More than any other online sports betting forum, the NBA lacks the type of parity that can cause players to lose their cool. Whereas in the NFL the Cleveland Browns can shock the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots, the same type of outcome is unlikely in basketball. Nine out of ten times the Los Angeles Lakers are going to beat the New Jersey Nets by double-digit points regardless of where they play. But there is another way to make sure that the odds of betting on favorites are even more in their favor.

The best way to bet on NBA is to find a favorite that is struggling and go hard in their favor. For example, if the Lakers have lost three straight and are hosting the New Jersey Nets, then even if a teaser is a good option then the odds are well in favor of betting on the defending champions. One team to keep an eye on now is the Orlando Magic. The Magic had lost six of seven games before the organization made the decision to make major changes, and although they didn’t work in their first game together, Orlando is poised for a win. They play the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs in consecutive games before playing the Boston Celtics, and will be in tough to win either of those games, which means that they will be prime candidates to stop that skid when they play at the New Jersey Nets on Monday December 27.

Poker and sports betting are two popular entertainment pastimes with little in common on the surface. However, some similarities and comparisons can be drawn. Here are a few characteristics that poker and sports betting share.

Both Poker and Sports Betting Can Be Enjoyed Online

Both poker and sports betting lend themselves to online action. The combination of the Internet and poker or sports betting is particularly nice because it brings these gaming options to those who might not otherwise have access to them, because there is no sportsbook or casino in their area. It also allows players to see quickly and easily the bets that they want to make and can make note taking and money management easier.

Both Poker and Sports Betting Involve Risk

Obviously, both poker and sports betting are types of gambling. You risk a certain amount for the shot at a commensurate reward. The trick in both poker and sports betting, and in fact in any kind of gambling, is to make sure that you have an edge, so that the results are not quite as random for you as they are for others. In this way, even if you lose in the short term, you can come out ahead in the end.

Both Poker and Sports Betting Are Stimulating

There’s a good reason why millions of people flock to poker rooms and sportsbooks every year, whether they win or they lose. It’s exciting. The idea of instantly winning money as a result of your own (hopefully correct) decisions is a thrilling one. The adrenaline rush from watching or participating in an event with serious money on the line is difficult to compare. This is one of the great things about poker and sports betting, but it is also one of the most dangerous. If you have an addictive personality, you need to be very careful about how much time you devote to poker or betting on sports. It’s a good idea to participate in these activities with a level headed friend, who can keep you grounded and on track if you should start to go astray.