Last week we gave you a primer on NBA point spread betting, which is  game that is easy to learn but hard to master. This week, we will give you pointers on how to increase your chances of winning, should you decide to try spread betting. Here are six tips in order to tip the scales in your favour:

1. Keep in mind that the house/bookie gets 10% of the winnings. This means that a winning bettor who bets $10 will get $19 (which consists of the original bet of $10 plus the $9 of winnings). A losing bettor, on the other hand, loses all $10 of his bet. Why is this important, you ask? It is important to take note of this because you will have to think twice before betting on a game. A bettor winning one out of two games still loses money (Since he shells out $20 for betting on two games, yet he only gets $19 in return).

2. Know who the home teams are and the visiting teams are. Home court advantage is a huge factor in the NBA. A good away team can still be beaten by a mediocre home team. In looking at the odds, you should also factor this in.

3. Always research before betting. For instance, it helps to know which team or player is in a slump and on a streak. This will increase you chances of winning. Another example is to check beforehand the injured players on a particular team team you are eyeing. NBA players are prone to injuries, and since the NBA has a long season (82 games per team), a team will usually sit out a player even if the injury is a minor one, especially if he is an important player. Teams do this in order to keep a player fresh come the last stretch of the regular season, or even the playoffs if the team is in contention. A missing player can be the difference between a win and a loss in spread betting, so knowing who will sit out in a game can help you decide whether to bet on a particular game or not.

4. If in doubt, do not bet. There are some games which are too close to call. So if you are not sure, just pass up on the opportunity. Carefully choose which games to bet on. After all, there can be as many 10 games per day. You do not have to bet on all of them. Remember the first tip: losing a bet is more costly than winning one.

5. Bet on the best point spread. This tip is somewhat ambiguous. To explain, most spreads will be too close to call (as stated in the 4th tip) especially for novice bettors. But there are some cases where the odds  obviously tilt in favor of one team. Bet on that kind of spread immediately, since the bookies normally change the odds in the course of the day once they realize this.

6. If you are new at NBA betting, it is better to keep track of only two or three teams. Know these teams by heart. Keep track of all their players, and even their coaching staff and their system. In this way, you will be more confident whenever you decide to bet for or against those teams.

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