Prop bets offer diverse and creative betting opportunities, from predicting player touchdowns to election winners. But what is a prop bet exactly, a💧nd how can you use the best betting sites for them? Join us as we explore this and more!
What Is a Prop Bet: Simply Explained
A prop bet is any sort of wager made on specif🐠ic occurrences within a sꦜporting event that do not directly affect the final outcome. For example, betting on corners is a prop bet because you’re not explicitly predicting the winner or the final score.
Beyond this simple requirement, a prop bet could be anything from a coin toss to෴ quarterback passing yards.
If Harry Kane is given +550 odds to score first, this means betting $100 onꦜ the market would see you win $550 in profit.
Things work a little differently with negative odds. Let’s say it’s the “No” odds on a “Both Teams🎃 to Score” market. Here, your bet is a winner if either team fails to score by the end of normal play. In this instance, the odds are presented as -138, meaning you would need to beꦇt $138 to make $100 with a winning bet.
Some betting sites (particularly international options) prefer to use decimal or fractional odds instead of American ones. These can typically be converted to your preferred type of odds. If not, you can use our odds calculator to easily convert them and check out thဣei𓄧r implied probabilities.
What Is a Prop Bet : Real Examples
♎ The potential of prop bets is nearly limitless; if the bookmaker can imagine it, there’s usually no reason you can’t bet on it. However, the abundance of options can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve broken down all the key types of prop bets to give you an idea of what to expect and what yඣou can search for.
Player Props
These are bets based on the performance of individual athletes. They can be based on statistical achievements or specific acti🐎ons taken by a player during the event. Some common eꦐxamples include betting on the total points scored by a player, or whether a player will score the first touchdown in an NFL game.
Game Props
Game props are bets related to specific events or occurrences within a game, and are not necessarily tiღed to individual play or performance. Because prop bets are not related to the winner, these are often predictions about the kind of game that is being played. A common game prop is an over/under market on the total combined points at the end of normal pla🎀y.
Team Props
A🤡ny wager focused on the performance or achievements of an individual team can be considered team prop bets. Just like player props, both statistical milestones and specific achievements can be wagered upon. It could, for instance, be whether one team will receive a red card in soccer, or the number of team yards in a football game.
Novelty Props
Also known as exotic or 🍸entertainme🧸nt props, these are bets that are especially unusual or entirely unrelated to sporting events. Some common examples include the duration of the national anthem during the Super Bowl or the outcome of a presidential election.
How To Read Prop Bet Odds
Understanding prop bets 🦂is twofold. First, there’s grasping the concept of the proposition bet. Then, there’s knowing how they work in practical terms.
The latter requires you to understand what the market means, which, fortunately, is self-explanatory. For instance, if the prop bet🦩 market is for “First Goal Scored” in a soccer game with a list of players'𒅌 names, you would be betting on which one of those players you think will score the first goal. If there’s any confusion about what a prop bet is asking you to predict, check with customer service for further clarification.
The odds for prop bets also work the same as any other type of market, and on the best American betting sites ওyou would expect them to be presented as American odds.
These are simple to understand. A positive number indicates how much profit you🅠 wil💃l make on a $100 bet if you win. A negative number is how much you would need to bet to make $100. The latter is considered more likely than not to happen, and typically represents the favorite.
For specific returns on any wager, ♓you can simply add the market you’re interested in to your bet slip. Input your preferred stake, and your potential returns will be made clear to you.
How To Bet on Props
Pr🐭op betting works the same regardless of the market. If you understand what a prop bet is in basketball, then your knowledge applies to any other sport. Only the specific proposition you’re sea🦩rching for stands out as a key variable.
With thatꦫ in mind, we’re providing a general overview of how prop betting works, followed by specific details for popular America༺n sports. That way, you’re prepared for prop betting, no matter your sport of choice.
What Is a Prop Bet in Sports?
Knowing the prop bet meaning is just step one of your journey. You also need to know what a prop bet is🌱 in football, and other popular sports in the USA. Let's take a look at some real example🌟s.
