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What Are Blackjack Side Bets?Side bets are bonus bets placed on a round of Blackjack on outcomes beyond whether the player or dealer will win. The majority are staked at the start of the round before the cards have been dealt alongside regular bets and many have fixed odds that usually offer greater payouts than the simple 2:1 rewarded for beating the dealer.Play Blackjack at Pinnacle Casino

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Side bets provide an exciting way to make Blackjack games more interesting whilst offering you a greater number of ways to win. So what are side bets, what side bets are available and are they worth it? Read on to find out.

Blackjack Side Bets Explained

Finding a niche market in betting can often lead to value. This can be anything from specialist knowledge of handball betting to extensive experience in betting on Japanese baseball. Providing you know more than the bookmaker, there is money to be made.  &lt;Bet on soccer at Pinnacle&gt; They also make for interesting and potentially profitable bets, as they can be a little more reliable

Soccer odds

A corner is one of the most inexplicably exciting events in soccer. Only around three per cent of them lead to a goal, but you can guarantee that the attacking team’s fans will roar their approval and encouragement if their team are awarded one. Read on to find out how you can benefit from betting on corners.

Corners betting in soccer: Value in a lesser-known market

Poisson Distribution is a mathematical concept for translating mean averages into a probability for variable outcomes across a distribution. For example, if we know Manchester City average 1.7 goals per game, so by putting the Poisson Distribution formula tells us that this average equates to Manchester City&nbsp;scoring 0 goals 18.3% of the time, 1 goal 31% of the time, 2 goals 26.4% of the time and 3 goals 15% of the time.

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Poisson Distribution: Predict the score in soccer betting

What is Expected Value?The amount a player can expect to win or lose if they were to place a bet on the same odds many times over, calculated through a simple equation multiplying your probability of winning with the amount you could win per bet, and subtracting the probability of losing multiplied by the amount lost per bet.A simple example of Expected Value (EV) put into practice -&nbsp;if you were

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The Expected Value of a bet shows us how much we can expect to win (on average) per bet, and as such is the most valuable calculation a bettor can make when comparing bookmakers' odds. How can you calculate Expected Value in sports betting in order to predict your winnings? Read on to find out.

How to Calculate Expected Value

We have a team of editors and writers at Pinnacle, as well as a collection of external contributors, ranging from university lecturers and renowned authors, to ex-traders and esteemed sports experts. Collectively, the Pinnacle team and external contributors produce the educational content within Betting Resources.

