Canada continues to be a popular place for basketball. Two years ago, Canada’s only NBA basketball team, the Toronto Raptors, won the NBA Title. This playoff run really elevated basketball betting in Canada. Canada is also developing top talent, with players such as RJ Barrett and Jamal Murray.
Different basketball betting options
Basketball is such an exciting game that you can make a lot of bets throughout the game. This page will focus on three of the most popular basketball betting options: spread betting and moneyline bets. You can also make futures or basketball prop bets.
Spread betting
This is the most popular form of basketball betting. This allows teams to play on an even field. You can bet on which team will win and your handicap.
The Toronto Raptors are the 3 point favorite over the Golden State Warriors in this example. To bet on Toronto winning, the Raptors must win the game by at least 4 points. A spread bet on the Warriors will win if they win the game or lose by one or two points. Spread bets that Toronto is ahead by 3 points will win the game. If Toronto wins, your wager amount will be returned.
Spread bets generally have odds of 1.91 on both sides, or -110 in American odds format. Sometimes, sportsbooks may only display the spread of the games without any accompanying odds. If this happens, you can assume that both sides of the spread have odds of 1.91
Moneyline betting
The moneyline is the best option if you are looking to bet straight up on the team that will win. Because Toronto is 3 points favourite, their moneyline odds are lower than Golden State’s.
If the Raptors win, the odds are 1.65. This means that you can expect a payout equal or greater to your wager amount multiplied with 1.65.
Golden State is a slight underdog with odds of 2.27. You would get a $227 payout if you bet $100 on the Warriors. This is equal to $127 in winnings.
Over/Under betting
Another popular bet involves wagering on how many points each team will score. Sports Interaction set the over/under at 235.5 points. It is possible to bet that the total score will be either over or below that number.
Prop Bets
A lot of stats can be tracked during a basketball match, which creates many prop bets that betting sites can make. Prop bets can basically be placed on anything other than the final outcome of a game.
These are just a few examples.
- Spread bets for the first half
- First quarter moneyline betting.
- Race to 20 points
- Race to 30 points
- Quartile with the highest scoring quarter
- A winning margin.
- Over/under total home team points
- Game total – odd, even.
These are just a few examples. The most prominent games, such as the NBA Championships and the Final Four, have a lot of prop betting. There are also many props that are player-based.
Bet on Canada’s Basketball Team’s Games
Canada’s past in international competitive basketball is not pretty. The team’s brightest spot is silver at the 1936 Olympics, the first Olympics to include basketball. The Canadian basketball team has been fourth in the games, but has not cracked the top five at the World Basketball Championships.
Canada’s last attempt in the FIBA World Basketball Cup was a disappointment. The Canadians were slapped 89-67 in Spain in 2010. They did not qualify for the 2014 tournament. Canada’s growing interest in basketball has resulted in the team being restructured and improved since then.
More and more players became interested in the sport as it grew in Canada. Canada’s national basketball team is no longer a one-trick pony. It has become a multi-talented group of players, with many replacements. Canada had 12 players in the National Basketball Association in 2016, and many more are expected to be drafted prior to the 2019 World Championships.
Over the next decade, NBA star Andrew Wiggins, Tristin Thomson, and Cory Joseph will be the key building blocks Canada places emphasis on. Jamal Murray, Thon Maker and other NBA stars will likely be joining them. Canadians can be confident in the country’s roster thanks to Steve Nash (two-time MVP).
Futures bets
Futures betting in basketball is based on betting on the outcome of the NBA Championship or the NCAA Championship.
Futures bets can be placed throughout the year. The odds for each team will vary depending on their chances of winning the Championship. Because they are currently playing well, I recommend not placing futures wagers on them.
When placing futures bets, you should consider the time value money. Once you place your bet, the money is secured until it is settled. Consider the time loss in your betting bankroll and decide if you would rather use that money on shorter term bets.
Other futures betting options include which NBA team will win each Conference, Division, and Conference Championship. You can also bet on which NCAA team will win each Conference Championship. And which country will win FIBA World Cup.
Last Updated on November 18, 2021