NFL
💮 A fantastic choice for team, player, and novelty props, the NFL might be the most versatile sport for prop betting. Go to the NFL — either on the main toolbar or through a quick search on the homepage — and look for upco🌱ming and live NFL games. Select the one you’re interested in.
Alongsideꦬ all the traditional NFL betting markets, the best prop betting sites should also be able to offe🥀r you markets like first touchdown scorer, total passing yards, player to score a touchdown, total interceptions, and more.
Imagine the Baltimore Ravens are ꦇplaying against the Kansas City Chiefs. Under “Score Props”, you can choose from six different markets. Your options include touchdown, field goal, and any other scoring option, available for both teams. The odds for KC Chiefs to win by touchdown are +200. So, if you bet $10 on this market and win, you would receive $30 in total.
NBA
Interested in stat-based prop markets? Then the high-scoring, fast-paced world of the NBA ꧋might be a perfect match. The NBA provides a broad range of player performance props, such as over/under markets points, assists, and rebounds. Team options are just as abundant, from half-time le♕ader to which team has the highest scoring quarter.
The way it wor🤪ks is simple. Let’s say that for a matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pheonix Suns, you’re offered markets on the team with the highest scoring quarter. Milwaukee Bucks are favorites with +135 odds, Pheonix Suns are underdogs with -115 and a Tie is offered at +600. If you believe the teams are evenly matched and prefer higher odds, a successful $10 bet on a tie would return $70.
NHL
H𒐪ockey’s distinctive rules create unique prop betting opportunities. You can place bets on intriguing outcomes, such as whether there will be an empty net goal or a shutout. Plus, there are over/under markets on everyജthing from the number of puck drop face-offs to the amount of sticks broken.
Let’s explore further by looking at over/under total 10.5 penalty minutes prop bet examples. The number o💮f penalty minutes usually lands between ♐eight and 12 minutes, so this would typically result in odds close to even money.
We found an example of a game between the Central Coast Rhinos and the🅷 Canberra Braves, where the under market was offered at +100 odds and the over market at -138. If you were to bet $10 on the under market, you would receive𝕴 exactly $20 back. Betting over would yield a total return of around $17.27, including your stake.
MLB
If you t𒁏ake pride in your betting strategy, there are few sports as rewarding as baseball. And your opportunitieꦡs are enhanced by a terrific selection of team and player-based props like total runs over/under, pitcher strikeouts, and player to hit a home run.
Another popular and challenging prop bet is total runs. For a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chic🌱ago Cubs, the over/under was set at 7.5. The odds for the over were -115, while the under was -105. Betting $10 on the over would yield a total return of $18.70 if successfu🅘l, while a £10 bet on the under would return $19.52 as a winner.
Where Can I Bet on Props?
These days, you’ll rarely find a decent sportsbook without some available prop bets. However, there is a great deal of space between the best and the rest. The following represent the top places to learn more and make the most of proposition bet ꦕpossibilities.
DraftKings — Incredible Prop Betting Market Variety
In terms of sheer inventiveness, none can beat the mighty DraftKings for prop beꦅtting markets. Whether it’s fixed odds or fantasy betting, they offer an incredible selection, especially when it comes to player props.
From predicting the number of NBA player rebounds to guest performances at the Super Bowl halftime show, this bookie excels in both strategic and whimsical bets.
Additionally, their free-to-play pools allow newcomers to discover what a prop bet is firsthand on one of the best betting sites in the US, wit🎃hout even depositing a cent. Then, once your predictive skills have been warmed up, you can explore the many fantastic proposition bet markets available across all forms of betting.
- Traditional and fantasy betting props available
- Free-to-play contests ideal for newcomers
- Offers some truly unique prop bet markets
- Simpler design would make props easier to find
FanDuel — Broadest Appeal in Prop Betting
FanDuel, one of the most popular betting sites in the US, expertly caters to both newcomers and seasoned bettors. Its intuitive, technically robust, and well-structured app and site design make navigati⛄ng towards your preferred prop bet effortless.
