If you’re into sports betting, the chances are you’ve made one or two prop bets in your time. Even if, as is the case for many bettors, you don’t actually know what a prop bet is.
In this article, we’ll explore the concept of prop bets, what they are, and why bettors find them attractive. We’ll explain what makes a prop bet different from other kinds of bets, and give some real-world examples of prop bets you might make at a sportsbook, on a range of different sports events.
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What is a Prop Bet?
So, first, the most basic question of all. What
is
a prop bet? Well, the most straightforward answer is that it’s a bet on a sporting event – or on anything else – where the overall result of the event is irrelevant. So a prop bet isn’t betting on who will win the World Cup, or the final result of a tennis match.
A prop bet focuses on a specific aspect of the event – a hypothetical occurrence if you like – that might happen during the event. For example, what a specific soccer player might do during a game, whether it is concerned with goal scoring, corners or yellow cards, the odds for that occurring (or not) are representative of a prop bet.
Pros and Cons of Prop Bets
- Better Odds
- Increased Engagement
- Leverage Your Knowledge
What are some examples of Prop Bets?
So you have the theoretical description of a prop bet, but let’s go deeper. To get a greater idea of what prop bets are, we’ll run through what one actually looks like. Let’s say you’re settling down to watch an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers.
You’re confident that Patrick Mahomes will have a good game, so you look for bets that allow you to back that confidence. One sportsbook has just the bet you’re looking for:
Mahomes to pass for 400+ yards. This is a prop bet. It is independent of the eventual result of the game – Kansas could lose, but provided Mahomes still throws for 400 or more yards, it’s all good. You’ve wagered on a part of the game action, not the result of that match.
Another example of a prop bet might be on politics. You may not see much value in betting on one candidate to win an election, but you might be confident that they will carry 25 or more states or get a certain number of Electoral College votes. Many bookmakers will be offering odds on these markets, and again, you’re not specifically betting on who wins. You’re betting on an aspect of the event. The two may be connected. In fact, they certainly are, given that the prop bet is connected to the event – but you’re not betting on its overall outcome.
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Why are Prop Bets popular?
There are a number of reasons for the popularity of prop bets. Firstly, they increase interest in an event, particularly when the overall outcome may seem like a foregone conclusion. That said, there are a number of other reasons why a prop bet may be of interest, and especially so when there seems to be little interest in betting on the overall outcome.
There are often better odds
Let’s say you’re watching a soccer match between France and Finland. Although the latter team are by no means a bunch of amateurs, there is a clear disparity in the quality of the two sides involved. You
could
bet on France to win, but you’re unlikely to get odds that offer much value unless you know how to bet over/under successfully, because everyone expects them to win. You could, alternatively, bet that Kylian Mbappe will score at least twice in the game. This is a very real possibility; he’s an exceptional forward and he takes penalty kicks. There is, however, some jeopardy in the bet and therefore the odds are longer, so if it comes off, the returns are better.
It adds interest to a contest
Similar to the above, watching a game between a favorite and an underdog isn’t necessarily boring, but if the Boston Celtics get out to an early lead against the LA Clippers, you’re not going to be sitting there wondering how the rest of the game is going to go. You’ve seen this movie before! If, however, you have a bet on Jayson Tatum to hit a set number of three-pointers, then there is all of a sudden something outside of the overall result to take an interest in. A game can be settled early on, but a prop bet can sustain interest for a longer period and has less risk than a
same game parlay.
You can leverage your knowledge
Sports fans enjoy watching their game because they can speculate on the outcome with a level of information that the casual viewer may not have. There is something very pleasing about watching a game go exactly as you expected it to go, for the reasons you expected. If, for example, you’re settling in to watch the Wimbledon final, you may know that one of the players has a powerful serve that opponents can’t even get a racket on. If that player has some weaknesses in the rest of their game they may not win the match, but a prop bet on them to serve more than 30 aces may be smart, especially if you think it could go to five sets.
There’s almost infinite variety
If you stick to outcome betting or have already had
hedge betting explained
to you, there’s really not much to engage your brain when it comes to most games. Team A will beat Team B, or Player B will edge Player A, and it will be exactly what everyone expected. Prop betting introduces an element of variety that can make any contest more watchable. You can bet on the coin toss at the Super Bowl (although we wouldn’t recommend that, as it’s a random event). You can bet on how long the national anthem will last (again, not necessarily a smart bet to make), or you can bet on the first receiver to catch a pass in the game. This last is a pretty good way to leverage your knowledge, as every QB has a favored receiver they like to target for a simple catch to move the chains and settle into the game.
Types of Prop Bets and Examples
| Type of Prop Bet | Examples |
| Player-Specific | Player will score a goal; Player will achieve statistical highlight; Player will be sent off |
| Team-Specific | Team will achieve statistical highlight; Team will have X number of yellow cards |
| Match-Specific | Total points will surpass certain landmark; Both teams will score |
Are prop bets worth making?
We’ve covered what prop bets are, why they are popular, and looked at how they work. But when it comes down to it from an entirely dispassionate point of view, are prop bets on the
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something you should be doing in the first place? Are they worth it, or are they more of a gimmick?
The truth is, as it so often is in betting, “it depends”. Prop bets can add definite value to your betting, and a well-chosen one can be much more beneficial than simply betting on the eventual winner of a contest. They have to be taken on their merits. A good prop bet will have a proposition that you can back up with facts. If you know a player is at his best under certain circumstances – and those circumstances are in place in the upcoming contest – then backing them with a prop bet can work out very well. If you’re thinking of betting on a coin toss, give that money to charity instead, because that will never be an informed, smart, value bet.
Now you can make the most of every event
So, what have we learned about prop bets? They can make any sporting occasion more interesting by giving you something beyond the result – which may be a foregone conclusion early on or even before the game – to focus on. In addition, for true sports fans they offer an opportunity to leverage knowledge gained over years watching the sport. If you know a lot about the game, you may know where to focus with a prop bet, and that can result in more successful bets. Furthermore, they are often a way to get more rewarding odds, especially on highly predictable events where the outright result may not offer much value. All in all, they are an innovative way to bet and get more from your betting.
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Prop bet FAQ
❓ What is a prop bet?
A prop bet (proposition bet) is any bet which is based on an event but does not directly relate to the final outcome of that event. It takes a proposition – that a soccer player will score a certain number of goals, or that a Presidential candidate will win a specific state, for example – and makes that the focus of the bet.
📈 Why are prop bets so popular?
People enjoy prop bets because they add something to the process of betting. They may provide better odds than a straight bet on the winner of an event, for example, or they may simply add a more interesting narrative to an event which might otherwise be prosaic and straightforward. In addition, they allow a bettor who has a high level of knowledge in a sport to leverage that intelligence for a greater chance of success.
💰 Can prop bets provide better returns than more conventional bets?
They certainly can. The hallmark of prop bets is that there is a greater level of uncertainty about whether the proposition will be fulfilled during the game or contest. This means that they will usually have a higher odds tariff than a standard outright result bet, and as a consequence, when they do come off, they will have better returns.
