What is a 3-way bet in basketball?

An explanation of 3-way betting in basketball

Unsurprisingly, a three-way betting market in basketball has three betting outcomes available to you. Looking at the three-way version of the moneyline market, you can bet on Team A to win, Team B to win or the tie. Either team must win the game in regulation time. If the game is tied and goes into overtime, the tie wins in the 3-way market. 

Some basketball bettors may prefer the moneyline to a 3-way bet, especially if they like to back teams to win. That’s because a moneyline bet on Team A or B will carry even if the game goes into overtime. If you back Team A on the moneyline and they eventually win in overtime, it’s a winning bet. If you back Team A in a 3-way market, it’s a losing bet if the game’s tied after regulation time. 

3-way betting applies to several basketball leagues and competitions, including the NBA. That’s because a three-way tie bet is considered a winner if the scores a level at the end of regulation time. Some FIBA tournaments also allow for games to end in a draw without the need for overtime, bringing three-way betting markets into play. 

There are other examples of three-way betting markets applicable to wagering on basketball. We’ll explore some of these in greater detail shortly. 

Examples of 3-way basketball bets

If you like the idea of incorporating three-way bets into your basketball betting strategy, check out these five variants of three-way markets available to use pre-game or in-play. 

3-way moneyline bets

Let’s say the Denver Nuggets are scheduled to play the Los Angeles Lakers and you take a look at Parimatch’s NBA odds. The Nuggets are the in-form team and are priced at 4/5 to win on the 3-way moneyline. The Lakers are the underdogs at 5/4, and the Tie is priced at 15/1. 

Usually, a bet on the Nuggets to win at 4/5 on the 2-way moneyline would yield a return if Denver win in regulation time or overtime. However, with the Tie in play, if the scores are level at the end of regulation time, those who take the 15/1 Tie bet will run out the winner. 

3-way quarter bets

Another option is to take the 3-way betting markets in specific quarters of a basketball match. At Parimatch, we offer three-way markets on all four quarters. For instance, you could get odds on Team A and B to be leading at the end of the first quarter, as well as odds on the game being a tie. If you anticipate a slow, cagey start between two evenly-matched teams, a Tie bet in the opening quarter could offer some value in certain scenarios. 

There’s also an option to bet three-way on the first and second half of basketball games with Parimatch. This could be useful if you’ve profiled that a team are slow starters and finish matches strongly. You could bet in-play on the 3-way second-half market, taking the Tie bet in the hope that the losing team start to peg the winning team back and draw level near the end of regulation time. 

3-way handicap bets

Handicap betting markets, also known as point spread markets, are another popular option among basketball bettors seeking value. 

Let’s imagine the Boston Celtics are playing Orlando Magic. The traders have set a 9-point handicap line. A 3-way handicap market will look something like this: 

• Orlando Magic (+9) – 5/6 
• Draw – 16/1 
• Boston Celtics (-9) – 4/5 

In this example, if you think the Celtics are most likely to win by nine points, you’d back the Draw in this 3-way market. If you believe Boston will win by ten or more points, you’d back the Celtics. Similarly, if you think Orlando Magic are undervalued and will lose by less than nine points, back the Magic. 

3-way winning margin bets

Winning margin markets are another opportunity to find value on pre-game favourites and underdogs. 

Let’s stick with the Boston Celtics Vs Orlando Magic example. Imagine the traders have set margin of winning by six points. A 3-way winning margin market will look something like this: 

• Orlando Magic (Win by 6+) – 11/1 
• Boston Celtics (Win by 6+) – 1/2 
• Neither Team – 5/1 

In this example, you’d back the extra betting option of Neither Team if you believe the game will be a more even contest than the traders expect. If either team wins by a margin or five points or less, the Neither Team selection wins. 

3-way total points bets

The total points market is another credible option for experienced basketball bettors, requiring you to correctly predict the combined total of points scored by both teams in an upcoming game. 

Let’s imagine the sportsbook traders have set points benchmarks of 160 and 182, 160 being the lowest points total and 182 being the highest points total. A 3-way total points market will look something like this: 

• Less than 160 points – 4/1 
• 161 to 182 points – 1/1 
• 183+ points – 9/4 

Pros and cons of 3-way bets in basketball

Pros of 3-way bets 

• 3-way betting markets typically offer higher odds than two-way markets in basketball. 
• Ideal if you’re betting on two basketball teams with higher overtime ratios. 
• 3-way basketball bets can be combined on the same betslip as a three-fold, four-fold, acca or Lucky 15. 
• In some leagues, backing the pre-game favourite in the 3-way 1st Quarter market is a sound move as teams with the highest winning percentages tend to start strongly and are capable of covering point spreads early on. 

Cons of 3-way bets 

• Margins offered by sportsbooks tend to be smaller in 3-way markets than two-way markets. 
• You’re increasing your risk of losing the bet since the theoretical risk of winning is 33.33% rather than 50%. 
• 3-way moneyline bets are risky as the Tie happens only 85 times in the 1,230-game NBA regular season on average. 

The importance of doing your research when 3-way betting on basketball

Put simply, 3-way betting in basketball can add another string to your bow, providing you take the time to do your pre-game research. If you believe there are two very evenly-matched teams locking horns, the likelihood of a match being tight and going into overtime will naturally increase, thereby making a tie bet a credible play for value. 

Three-way betting markets are also an option when it comes to points spreads and handicaps. If you heavily fancy one team over another, you can get more value on the 3-way handicap by backing the pre-game favourites to cover the pre-game point spread. 

Just make sure you do your research on the heavy favourite as well as the pre-game underdog. Look at their form, head-to-head history and any injury news which could strengthen or weaken either roster. 

One aspect that many newbies to basketball betting overlook is the fixture schedule. It’s demanding in most domestic leagues, especially the NBA, where some teams play back-to-back evenings. If you don’t factor this and potential fatigue into the equation, you could end up red-faced by the final buzzer.  

How to place a 3-way basketball bet with Parimatch

Are you looking to bet on basketball with Parimatch for the first time? Click at the top of the page to create an account with us today. Once you’ve supplied your details and we’ve verified your identity, you can fund your account using multiple payment methods and start betting with Parimatch on any device. Just ensure you’re logged in to add three-way bets to your betslip. 

At Parimatch, we cover all the major domestic basketball leagues, including the NBA, the Italian Lega A, the Australian NBL and the Philippines MPBL. We also offer markets across the biggest continental basketball competitions, such as the EuroLeague, the FIBA Europe Cup and the Asian Games. 

Before you start betting on basketball with us, make sure you familiarise yourself with our Safer Gambling Portal. This includes a wealth of tools and limits you can activate to cap your daily, weekly and monthly losses or even self-exclude yourself if it all gets too much.