One way to kick your basketball experience up a notch is to have money riding on the game's outcome. This page will tell you how to bet on basketball games without getting into trouble with the law.

• For some hardcore sports fans, one way to add excitement to the games they love is by betting on them. The chance of winning or losing money makes the game's outcome that much more compelling. Between the NBA and the NCAA—particularly the March Madness championship tournament—there are plenty of opportunities to bet on basketball games.

(Creative Commons photo by Jennifer Stoddart)

• The key to betting on sports is to know how to do it legally.

1. Sports betting is illegal in the vast majority of states.
   • Only Delaware, Oregon, and Nevada have legalized sports gambling.
2. The legality of online betting is ambiguous at best.
   • When in doubt, err on the side of caution and assume a betting website is not legal.
3. Las Vegas is the center of sports gambling in America.

• When you're ready to lay your money down, you need to decide how to bet it.

1. One of the most common types of bet is the line bet.
   • To place a line bet, check the "point spread." The point spread determines how much a team must win by in order for your bet to be a winner.
   • Example: Team A is a 3 point favorite over Team B and you place a line bet on Team B. Team A wins by 2 points; Team B has covered the spread and you win.
2. Money line bets do not go against the point spread.
   • If a team is favored to win, you will need to place more money on them in order to win the same amount as if you had bet on the underdog.
   • Example: Team A is the favorite over Team B. You place a $150 bet on Team A. Team A wins, but you only win $120.
3. While betting on a winner is the most common way to bet, there are other types of bets that deal with scores and statistics.
   • Example: You bet that the total points scored in a basketball game will not exceed 200. The final score is 108 - 97; you have lost the bet.

• When done legally, sports betting can be fun. However, gambling can be addictive, so always exercise caution and never bet more than you can afford!

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• Introduction
• Step 1: Staying Legal
• Step 2: Types of Bets
• Conclusion