The NBA has become one of the most bet on sports leagues in the United States.
Massachusetts is home to the Boston Celtics who won their 18th NBA Championship in 2023-24 and are considered outside contenders this year. Vermont and Maine do not have NBA teams within state lines, but both states are within driving distance of Boston and home to many NBA fans.
On this page I will touch on the legal climate surrounding sports betting in Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, look at the three most popular NBA bets and explain where you can bet.
Where To Bet
Massachusetts has had legal online sports betting since March 2023. Vermont launched legal online sports betting in January 2024. Maine launched legal online sports betting in November 2023. Where it is legal, you generally must be 21 or older and physically located in the state to place a bet.
Other options include prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, daily fantasy sports apps where they are available, and offshore sportsbooks, which accept US customers but are not licensed or regulated by any state. Our guide to sports betting in the USA breaks down every option.
Sports Betting in Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine
Massachusetts has legalized sports betting, with in-person betting launching on January 31st, 2023 and online betting launching a couple months later on March 10th, 2023. There are currently seven regulated online sportsbooks active in the state.
Maine legalized sports betting in the state in August of 2022. It took the Maine Gambling Control Unit over a year to create the framework for regulated sports betting in the state, with the first regulated sports bets placed in November of 2023. There are currently two regulated betting apps available in Maine.
Vermont launched their regulated sports betting industry on January 11th, 2024. Sports betting is only available online and there are currently three regulated betting sites serving the Vermont market.
In short, regulated sports betting has launched in all three of the states. If you live in any of the states you also have the option to place bets through online betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the United States (in addition to the regulated sportsbooks).
NBA Betting Options
There are three NBA bets that take the majority of NBA handle. These are the point spread, money line and over/under bets.
Here’s an example of how the odds look for an NBA game:
In this example the Celtics are 2.5 point favorites at odds of -110. This means a $110 bet on the Celtics -2.5 would win $100 (pay $210) if the Celtics win the game by 3 or more points.
The middle odds are the ‘money line’ odds (also known as the “to win” odds). The Celtics have odds of -140 to win the game, which means a $140 bet on the Celtics would win $100 (pay $240). The 76ers are +120 underdogs, which means a $100 bet on the Sixers would win $120 (pay $220).
The third column is the over/under odds. The total for the game is set at 227 points. If 228 or more points are scored by both teams the over bets would win, while if 226 or fewer points are scored the under bets would win. If exactly 227 points are scored the bets would push and be returned.
Check out our basketball betting page for further breakdowns of these popular NBA bets.
Bet On The NBA in Massachusetts, Maine or Vermont
Whichever option fits you, getting set up only takes a few minutes. Here’s how it works.
Step 1. Choose Where To Bet
In Massachusetts and Vermont, licensed sportsbook apps such as DraftKings and FanDuel take bets on NBA games. In Maine, DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook take bets on NBA games online. Prediction markets and daily fantasy apps are another option if you want to trade on NBA games without a sportsbook account.
Step 2. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 or older in most states, while most prediction markets and DFS apps accept players from 18. Regulated platforms verify your identity and check your location, so have your ID handy.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
Head to the NBA section, choose the market you want, such as the point spread, money line or total, and enter your stake. Check the potential payout on the bet slip before you confirm. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
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