The National Basketball Association consists of 30 teams (29 in America, one from Canada) divided into two conferences (East and West), which is subdivided into three divisions. Each of these play out 82 regular season games. The top eight teams in each conference are then seeded in order of record to play in a best of seven tournament where the conference champions will meet in the NBA finals to compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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<ul>
<li>Read: <a id="articleLink" style="color: #ff5500;" href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Basketball/the-ultimate-nba-betting-guide/ED82UTRAAALUM299">How to bet on the NBA: The ultimate betting guide</a></li>
</ul>
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<h3>NBA 2019-20 Championship odds</h3>
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<h2>NBA 2019-20 Championship odds</h2>
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<table class=" article-table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Team
</td>
<td>
Odds
</td>
<td>
Implied Probability (%)
</td>
<td>
Expected wins
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Los Angeles Clippers
</td>
<td>
4.670
</td>
<td>
21.41
</td>
<td>
54.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Los Angeles Lakers
</td>
<td>
4.960
</td>
<td>
20.16
</td>
<td>
51.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Milwaukee Bucks
</td>
<td>
7.330
</td>
<td>
13.64
</td>
<td>
57.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Philadelphia 76ers
</td>
<td>
9.130
</td>
<td>
10.95
</td>
<td>
54.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Houston Rockets
</td>
<td>
10.670
</td>
<td>
9.37
</td>
<td>
53.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Golden State Warriors
</td>
<td>
12.280
</td>
<td>
8.14
</td>
<td>
47.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Utah Jazz
</td>
<td>
18.260
</td>
<td>
5.48
</td>
<td>
54.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Denver Nuggets
</td>
<td>
21.300
</td>
<td>
4.69
</td>
<td>
52.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Brooklyn Nets
</td>
<td>
22.730
</td>
<td>
4.40
</td>
<td>
N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Boston Celtics
</td>
<td>
27.380
</td>
<td>
3.65
</td>
<td>
48.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Portland Blazers
</td>
<td>
33.950
</td>
<td>
2.95
</td>
<td>
46.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Toronto Raptors
</td>
<td>
41.600
</td>
<td>
2.40
</td>
<td>
46.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Indiana Pacers
</td>
<td>
41.760
</td>
<td>
2.39
</td>
<td>
46.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Miami Heat
</td>
<td>
46.670
</td>
<td>
2.14
</td>
<td>
43.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
San Antonio Spurs
</td>
<td>
80.160
</td>
<td>
1.25
</td>
<td>
46.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
New Orleans Pelicans
</td>
<td>
87.260
</td>
<td>
1.15
</td>
<td>
39.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Dallas Mavericks
</td>
<td>
97.410
</td>
<td>
1.03
</td>
<td>
40.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Orlando Magic
</td>
<td>
178.560
</td>
<td>
0.56
</td>
<td>
41.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Detroit Pistons
</td>
<td>
198.580
</td>
<td>
0.50
</td>
<td>
37.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Sacramento Kings
</td>
<td>
203.930
</td>
<td>
0.49
</td>
<td>
37.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Atlanta Hawks
</td>
<td>
229.290
</td>
<td>
0.44
</td>
<td>
33.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Chicago Bulls
</td>
<td>
305.370
</td>
<td>
0.33
</td>
<td>
32.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Memphis Grizzlies
</td>
<td>
305.370
</td>
<td>
0.33
</td>
<td>
27.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Minnesota Timberwolves
</td>
<td>
305.370
</td>
<td>
0.33
</td>
<td>
35.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Oklahoma City Thunder
</td>
<td>
330.730
</td>
<td>
0.30
</td>
<td>
31.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Washington Wizards
</td>
<td>
356.090
</td>
<td>
0.28
</td>
<td>
28.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Phoenix Suns
</td>
<td>
457.560
</td>
<td>
0.22
</td>
<td>
28.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Charlotte Hornets
</td>
<td>
508.280
</td>
<td>
0.20
</td>
<td>
23.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Cleveland Cavaliers
</td>
<td>
508.280
</td>
<td>
0.20
</td>
<td>
24.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
New York Knicks
</td>
<td>
609.730
</td>
<td>
0.16
</td>
<td>
26.5
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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This upcoming NBA season will be one of the most open title races to date, with free agency and player movement changing the landscape of the league and causing uncertainty amongst the market and bettors.
Take a look back to last season and it was a case of Golden State Warriors vs. The Field, with the odds having the Golden State Warriors overwhelmingly as the favourites (1.500) to not only three-peat but also make it four championships in as many years.
Fast forward to the 2019-20 season, and the L.A. Clippers and L.A. Lakers are battling it out to lead the betting with the Warriors on the outside looking in. 
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The Warriors (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">12.280*</a>) offseason not only saw the departure of Kevin Durant and the acquisition of returning All-Star guard, D’Angelo Russell but also the loss of players with championship experience in Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala to retirement and trade respectively. All of this, coupled with Klay Thompson missing the first few months of the season, means that a lot of the workload will have to be carried by Stephen Curry&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">6.620*</a>&nbsp;to win MVP) for Golden State to stay competitive in the conference.
Golden State cannot be dismissed with the talent they have when healthy, and could challenge for the conference (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">7.020*</a> Western Conference) if they get off to a good start.
<h3>The Battle for L.A.</h3>
(video via <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nba-free-agency-diary-the-battle-for-l-a/">https://fivethirtyeight.com</a>)
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With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining the Clippers following a trade that landed Anthony Davis alongside Lebron James with the Lakers, Los Angeles has become the basketball capital of the world.