They also provide an immense number of features, incl🔯uding excellent sports news coverage and insightful analysis through FanDuel TV.
Plus, FanDuel’s head-to-head feature allows you to push your betting predictions to the limit. If you think, for instance, you know which player will score the first basket in the NBA finals, and another user disagrees, you can pl🍬ace a bet against them.
𓄧This, alongside the immense betting buffet already available on both fantasy and traditional markets, helps give FanDuel perhaps the broadest appeal of any prop betting option.
- Available in most legal betting US states
- Fantastic news and TV sports coverage help inform prop bets
- Head-to-head contests further enhance market options
- Lower maximum bets compared to some alternatives
BetMGM — Regionalized Focus Fantastic for Local Proposition Bets
In the US, online betting is governed by state laws, leading to differences in the accessibility of markets and promotions. And it's little use knowing what a college prop bet𒊎 is if such markets are prohibited in your jurisdiction.𝕴
BetMGM solves this problem by providing a superb sportsbook tailored to each legal state, catering to regional preferences by making it easy to find prop bets related to local players ꦆand markets.
- Regionalized prop bets are easy to find
- Specials markets provide prop bets with excellent odds
- World-class experience from all locations
- Less newcomer-friendly than some alternatives
Borgata — An International Prop Betting Extravaganza
Being from the US doesn’t mean your taste in proposition bets isn’t global. If you seek worldwide coverage of events big and small, Borgata might be your ideal match.
Their soccer selection is particularly spectacular, featuring creative and competitive odds on a vꦇ🧔ast selection of markets. Among these are some fantastic prop bets, which range from the numbers of corners taken to whether a penalty will occur in normal play.
🎃 Prop betting is also enhanced by flexible betting options, making it easy to create parlays with numerous excellent combinations — many suggested by the operator in advance. And what is a prop bet if not a great way of putting together somﷺe fantastic odds combinations!
- Global prop betting options
- Easy, and often automated, parlay betting
- Excellent apps include all types of markets
- Not available in as many US states as some
Why To Bet Props
If you’re accustomed to traditꦺional markets, such as betting on the winning team or athlete, you might wonder if prop b🐷etting is worth the effort. Well, we certainly believe that most sports betting fans can benefit from this kind of betting, and here are five key reasons why.
Entertainment value — Never forget that the number one priority of online betting should be to have fun, and prop bets are perfect for this. They add excitement and variety to the betting experience, with both tactically challenging and quirky betting opportunities that can enhance the enjoyment of your g𒅌a🐠me.
More promotional opportunities — General sports betting promotions usually allow for the use of prop bets, particularly for free bets. Additionally, proposition betting markets often come with their own promotional offers, such as enhanced odds and special competitions, providing additi🅷onal value to your bets.
Deepen your understanding of your favorite sports — Engaging with a diverse selection of prop betting markets can help you think about your preferred sports in new and interesting ways. 🦄You might start considering the total number of interceptions by a team’s defense regularly because of a single prop bet on the subject. The more you think about different aspects of a sport, the better your overall knowledge of the game and your appreciation of its intricacies.
Increased profit potential — If we’re going to look at prop betting from a purely strategic point of view, more markets of all kinds can only be a good thing. It means there’s more chance you’ll be able to spot odds which you believe represent excellent value. The more the merrier, an💯d prop bets𝓡 deliver plenty in addition to the traditional markets.
Phenomenal for accumulator betting🌱 — One of the big challenges for accumulator betting is getting markets that work logically together. In other words, it needs to make sense for all those things to happen, and traditional markets often contradict each other. Prop bets usually work far better. For instance, you can back a team to win and then utilize player props which would make sense with that outcome. If you’re interested in acca betting, absolutely consider the prop betting selection when making your picks.
