Along with football, basketball is one of the easiest games to place a bet on because it uses something called a Point Spread. Whether you are new to betting or are an avid ‘gambler,’ the Point Spread is quite easy to understand. It involves a handicap being placed on one team to put both teams on equal ground when betting. This particular method of sports betting has one team being the favorite while the other team is always labeled as the underdog. A handicap simply means that the favorite team gives up points to the underdog (team expected to lose) and this is simply for betting purposes. It has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on who wins or loses the actual game.

The way in which a Point Spread enters into the equation works like this. Take for example a game where the Miami Heat are the favorites and according to the Point Spread they are a 12 point favorite over the Cleveland Cavs (the underdogs) who they are playing. This means that bettors would only win if the underdogs, the Cavs, won by at least 13 points. They need to at least equal the amount of handicap points being awarded them, plus one. The person betting is asked to ‘lay odds’ which in this case would be 12 to 13 odds. In terms of money, it means that the person placing the bet is risking $13 to win $12. The bookie makes his money by taking a commission from the person who wins the wager.