are a few ways to make this easier:

• Use an e-wallet. You can separate your everyday expenses from your betting which makes it easier to keep to your limits.
• Set yourself limits, for example only 30 minutes a day
• Take time to think about your bets and evidence them, instead of rushing to wager.

FAQs On Basketball Betting

All in all, basketball betting is fun and rewarding. Understandably so, it can be overwhelming placing your first NBA bet; it is also daunting incurring your first loss. We hope our article has been helpful in explaining the types of betting offers and markets available in basketball, as well as suggesting top tips for improving your wagers.

Below we have included some frequently asked questions on NBA betting, which we may not have covered in the guide above. Lastly, good luck!

How Do I Place A Basketball Bet?

It is remarkably straightforward placing a basketball bet. Simply follow the instructions below:

• Log in to your betting site account, or alternatively new punters should register with your favourite bookmaker
• Search ‘basketball’ and click on the NBA tab
• Browse through the different markets (money line betting, individual player props betting, under/ over betting, handicap betting, futures betting, accumulator betting, and many more)
• Choose the market you are most interesting and search for the best odds
• Fund your betting site account if it isn’t already, and submit the wager
• Wait for the results of your bet!

Money should be transferred into your account 3 to 5 business days after your wager has been confirmed to be successful.

Why Should I Place A Basketball Bet?

There are many reasons why it is worthwhile placing a basketball bet. 

• The long NBA season is between October and April. There are around 82 games played per team, half of which are at home games, and the other half away games. This means in total there are around 1,230 games in a season! As a result, there is always lots to bet on.
• Due to the competitive and legendary nature of the NBA, a huge advantage is the high odds. You stand to make a huge profit because of this.
• All good bookmakers offer NBA live streaming. If you are an Irish punter, this drastically improves the betting experience, as you don’t need to fork out extra for streaming services.

What Are The Best Basketball Betting Sites?

Our top pick for the best basketball betting sites is bet365, 888sports, Ladbrokes, and Novibet. They have generous welcome bonuses, robust security and licensing, welcoming customer services, and plenty of engaging features such a high-quality live streaming.

However, there are many other basketball betting sites that Irish punters will adore. This includes BoyleSports and Paddy Power, which are based in Ireland! Other significant bookmakers include Bet Victor, William Hill, BetWay, betfair,, Quick Win, Pribet, Betition, and Leo Vegas.

Who Are The Previous NBA Winners?

A principal strategy for betting on the NBA is researching the previous winners of the championship. To save you time, we have included a list of the winning team in the recent years, as well as the MVP of the game.

YEAR	WESTERN CHAMPION	EASTERN CHAMPION	WINNER	MVP
2023	Denver Nuggets	Miami Heat	Denver Nuggets	Nikola Jokic
2022	Golden State Warriors	Boston Celtics	Golden State Warriors	Stephen Curry
2021	Phoenix Suns	Milwaukee Bucks	Milwaukee Bucks	Giannis Antetokounmpo
2020	Los Angeles Lakers	Miami Heat	Los Angeles Lakers	LeBron James
2019	Golden State Warriors	Toronto Raptors	Toronto Raptors	Kawhi Leonard

The current NBA season is that of 2023/2024, which began on Tuesday 24^th October 24^th 2023 and will end on Sunday 14^th April 2024. This is when the championship final will be held, and the overall winner will be announced.