Have you ever wondered if you can get a reward for predicting the future? When it comes to sports betting, you certainly can. Today, we’re looking closely at futures bets.

Many people like to bet on a single match on game day, or place a live, in-play bet once the game is in progress. Futures bets are wagers on the outcome of an event, tournament, or series that will end and pay out in the future.

You may be wondering, what are sports betting NFL futures, for example? Let’s find out how futures in sports betting work, and if futures bets are a good choice for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Learn about futures in sports betting.
Discover if futures betting is right for you.
Find out about sports betting NFL futures.
Learn how to join in futures sports betting.

How Do Futures Work in Sports Betting?

Futures bets work differently from traditional single-game wagers, which are often made the day of the game or a few days before. So, you know if you’ve won or lost – and can collect your payout – the same day, or at least within a few days.

Futures are bets on a long-term outcome in a multi-stage event, so you might want to place a bet on who will win the NBA World Series, the Superbowl, or a PGA golf tournament, to name a few.

You can bet on various outcomes with a futures bet, with common predictions being the Championship Winners or who will take home the MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards.

I find that most major sportsbooks, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, change the odds on futures bets frequently, and the reasons aren’t always obvious. It could be due to what’s happening in the tournament, but it could also be because of something internal to that sportsbook, such as how many wagers they’ve taken on a specific outcome.

Fact: Future bets are longer-term investment bets and are often settled at the end of tournaments.

The Most Popular Futures Bets Across Different Sports

There are many popular futures betting markets for major sports, including:

NFL – Team win totals, division winners, conference champions and Super Bowl winners
NBA – Upcoming Champion, MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
MLB – World Series winner, total wins across the series and MVP
NHL – Stanley Cup winners or player awards such as the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP in the regular season) or the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP in the playoffs)

Which are the most popular picks when it comes to futures bets? It’s hard to say because there’s a lot to consider. Data from DraftKings shows how the Kansas Chiefs could be the most popular bet to win the Super Bowl (in terms of number of bets) but could still be placed behind the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions in terms of handle (the amount that’s been bet on them).

Fewer bets, but bigger ones, on a team with more favorable odds is not unusual, and can impact the odds you’ll see at popular sportsbooks.

Futures Betting on Mobile Apps

Sports betting apps have made futures betting more accessible and undoubtedly more popular by allowing users to track futures odds over time in-app, set alerts, and easily manage their bets.

To place a futures bet on your preferred betting app, you’ll simply need to:

Log on to your app.
Choose the event you want to bet on.
Navigate to the Futures section.
Select your preferred bet and add it to your bet slip.
Enter the amount you want to wager.
Confirm your bet.
Check your bet slip.
To make sure that everything went through, and the bet is listed.

You can place futures bets via most sports betting apps, among many others, and you can use app features to help you with many of them offering top sports betting picks, sports news, analysis and betting trends.

While most apps have some form of expert analysis and tips, Gambling.com – known for assessing sports apps on several key features –praised FanDuel TV and Radio for its tips and insider analysis.

The Pros and Cons of Futures Betting

As with any kind of bet, there are advantages and disadvantages to futures betting. It is, of course, harder to predict outcomes over time, as there is more chance that things can change and impact the outcome of the event. Because of this, long-term bets may offer larger payouts but come with added risk due to the extended timeline.

Pros	Cons
Can be profitable as the odds will be better on longer-term bets.	Higher risk as factors that impact outcomes are statistically more likely to happen over longer timeframes.
Many bettors enjoy the challenge and enjoyment that comes with betting over a season or tournament.	There’s a long wait before your bet lands, and you can claim any payout due.
Early lines allow expert bettors to take advantage of opportunities with good odds before casual bettors get involved.	Money is tied up for weeks or even months, so you could perhaps have used it to bet (and profit) many times over in the same timeframe.

Fact: The most popular futures betting market in Major League Baseball (MLB) is The World Series.

It’s important to note bookmakers don’t want bettors coming out on top, and the unpredictability of futures bets means that they often work well for the sportsbook. However, experienced bettors can also work the system.

SITPicks, a sports betting industry site that offers “Sports Betting Picks From The World’s Best”, has this to say about futures betting:

Odd makers love these bets because they usually make a fortune on them. However, sharp bettors can turn the tables on the bookies.
SITPicks

In short, it’s worth putting a bit more time and effort into sports picks when considering futures bets.

Key Factors to Consider When Placing Futures Bets

There are a few important factors to consider when it comes to futures betting:

Team and player performance: Including player form, team morale and any injuries.
Timing: Futures bets can be placed at any point, but betting early means that you’ll get the best-value odds on undervalued teams and players.
Strength of schedule: With two even teams, the one with the most favorable schedule is more likely to come out on top.
Odds: Understanding and comparing odds is vital to placing any bet. Compare different sportsbooks for the best deal.

Understanding Futures Odds and Payouts

Futures odds will change throughout the season based on results, injuries, trades and other factors, and not all odds changes are easily explainable. Futures odds may change based on how much money has been wagered on a specific team or what the sportsbook expects to be wagered, so you may see odds adjustments throughout the season.

We strongly advise you to use expert betting tools and resources, such as our sports betting odds calculator, to help you understand the odds offered and what your payout will be.

Example: I’ve just calculated a bet on the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl with the current odds of +450 and a $25 stake. So, I know that a successful bet placed today would result in a payout of $137.50 ($112.50 in winnings plus my original stake).

So, Will You Use Futures Tonight?

Now that you know the ins and outs of sports betting futures, maybe it’s time to place your first, or next, futures bet. But do you know which sportsbook you’ll be using? Check out our top online sports betting sites and see which one works best for you.

Futures Betting FAQs

Can I Cash Out a Futures Bet Early?

Bettors can sometimes cash out their futures bets early on sports betting apps, but it will depend on the terms and conditions, so always check if cash out is available before placing a futures bet.

How Are Futures Odds Calculated?

Sportsbooks calculate futures odds based on the probability of a specific outcome but will also consider things such as how much has been wagered on that outcome to protect themselves from a loss if it does happen.

Do Futures Bets Offer Better Value Than Regular Bets?

Futures betting generally offers better value but also higher risk than regular single-game wagers. Payouts tend to be higher, but predictions are harder to make, so the overall risk is higher.

What Is Futures in Sports Betting?