Tips for Prop Bets
One of the cool things about proposition bets is their versatility — they can be as simple or꧅ as complex as you want. If you want to just take a punt, they’re ideal. But, by the same token, if you want to meticulously analyze each bet, the diverse range of markets caters to both approaches.
With that in mind, l🎃et's take a look at five simple tips to make the most of your prop bets.
Manage your money
Staying in control of your bankroll and betting habits is vital in keeping betting safe and fun. If you bet ꦛthoughtlessly until you lose, you will eventually do just that, which is why having a budget and sti🌞cking to it is as important a betting tip as any.
Check the overround diligently
The overround represents the bookmaker profit margin. The higher the percentage above 100%, the lower the value to bettor. This is always an important thing to check, but even more for prop bets. These are often more obscur♔e, have less competition, and therefore bad bookies are less motivated to provide reasonable betting margins. For reference, it is worth reconsidering the fairness of any odds that add up to over 110% implied probability.
Shop around on more popular prop bets
Some prop bets though, are quite popular. If we’re talking over/under points on an NBA game, it’s likely the top operators are all offering odds on that market. In that case, you should absolutely shop around for the best odds and even the most generous promotions﷽, just like you would with top traditional markets. Remember, you are free to sign up to multiple betting sites.
Consider your own bias
It’s easy to let our biases cloud our judgement. You may convince yourself that the team you support is likely to win, when that is realistically not the case. Many people bet high on points markets because🔯 they want to see an exciti🅷ng game rather than what they think will happen. So, before committing to a market, ask yourself: is this what I want to happen or what I believe is likely to happen based on logical predictions?
Consider as many external factors as you can
The most ꦐeffective way to make informed predictions is to gather as much relevant information as possible. Consider everything that 🧜could influence the outcome — not just recent form, but also external factors. For instance, in the NBA, consider how team injuries might impact a player’s ability to achieve a triple double. In golf, the weather could change which player has the lowest scoring round. The key thing here is to take into account all possibilities that can affect whatever you’re betting on.
Pros & Cons of Prop Bets
- Diverse betting opportunities
- Fantastic for accumulator betting
- Additional promotional offers
- Great for research-based betting predictions
- Ability to bet on events not typically available from sportsbooks
- Occasionally less competitive odds than some markets
- Certain prop bets may be poorly explained
- Lack of experience in new markets can be a disadvantage
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Pro🦹p betting is an opportunity to broaden your betting options and find markets that suit your preferences. One of two things can happen: you either find that you prefer traditional markets and stick to them, or you get to enjoy a versatile feast of prop betting delights in𒊎 addition to those odds. And by using our tips, we hope proposition bets can get you closer to your ideal online betting experience.
FAQS
A prop bet is a type of wager not related to the final score or outcome of a sporting event. It could be anything from the coin toss at the Super Bowl to the number of assists in a game. A +750 prop bet means $750 would be paid out on that market were you to place a $100 bet. This suggests the outcome is considered very unlikely, hence the hig💃h returns.
There are lots of reasons your prop bet could be canceled. It might result from action taken on your account due to suspected rule violated, there may be insufficient funds in your account, or you may have reached your betting limits. Technical issues on the site or app could be a factor. Sometimes, the en♚tire market could be canceled, such as when a game is called off for bad weather or if a key player is injured before the contest begins.
While most decent sports betting sites offer prop bets, we think DraftKings, FanDu𝓰el, BetMGM, and Borgata represent the finest sportsbooks for proposition betting in the United States right now.
Prop bet winnings should appear in your betting account promptly after a market is settled, usually wi🧜thin minutes. However, transferring funds to your bank account depends on your bookmaker and the payment method chosen. This can take anywhere from a few hours to several working days. Check on your banking page for further cla꧙rification.
It is any kind of wager related to events within a co🐭llege sports contest that do not directly influence the gam⛄e’s final outcome. It could be the total passing yards by a quarterback or the first team to score in a hockey game. If the bet does not hinge on the overall winner and pertains to a college sports game, it qualifies as a college prop bet.