Sports Betting On The Detroit Pistons In Michigan

The 2021-22 NBA season is over, and once again it was a rough run for the Detroit Pistons. They missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and their .280 winning percentage (23-59 overall) was barely better than in 2020-21 when they went 20-52 for a .278 winning percentage.

This season ended with the Golden State Warriors winning their fourth championship in eight years after defeating the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

When the 2024-23 season tips off in the fall, Michigan’s sports betting apps will be open and ready to take some Pistons wagers. Perhaps they’ll be better next season with the addition of a high draft pick.

Here’s what basketball fans need to know about betting on the Pistons.

Pistons Odds At The Best Sportsbooks

Sportsbook 2023 NBA Title 2023 Eastern Conference Title
DraftKings 700-to-1 300-to-1
BetMGM 750-to-1 250-to-1
BetMGM 750-to-1 250-to-1

Where Can Michiganders Bet On The Pistons?

If you’re near a casino, you’ll eventually have a place to bet. All of Michigan’s casinos plan to offer sports betting at their locations, and most of them now do. Apparently, the thirst for sports betting built up over the five-year effort to legalize it. The MGM Grand Detroit was the first casino to open its sportsbook. It began the very Wednesday that the state allowed sportsbooks to operate. MotorCity and Greektown followed closely behind, giving bettors early betting options. Just in time for the pandemic.

The Michigan Gaming Commission has finally written the regulations governing online and mobile betting, so online sports betting officially launched in late January 2021. When online sportsbooks do launch, expect to bet on the Pistons on various sports betting apps

FanDuel

The MotorCity Casino Hotel has partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook to provide both retail and online sports betting. The online sportsbook app, one of the top two in the US, launched in Michigan as part of the first wave of sports betting apps to hit the market on January 22, 2021.

DraftKings

The other top sports betting app, DraftKings, comes to Michigan as a partner of Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Through the agreement, DraftKings has launched both an in-person sportsbook at Bay Mills along with its top-rated sports betting app.

PointsBet

Northern Waters Casino Resort, Watersmeet is the official retail partner for PointsBet. Like other sports betting apps in Michigan, launched in late January 2021. Michigan bettors can use the app to take advantage of NBA betting options, including the sportsbook’s unique “PointsBetting” wagering system.

Retail Sportsbooks In Michigan

There are three commercial casinos in Detroit with sportsbooks that went live almost as soon as in-person sports betting did. The first casino in Detroit to launch its sportsbook was Greektown Casino-Hotel, which reopened as Barstool Sportsbook in late December 2020. It’s the first retail sportsbook in the US for the Barstool Sportsbook brand.

In March, MGM Grand Detroit opened its retail sportsbook, called BetMGM Sports Lounge. Although coronavirus restrictions forced the casino to close its sportsbook after just a few days of operation, it’s back open again as of late January 2021. It’s an excellent option for Pistons fans who want to bet in person this season.

FanDuel is partnered with MotorCity partnered where it offers its retail sportsbook. All of the above Detroit sportsbooks accept Pistons betting.  

How NBA Betting Odds Are Calculated

There are a few ways that odds are often presented to NBA bettors. The most common are points spread, moneyline, and over/under. Moneyline odds are adjusted so that the payout is representative of each team’s chance of winning. For example, a Lakers versus Pistons game might show -300/+150, respectively. The negative sign indicates the team favored to win, whereas the plus sign indicates the team that is predicted to lose.

Moneyline

The moneyline allots a handicap to the favored team, so you won’t stand to win as much if you bet on a team that is already likely to win. It tells you how much money you would need to put down to win $100. If you bet on the Lakers, you’d need to put down $300 to win $100. If you put down $500, you would win $167. Alternatively, if you were to bet on the Pistons and they won, your $100 would be rewarded with an additional $150 return.

Points Spread

The points spread odds and over/under odds are similar in they attempt to present options in which each team has an equal chance of winning. Let’s say the odds are presented in a Pistons versus Lakers game as +10.5 and -10.5. Whoever came up with these odds found the Lakers to be an average of 10.5 points “better” than the Pistons. So, if you back the Lakers in this bet, the Lakers will need to win by 11 points or more for you to take home winnings. If you back the Pistons, you’ll win the bet if the Pistons lose by less than 11 points or win outright.

NBA Totals (Over/Under)

This one is fairly straightforward. An analyst will set a number for their total predicted points scored in a game, say 160.5. Two options will be presented: “Over 160.5” and “Under 160.5”. The .5 is typically added as a way to avoid ties. Simply pick which option you want and look to the number next to the Over/Under Total. Let’s say that number is -110.  That means that for every $110 you wager, you’ll get $100 back on a win.

What Are Popular Bets To Place On The Pistons?

There are a few standard bets among NBA wagers. Picking the winner is a straightforward wager that any bettor will understand. However, bettors can also bet on several games in a row. If you’re not too risk-averse, you can bet two or three or ten games in advance. If you call every single game correctly, then you win. But if you guess even one of those games wrong, you lose your parlay bet.