At long last, the Los Angeles Lakers (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">4.960*</a>) landed the second superstar they wanted to pair with LeBron James and shifted into “championship or bust” mode with key acquisitions such as Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard along with new head coach, Frank Vogel. If they can do this, the Lakers will be one of the favourites to make it out of the Western conference (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">3.170*</a>).
<blockquote>"With the NBA’s fifth youngest roster, including franchise corner stone and all-NBA member Nikola Jokic who is only 24, management’s belief is that they can continue their rise to the top."</blockquote>
The “Other team” in Los Angeles, The Clippers (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">4.670*</a>) last season finished eighth in the western conference and thrived on their offensive production (top five in points per game and top ten in offensive Rating) but faulted on their defence (25th and 21st in opponent points per game and defensive rating). They have tried to address that issue by adding two of the best defensive wings in the basketball, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George along with Patrick Beverly now have the best perimeter defensive in the league are well placed as this season’s co-favourites.
Opening night of the new season will be the first of many these two clubs will battle for Los Angeles (October 22: LAL –<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers-vs-los-angeles-clippers/1022523048">&nbsp;2.040&nbsp;*</a> vs. LAC – <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers-vs-los-angeles-clippers/1022523048">1.869*</a>).
<h3>Who will be the 2019-20 NBA Champions? The Contenders</h3>
Likewise, the Brooklyn Nets (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">22.730*</a>) have for the most part kept their nucleus intact and added three former all-NBA players in Kyrie Irving and Dandre Jordan while they wait for their fellow new teammate Kevin Durant to recover from injury, and they are more than capable of making noise this season.
<div class="articleV2 unordered-list">
<ul>
<li>Read: <a id="articleLink" style="color: #ff5500;" href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Basketball/three-point-shots-nba/VPN2MLSADYW5FPZL">The rise of the three-point shot in the NBA</a></li>
</ul>
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Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">21.300*</a>) decided the roster they had did not need to be changed drastically and kept its core intact. With the NBA’s fifth youngest roster, including franchise corner stone and all-NBA member Nikola Jokic who is only 24, management’s belief is that they can continue their rise to the top. Can last season’s number two seed in the west, who was only one win away from the conference final, improve and be crowned western conference champions (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">12.040*</a>) and go on to win the NBA 2019-20 title winners?
It’s only been a year since Mike Bundenholzer overhauled the offense, but what a year it has been for Milwaukee (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">7.330*</a>). He has changed their philosophy to emphasise three point shooting and floor spacing and it allowed Giannis Antetokounmpo more room to operate.
<div class="articleV2 unordered-list">
<ul>
<li>Read: <a id="articleLink" style="color: #ff5500;" href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Basketball/can-toronto-raptors-repeat-nba-champions-2020/8BC2Z4WRJ7QYP2NA">Can the Raptors repeat?</a></li>
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The change payed off with <a href="https://www.nba.com/nbaawards/2019/finalists">individual and team successes</a> as the Bucks owned the best record in the league finishing with 60 wins and the number one seed going into the postseason. However, it all ended with disappointment with an exit in the Eastern Conference finals to eventual champions, the Toronto Raptors (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">41.600*</a>). The playing roster remains largely unchanged giving them another chance to run it back and thus are well placed to be one of the best teams in the east (Bucks to win Eastern Conference -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">2.580*</a> ).
<h3>NBA Championship predictions: Teams to watch</h3>
Sacramento Kings (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">203.930*</a>) are one of the teams that are on the rise and could potentially hold some value for futures bettors. The Kings are coming off their best season since 2005-06 with a record of 39-43, only just missing out on the playoffs in the ultra-competitive West.
<div class="articleV2 unordered-list">
<ul>
<li>Read: <a id="articleLink" style="color: #ff5500;" href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Basketball/how-to-make-accurate-nba-predictions/V242SVE4V7M7RBK9">How data can help your NBA betting</a></li>
</ul>
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Another season together for the young and talented nucleus of De’Aron Fox, Marvin Bagley, Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic should see them improve and come close to Pinnacle’s expected win total of 37.5. Would winning the Pacific division be considered a jump too far?
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Middle of the pack regulars, Miami Heat (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">46.670*</a>)&nbsp;are another team to consider with the recent addition of Jimmy Butler and couple that with their aim to acquire another star (Bradley Beal, Chris Paul) to pair him, means they have a chance to take out the weak Southeast division (<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups">2.020*</a>) and could challenge Pinnacle’s expected win total of 43.5.
Get the latest odds on <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/basketball/nba/matchups/">NBA matches, futures and player props</a> with Pinnacle.

NBA betting odds

NBA 2019-20 season preview: Who will win the NBA Championship?

Who will win the NBA 2019-20 Championship? Who are the favourites? What are the teams to watch? Read this NBA 2019-20 championship betting preview to find out

NBA 2019-20 season betting preview

Thirty teams will compete for the title of National Basketball Association Champion, widely considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world. Who will win the Larry O’Brien Trophy? Read on to inform your NBA outright predictions.