Basketball Handicap Betting Explained: A Complete Guide 2025
- Basketball handicap betting popular in NBA.
- Market reduces favourite’s points advantage.
- Creates value with odds on both sides.
- Flashscore shows trends and score history.
- Data helps maximise handicap betting success.
Richard Trenchard
Last updated 13 Nov 2025
Basketball handicap betting is one of the most popular markets for punters looking to find alternatives to classic bets like the money line. It’s hugely popular across NBA betting, as well as other top professional leagues worldwide.
Table of contents
- 1.What is a Handicap in Basketball?
- 2.Best Bookmakers for Basketball Handicap Betting
- 3.How Handicaps Work: Positive (+) vs. Negative (-)
- 4.The Flashscore Advantage: How to Research Handicap Bets
- 5.Important Handicap Rules
What is a Handicap in Basketball?
A handicap bet in basketball, which can often be known as a “point spread”, is a bet that seeks to “level the playing field”. For this to happen, a virtual points difference is created.
This point difference aims to make the betting odds more valuable to punters, with odds being closed slightly and making both sides of the bet appear more attractive. As the odds are more balanced, bookmakers can attract punters to place bets on both sides, rather than backing the favourite in terms of moneyline betting.
Best Bookmakers for Basketball Handicap Betting
Flashscore recommends using trusted UKGC-licensed betting sites for any sports betting wagering. However, some sites are better than others when it comes to offering basketball markets.
Use the recommended list of operators below to use those that feature a comprehensive and diverse range of betting markets, including handicaps for basketball betting:
| Overall rating | 87% |
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| Overall rating | 88% |
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| Overall rating | 86% |
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| Overall rating | 89% |
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SpreadEx isn’t necessarily the biggest name in the UK betting industry; however, it is one of the top options around. They offer a unique experience, ...
| Overall rating | 95% |
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How Handicaps Work: Positive (+) vs. Negative (-)
Before engaging in handicap basketball betting, it’s essential that bettors understand how this type of market works.
A number can appear with a plus or a minus. The minus is placed on the favourite, whereas the plus signifies the underdog.
The Negative Handicap (-) for the Favourite
When a team has a negative (minus) number next to it in the odds, it means they are the favourites to win the contest. The minus effectively means that they will need to win by a margin greater than the one that the bookie has set.
For example, imagine the LA Lakers are playing the Miami Heat. The Lakers are considered the favourite to win, leading the bookmaker to set the handicap at -10.5. In this scenario, the Lakers would need to win by 11 points or more for the bet to be successful.
Among bettors, this can be known as “covering the spread”.
The Positive Handicap (+) for the Underdog
Let’s take a look at the flip side of this game and the underdog. The Miami Heat may have a value of +10.5 as part of their handicap basketball betting market. If a punter wants to wager on this outcome, the bet can only win when the Heat win the game or lose by 10 points or fewer.
The Flashscore Advantage: How to Research Handicap Bets
Flashscore is a free tool that can be used on mobile (including a dedicated app) or desktop, offering a powerful advantage to bettors that can help with maximising success when placing handicap bets.
The coverage of statistics and data provided can help punters identify potential betting opportunities using the handicap, with the following aspects all possible to analyse…
Analyse Team Form and Scoring Averages
When looking at a basketball team’s page, Flashscore allows readers to see all of their previous results in a digestible manner. Once there, it’s possible to look at each scoreline with ease, allowing readers to analyse the point margins and scoring averages; both of which can play a role in handicap betting.
Head-to-Head (H2H) History
Flashscore also provides detailed historical data about how two teams fare when they play each other. Using the comprehensive Head-to-Head features, users of Flashscore simply need to click on the ‘H2H’ section of the page to find possible patterns that occur when the two teams face each other.
Are games often a blowout? Are they close in terms of scoring? The H2H will highlight this.
League Standings
Flashscore is an all-in-one free tool that can be used for all types of wagering. Users can obtain a quick overview of a team’s point-scoring ability and points differential by quickly browsing the standings page on the site.
Important Handicap Rules
Basketball handicap betting can feature specific rules that bettors must understand before placing this type of bet…
Quarter and Half Handicaps
While betting on the basketball handicap market is often enjoyed by many across an entire game’s outcome, it is also possible to wager on specific quarters or halves. These markets can uncover additional value when used.
What About Overtime?
Basketball will feature the use of overtime when a game is tied at the end of regulation. For betting purposes, games played in the NBA will include the OT result to help settle a bet.
Still, it is advisable to check with a chosen betting site to ensure this rule applies.
FAQ
What is the difference between a handicap and the moneyline?
The difference between a handicap bet and the moneyline is that one has a virtual advantage/disadvantage that must be met, whereas the latter is just betting on the outcome of the match. The points spread doesn’t need to be met with the moneyline bet.
What does "-5.5 points" mean in a basketball bet?
A handicap of -5.5 points means the favoured team must win by at least 6 points for the bet to win. If they win by five or lose, the bet loses.
Does my handicap bet include overtime?
Yes, your handicap bet will typically include overtime, unless stated by the bookie.
What is an Asian Handicap in basketball?
Asian Handicap and standard handicap (point spread) are functionally the same; they both assign a virtual deficit/advantage to balance the market.
How can I know if a team will "cover the spread"?
Using tools like Flashscore can highlight key metrics that can be used to make betting decisions about a cover being spread. You can use the tool to analyse average margin of victory/defeat, matchup history, recent form, injuries, and advanced stats.
Is it better to bet on the favourite or the underdog with the handicap?
There isn’t one that is better than the other. Favourites have higher win probability but often less value unless dominant; underdogs can deliver more profit but are riskier.
Where can I find good statistics for handicap betting?
Flashscore is the leading resource to find good statistics for all handicap betting needs, as we offer comprehensive coverage across a range of metrics.
Meet the Author
We're delighted to have Richard on board at Flashscore. Offering a wealth of experience, Rich used to be a national newspaper and sports journalist before focussing entirely on the igaming and sports betting spheres. That means he is able to combine super sharp editorial instinct and crisp content with a wealth of information, having worked with some of the biggest names in the business over the past decade. So, when you see Rich's name on an article, you know it's packed information you can trust. Whether it's information on a particular casino, betting terms explained, betting tips, the best betting sites around, or anything else, Rich has got your back.
