This guide covers what you need before your first NBL bet. That includes all 10 NBL27 teams, every main market, how to read American odds, and tip-off times in ET. The NBL27 regular season started on September 19, 2026, and runs 21 rounds with 165 games.
Key Insights: NBL Betting for US Bettors
NBL betting for US bettors comes down to five facts you can check before placing a bet.
- The NBL has 10 teams: nine in Australia and the New Zealand Breakers.
- The Sydney Kings are the defending champions after winning NBL26, their sixth title.
- Core NBL odds markets are the moneyline, point spread and game total, but each sportsbook sets its own menu.
- The most common NBL27 start time, 7:30 pm AEDT, is 3:30–4:30 am ET.
- Online sports betting is legal only in some US states, and most of them set the minimum age at 21.
What Is Australia’s National Basketball League?
The National Basketball League (NBL) is the top pro basketball competition in Australia and New Zealand. It was founded in 1979 and now runs with 10 teams. The table shows each club and its home base.
| Team | Home base |
| Adelaide 36ers | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Brisbane Bullets | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Cairns Taipans | Cairns, Queensland |
| Illawarra Hawks | Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Melbourne United | Melbourne, Victoria |
| New Zealand Breakers | New Zealand |
| Perth Wildcats | Perth, Western Australia |
| South East Melbourne Phoenix | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Sydney Kings | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Tasmania JackJumpers | Hobart, Tasmania |
The Sydney Kings are the reigning champions after beating the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL26 Championship Series. Even so, the Perth Wildcats still hold the league record with nine titles. The Illawarra Hawks won the season before, NBL25.
Why US Basketball Fans Follow the NBL
The NBL’s Next Stars program gives NBA prospects a pro season before the draft. LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr all came through it. Sarr went second overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The pipeline is still producing picks. In the 2026 draft, Breakers forward Karim López went 21st overall and joined the Memphis Grizzlies. For NBL27, the Cairns Taipans signed point guard Luke Paul, who becomes draft-eligible in 2028.
If you bet player props on a Next Star, check team news for his minutes before you place the bet.
How to Bet on the NBL From the US
Whether you can bet on the NBL depends on two things: your state and your sportsbook. Online sports betting is legal in some US states and not in others. Each legal state licenses its own sportsbooks and sets its own minimum age.
Most of those states set the minimum age at 21, though a few allow betting at 18. Even so, some sportsbooks require you to be 21 where state law allows 18. If you are new to betting on any sport, start with our sports betting guide.
Checks Before Your First NBL Bet
Run through these checks before you deposit at any sportsbook.
- Confirm online sports betting is legal in the state you are in.
- Check that the sportsbook holds a license from that state’s regulator.
- Open the basketball menu and look for a listing such as “Australia NBL” or “NBL”.
- Note which markets it offers: spreads, totals, props, live betting and futures.
- Switch the odds display to American if the book shows decimal odds.
NBL Betting Markets Explained
NBL betting markets work much like NBA markets, but a shorter game changes a few details. NBL games follow FIBA rules, with four 10-minute quarters for 40 minutes in total. That is eight minutes shorter than an NBA game.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is a pick on who wins the game outright. Basketball has no ties, because a five-minute overtime settles a level score. Favorites carry a minus price and underdogs carry a plus price.
Point Spread
The point spread gives the underdog a head start in points. In a hypothetical game, Team A at -6.5 must win by 7 or more for your bet to win. If you back Team B at +6.5, it covers by winning or losing by 6 or fewer.
Each side of the spread also carries its own price, such as -110. That price tells you what you risk and what you can win.
Game Totals (Over/Under)
A total, or over/under, is a bet on the combined points both teams score. NBL totals posted in October 2026 ranged from 182.5 to 186.5 points. Keep the 40-minute game length in mind if you compare them with NBA totals.
Player Props
Player props are bets on one player’s stats, such as points, rebounds or assists. Check each sportsbook’s NBL game page to see which props it offers for that game.
Parlays
A parlay links two or more bets into one ticket for a bigger potential payout. However, every leg must win, so a single miss loses the whole ticket.
Live Betting
Live betting lets you bet while a game is in play, with odds updating as the score changes. Most NBL games tip off overnight in the US, so live betting suits early risers. Our live sports betting guide explains how in-game markets work.
Championship Futures
A futures bet is a pick on a season-long result, such as who wins the NBL27 championship. The price you take is locked in, even if the odds move later in the season.
How to Read NBL Odds in American Format
American odds show how much you win, or need to risk, relative to $100. A plus number shows your profit on a $100 bet. A minus number shows what you must risk to make $100 profit.
| American odds | Stake | Profit if it wins | Total return |
| +150 | $100 | $150 | $250 |
| +250 | $20 | $50 | $70 |
| -110 | $110 | $100 | $210 |
| -120 | $50 | $41.67 | $91.67 |
Odds also show the chance the sportsbook gives an outcome. A -120 price implies about a 54.5% chance, or roughly 11 wins in 20 tries. Meanwhile, a +150 price implies 40%, or 2 wins in 5.
Converting Decimal Odds to American Odds
Some sites show decimal odds, which include your stake in the number. For decimals of 2.00 or higher, subtract 1 and multiply by 100, so 3.50 becomes +250. For decimals under 2.00, divide -100 by the decimal minus 1, so 1.80 becomes -125.
Prices move as money comes in and team news breaks. The same team can carry different odds at two sportsbooks, so compare before you bet. If you also bet the US league, our NBA odds page covers it.
NBL27 Season, Futures and Game Times in ET
NBL27 runs on a different calendar and clock from US basketball. These sections cover how the season works and when games land in ET.
