You could call it the perfect storm.
This month, the NHL, NFL, MLB, and NBA will all be in regular season or post-season operation, making for what will surely be an unprecedented month of NJ sports betting.
The quartet will be complete tonight when the NBA tips its regular season into gear.
In this primer on sports betting in New Jersey, we’ll cover some of the basics of placing a bet on NBA games, where and how you can bet, and all the possible bonus offers and partnerships that may spark your fancy.
Home-court advantage is legit
Home-sweet-home is a legitimate motto for sports bettors. For NFL and NBA games, it’s an important point to consider when placing a bet.
Five Thirty-Eight lists the following home winning percentages across the four leagues you can bet on:
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NFL
- Regular season: 57.1 percent
- Postseason: 64.7 percent
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NBA
- Regular season: 59.9 percent
- Postseason:64.5 percent
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MLB
- Regular season: 54 percent
- Postseason: 54.2 percent
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NHL
- Regular season: 55.1 percent
- Postseason: 55.3 percent
The NBA and NFL present the biggest home court advantage in the regular season and postseason, as well as the biggest jump in odds from the regular season to the postseason: 7.6 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, the MLB’s home teams have a slight advantage in the regular season that only goes up 0.2 percent in the postseason.
While the NHL playoffs are quite a ways off, keep in mind that home-ice advantage goes up only 0.2 percent in the playoffs, too.
In-game betting in New Jersey
At the time of publishing, there are three main choices for in-game bets in New Jersey: DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and SugarHouse Sportsbook.
This is good news for the fast-paced action of the NBA.
DraftKings
Draftkings operates an NJ mobile betting platform via Resorts Atlantic City’s license.
It offers all the traditional betting options including in-game or in-play. Also, you can cash out instantly at any point during the game to avoid last-second losses.
Unlike FanDuel, DraftKings does not have a land-based sportsbook in New Jersey. Neither, for that matter, does SugarHouse. This means to enjoy the in-play betting options during an NBA game, you must download DraftKings Sportsbook or log in on your browser.
DraftKings, by the way, is a popular choice in New Jersey. It generated a good portion of the $8.5 million in revenue posted by Resorts in September.
FanDuel
Whereas DraftKings is available online or through a mobile device, FanDuel offers both the online/mobile and the land-based option for in-game betting.
The sports betting and DFS heavyweight has a physical location at Meadowlands Racetrack, making it one of eight tracks/casinos in the state with a physical sportsbook.
FanDuel finished second in September’s NJ sports betting revenue race, logging around $7.2 million.
SugarHouse
SugarHouse launched its iOS and Android mobile sports betting apps and online platform via Golden Nugget, arguably the state’s flagship casino for online gambling.
Granted, SugarHouse does not have a land-based presence in New Jersey, but that doesn’t matter. The site is an integrated app with both an NJ online casino and an online sportsbook.
Of the NJ online sportsbooks that allow in-game bets, SugarHouse finished third with $619,030 in revenue.
Futures bets
Futures bets allow you to place a bet on who will win a future competition. For example, you can place a bet on who you think will win the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, the World Series, AND the NBA Finals.
Futures bets are allowed online and in-person with all eight NJ sports betting operators. But it’s best to shop around for the deals that work for you.
A futures bet at DraftKings may not be the same odds as a futures bet at FanDuel.
NBA + Golden Nugget = no bets
If you were hankering to visit Golden Nugget sportsbook and place a bet on the Los Angeles Lakers or the Philadelphia 76ers, you’re out of luck. Golden Nugget cannot accept any bets on NBA games.
The casino’s owner, Tilman Fertitta, is the owner of the Houston Rockets. The dual relationship presents a conflict of interest, barring the casino from offering NBA bets.
Look for partnerships, promos and deals
As we head into the NHL and NBA regular seasons, keep an eye out for partnerships between sports betting operators and the two leagues.
For example, MGM Resorts International announced a partnership with the NBA and WNBA. In the wake of the announcement, MGM ran a free-play promo in which bettors could pick the over-under win totals for every NBA team. That contest ended just before tonight’s opening game, however.
Don’t think there’s a sportsbook promo right for you? Think again. BetStars NJ and FanDuel Sportsbook are churning out sports betting promos right and left.
The most recent NBA promo from BetStars is an ongoing one for fans of LeBron James. Place a moneyline bet on the Lakers, and if LeBron puts up 35+ points in a game, but the Lakers still lose, BetStars will gift you with $20 in free bets.
Future partnerships and promos are likely to continue as operators, leagues, and casinos get into the NJ sports betting spirit.