New NBA AllStar format could attract betting action

While some basketball purists are skeptical about this year’s new format for the NBA All-Star Game, the changes have curiosity brewing within the betting industry.

This year the league’s annual showcase is essentially multiple games within the game, which might entice more fans to get in on the action while it’s ongoing.

“I think there might be some fans who may view this as a very interesting and quite appealing introduction into the world of in-game betting, because the beauty of this format is it’s a huge talking point, said Alex Donohue, a sports gambling expert for the website Bet-NJ.com.

The NBA is doublingdown, hoping the changes energize players’ competitive juices. The contest is often more fun than game with players showing off their snazzy sneakers but not their best defensive stances. So the league is implementing the new format believing the change will stop the laissez faire approach to defense.

Scores will be reset to 0-0 for each of the first three quarters. Each time a team wins a quarter, it earns $100,000 for charity. The totals will then be added and the fourth quarter will be played to a target score the winning team will have to reach, rather than a standard 12-minute period.

Everyone will find out Sunday if players and bettors are more engaged.

“Whenever there’s a big talking point in sports and among groups of sports fans,” Donohue said, “inevitably fans have an opinion and when they’re legally allowed to bet it’s an opportunity to express that opinion.”

Donohue is based in Europe, where he says in-game betting can sometimes account for 70% to 80% of the action on a game. In-game betting isn’t as popular yet in the U.S., but he believes the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago could be a catalyst for change, saying it might be a “milestone” in sports gambling.