How the NBL27 Season Works
The regular season runs 21 rounds, and each club plays at least 33 games. Wednesday nights also host 20 Ignite Cup fixtures, a cup competition played within the regular-season rounds. In January, Perth hosts HoopsFest, with 10 NBL and WNBL games over five days.
After the regular season, the top two teams go straight to best-of-three semifinals. Teams ranked third to sixth meet in a play-in, which fills the last two semifinal spots. The semifinal winners then play the best-of-five Championship Series.
The NBL has used this finals format since NBL23. The NBL27 calendar keeps the same play-in, semifinal, and Championship Series stages.
NBL27 Championship Futures
We do not list NBL27 futures prices here, because they shift after every round. Instead, check the futures menu at a sportsbook licensed in your state for current prices. As a starting point, Sydney enters as defending champion and Adelaide reached last season’s decider.
NBL Tip-Off Times in ET
Australian schedules list NBL start times in AEDT, the Sydney clock, even for games in Perth or Adelaide. The table converts the start times used in NBL27 Rounds 4 and 5 into ET.
| Start time (AEDT) | Typical slot | ET through Oct 31 | ET from Nov 1 to Mar 13 |
| 7:30 pm | Weeknights and Saturdays | 4:30 am same day | 3:30 am same day |
| 9:30 pm | Late Saturday games in Perth | 6:30 am same day | 5:30 am same day |
| 5:30 pm | Saturday early games | 2:30 am same day | 1:30 am same day |
| 5:00 pm | Sunday late afternoon | 2:00 am Sunday | 1:00 am Sunday |
| 3:00 pm | Sunday afternoon | 12:00 am Sunday | 11:00 pm Saturday |
US clocks change on November 1, 2026, and again on March 14, 2027, shifting every game by an hour. From March 14, use the first ET column again. For example, the Kings hosted the Breakers at 7:30 pm AEDT on October 14, 2026, or 4:30 am ET.
What to Compare Before Choosing an NBL Sportsbook
The right sportsbook for NBL betting is one that is legal in your state and actually lists the league. After that, these checks help you compare one book with another for NBL bets.
| What to check | What to look for |
| State license | Use only books licensed in the state you are in when you bet. |
| NBL listing | Find the NBL in the basketball menu before you deposit. |
| Market depth | Compare which props and live markets each book offers on NBL games. |
| Odds display | Choose American odds to compare NBL prices with US lines. |
| Settlement rules | Check whether overtime counts toward spreads and totals, and how postponed games are graded. |
| Promotion terms | Read the terms before opting in to see whether NBL bets qualify. |
This guide does not rank sportsbooks for NBL coverage. Our sportsbook reviews break down individual operators one at a time.
Responsible NBL Betting
Every NBL bet carries a real risk of losing the money you stake. No odds, system, or tip can guarantee a profit. Set a dollar limit before the season starts, and stop when you reach it.
Overnight tip-offs add their own risk. If a game starts at 4:30 am ET, place your pre-game bet the evening before or skip it. Ask your sportsbook about deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion.
Our responsible gambling tools guide shows how those settings work. If betting stops feeling like fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free support. You can also learn the warning signs in our gambling addiction guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About NBL Betting
These answers cover the questions US bettors ask most about the NBL.
Is NBL Betting Legal in the US?
Yes, in states that license online sports betting, as long as your sportsbook lists the NBL. As of October 2026, sports betting is legal in 39 states and Washington, DC. Of those, 31 states plus DC allow online betting. Check your state regulator’s list of licensed operators before you sign up.
How Many Teams Play in Australia’s NBL?
Ten teams play in NBL27. Nine are based in Australia, from Perth in the west to Cairns in the north and Hobart in the south. The tenth is the New Zealand Breakers. Early in NBL27, the Tasmania JackJumpers led the ladder after Round 4.
Who Won the NBL26 Championship?
The Sydney Kings won NBL26, beating the Adelaide 36ers 3–2 in the best-of-five Championship Series. The deciding Game 5 was in Sydney, because the top seed hosts Games 1, 3 and 5. Kendric Davis was named Finals MVP. Meanwhile, Adelaide’s Bryce Cotton won the regular-season MVP award, so both finalists had a headline star.
What NBL Betting Markets Are Available?
Moneylines, point spreads, and game totals are the standard NBL markets at books that list the league. Some sportsbooks add player props, parlays, live betting and championship futures. Menus can change from game to game, so check the specific game page before you plan a bet.
How Do American NBL Odds Work?
A minus number shows what you risk to win $100, and a plus number shows what $100 wins. So -150 means risking $150 for $100 profit. At +200, a $100 bet returns $200 profit. In both cases, you also get your stake back when the bet wins.
What Time Do NBL Games Start in ET?
NBL27 games start between 11:00 pm and 6:30 am ET, depending on the slot and time of year. The most common start, 7:30 pm AEDT, is 4:30 am ET through October. From November 1, it moves to 3:30 am ET. Sunday afternoon games come closest to US evening viewing.
Can I Bet on NBL Games Live?
Yes, if your sportsbook offers in-game markets for NBL games. Check the live menu before tip-off, since most games start in the early hours of the morning in ET. Set your limit before the game begins, because live odds update after every score.
Are NBL Championship Futures Available?
Yes, as long as your sportsbook carries NBL futures. Futures markets stay open through the season, and prices shorten or drift after each round. Your stake stays locked until the NBL27 champion is crowned at the end of the Championship Series.
Our basketball betting guide is the next stop if you also bet on other leagues.
