The 2026 NBA Finals get underway this Wednesday, June 3rd (full schedule). The New York Knicks ran through the Eastern Conference playoffs dropping just 2 games early in round 1 before winning 10 straight to sweep through the Conference semifinals and finals en route to the finals. This will be the Knicks first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in 5 games. The Knicks have not won an NBA title since 1973. Coming out of the West is the 2nd seeded, San Antonioa Spurs. The Spurs were able to knock off the league leading OKC Thunder in a tight 7 game series. This was the Spurs first playoff appearance since 2019 and they quickly did damage to advance to the finals. The Spurs last won the NBA Championship in 2014.
The San Antonio Spurs are 2-1 favorites heading into the finals. Victor Wembanyama is playing great basketball and the depth and defense of the team has been on display all playoffs.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby are also playing great basketball, and you cannot count out the Knicks who have won 11 straight games in these playoffs since being down 2 games to 1 in the first round.
On this page we explain the options Americans have for betting on the 2026 NBA Finals, look at the series and Game 1 odds, and finish with a step by step guide to getting started.
Where Can Americans Bet On The NBA Finals?
Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on the NBA Finals in the United States.
Licensed Sportsbooks
Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C., where licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on the NBA Finals. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed.
Prediction Markets
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of the NBA Finals. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states, including states without legal sports betting.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps such as PrizePicks and Underdog offer player stat contests in most states. Rather than betting on who wins, you pick whether players will go over or under a statistical projection.
Offshore Sportsbooks
Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.
2026 NBA Finals Winner Odds
Here are the series winner odds (odds accurate as of June 1st). These odds will change throughout the series.
The series odds indicate the Spurs have an implied probability of 67.7% to win the series, while the Knicks have a 37% chance of winning the title. The extra 4.7% is the juice.
Sportsbooks also offer a full list of prop betting futures markets for the series.
Here are the Game 1 odds (odds taken on June 1st):
The Spurs are 5 point favorites at home in game 1. I expect the games played in New York to be closer to pick’ems. Sportsbooks offer hundreds of betting markets for each NBA Finals game.
Check out our basketball betting section to learn more about the most common bets you can make on NBA games.
How To Bet On The NBA Finals – Step By Step
Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose Your Option
Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Licensed sportsbooks offer the full range of bets where they are available, prediction markets let you trade contracts on the outcome, and DFS apps are built around player stats. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets and DFS apps require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet
Navigate to the NBA section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before the series starts and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
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