Instead of betting on teams, you can bet on points. You can bet on the point spread if you think the Pistons will win by a certain number of points. Bettors can also wager on the total number of points scored in a game. This is a great wager for bettors who want to bet on the performance of both the Pistons and their opponent. That way, you have to depend on both teams to cover the point total.

What Is An NBA Futures Bet

A futures wager allows you to bet on an event that will happen sometime later in the season. Examples of futures bets include predicting a team’s win total for the season, the league MVP, or what team will win the NBA Finals.

How To Place Prop Bets On Pistons

A prop bet, which is simply a prediction of a random chance event happening during a game, is one of the most popular types of live bets. Some examples would be who shoots the first three-pointer in a game or the top rebounder.

How To Bet On Pistons In Michigan

Once you’ve settled on one of Michigan’s legal online sportsbooks, you’re only a few quick steps from placing your first bet on the Pistons. Here’s a look at how to go through the registration process and find betting markets for the Pistons at FanDuel:

  1. Download the FanDuel app  – If you have an Apple iOS device, you can download the FanDuel app directly from the Apple Store. Now that Google Play also allows gambling apps, Android users can download the app straight from the Google Play store platform. If you are so inclined, FanDuel can also be enjoyed as a browser-based client.
  2. Register for an account – To register, you’ll need to submit proof of age and identity, a valid email address, and choose a password.
  3. Make your first deposit – Once registered, you’re able to deposit using methods like ACH/eCheck, debit/credit cards, PayPal, and others.
  4. Find the NBA betting menu – Open the app and navigate through sports to find basketball and then NBA.
  5. Bet on the Pistons – Look for the game you want to bet on, and browse your betting options.

How To Bet On The NBA Finals In Michigan

Although the 2021 season may be a rough ride with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Michigan bettors can now bet remotely from sportsbooks apps. That means that if you don’t want to risk walking into a retail sportsbook, you can choose to place your bets on the 2021 NBA Finals from any remote location within state lines.

Online sports betting became legal in Michigan in December 2019 and officially launched in late January 2021. The debut of sportsbooks will come just in time for the 2021 NBA season and for you to place futures bets on the upcoming finals.

Pistons Partnerships

The Pistons’ most recent partnership with PointsBet, an Australia and Denver-based sportsbook, was announced in early January 2021. The agreement will allow PointsBet to use Pistons’ IP, marks, and logo in a deal that will result in greater brand visibility.

In November 2020, the Pistons signed a partnership with DraftKings to make the online sportsbook the official sports betting partner for the Detroit team. In 2019, the NBA signed a deal to make William Hill the league’s official sports betting operator. William Hill gets to use official NBA data, and the NBA directs interested bettors to William Hill’s sportsbook in return.

However, there is one pioneering Piston working with a sportsbook on his own. Blake Griffin signed a deal with WinView Inc. to promote its sportsbook. Unfortunately, the deal doesn’t offer fans anything besides the joy of seeing Blake Griffin’s dry sense of humor in his series of YouTube videos. But that’s more valuable than free tickets, right?  

Pistons Michigan FAQ

How Popular Is Betting On The Pistons In Michigan?

The Pistons aren’t as popular as football–certainly not as popular as college football–but the Pistons enjoy a dedicated fan base. Basketball is a strong draw in Michigan and easily more popular than hockey or soccer. But Michiganders love their teams, and sportsbooks will have lines available on all of them.

Do All Of Michigan’s Sportsbooks Offer Lines On The Pistons?

Bettors will be able to find Pistons lines at any reputable sportsbook. Unless a sportsbook is determined to alienate bettors, it’s hard to imagine a sportsbook without Piston bets available.

Can You Bet On The Pistons At Michigan’s Sportsbooks?

Sportsbooks across the great state of Michigan will offer betting lines on the Pistons. The Pistons are a mainstream team in a mainstream league. If Michigan bettors want to wager on them, then the sportsbooks will gladly accept their bets.

Is FanDuel Sportsbook Legal In Michigan?

Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook is legal in Michigan. Currently, it operates in partnership with MotorCity Casino Hotel, where it will be launching both a retail sportsbook and online sporsbook. The FanDuel sports betting app will launch in Michigan sometime in late January 2021.

Does DraftKings Offer Odds On The Pistons?

Yes. Any legal sportsbook in Michigan will offer odds on NBA teams, including the Pistons. DraftKings currently has the odds for the Pistons winning this year’s NBA Final at +50,000.

Do The Pistons Have Any Partnerships With A Sportsbook?

Yes. The official sportsbook partner for the Pistons is DraftKings. However, the Pistons also have a partnership agreement with PointsBet.

About the Author

Christopher Gerlacher

Christopher Gerlacher is a writer tucked into the foothills of Colorado Springs, Colorado.