A futures bet is a type of wager that involves predicting the outcome of an event that will occur at a future date. In the context of sports betting, futures bets typically involve predicting the winner of a championship, division, or other award at the end of a season or series.
Futures bets are different from traditional point-spread or moneyline bets, which are typically focused on a single game or event. Futures bets are often referred to as "proposition" or "exotic" bets, and they can be found in various forms, such as:
* Championship futures: Betting on which team will win a championship or title.
* Division futures: Betting on which team will win a particular division.
* Award futures: Betting on which player will win a specific award, such as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
* Season totals: Betting on the total number of wins, points scored, or other statistical category for a team or player.
Futures bets are often placed before the start of an event or season, and they can be adjusted or "cashed out" throughout the season. The odds for futures bets are typically set at the beginning of the season and may change based on various factors, such as injuries, trades, and team performance.
The key characteristics of futures bets include:
* Long-term perspective: Futures bets are focused on events that will occur at a future date, often several months or even years away.
* High-risk, high-reward: Futures bets often come with higher odds than traditional point-spread or moneyline bets, but also carry more risk since they involve predicting an outcome over a longer period.
* Adjustable: Futures bets can be adjusted or cashed out during the season as new information becomes available.
* Ongoing odds: The odds for futures bets may change over time based on various factors, such as injuries, trades, and team performance.
Examples of popular futures bets include:
* Betting on which team will win the Super Bowl in the NFL
* Predicting which player will win the MVP award in the NBA
* Betting on which team will win the World Series in baseball
* Picking which horse will win the Kentucky Derby
Overall, futures bets offer sports bettors a unique opportunity to make predictions about events that will unfold over time. By understanding the definition and characteristics of futures bets, sports bettors can make informed decisions about which wagers to place and how to manage their risk.
Futures bets are different from traditional point-spread or moneyline bets, which are typically focused on a single game or event. Futures bets are often referred to as "proposition" or "exotic" bets, and they can be found in various forms, such as:
* Championship futures: Betting on which team will win a championship or title.
* Division futures: Betting on which team will win a particular division.
* Award futures: Betting on which player will win a specific award, such as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
* Season totals: Betting on the total number of wins, points scored, or other statistical category for a team or player.
Futures bets are often placed before the start of an event or season, and they can be adjusted or "cashed out" throughout the season. The odds for futures bets are typically set at the beginning of the season and may change based on various factors, such as injuries, trades, and team performance.
The key characteristics of futures bets include:
* Long-term perspective: Futures bets are focused on events that will occur at a future date, often several months or even years away.
* High-risk, high-reward: Futures bets often come with higher odds than traditional point-spread or moneyline bets, but also carry more risk since they involve predicting an outcome over a longer period.
* Adjustable: Futures bets can be adjusted or cashed out during the season as new information becomes available.
* Ongoing odds: The odds for futures bets may change over time based on various factors, such as injuries, trades, and team performance.
Examples of popular futures bets include:
* Betting on which team will win the Super Bowl in the NFL
* Predicting which player will win the MVP award in the NBA
* Betting on which team will win the World Series in baseball
* Picking which horse will win the Kentucky Derby
Overall, futures bets offer sports bettors a unique opportunity to make predictions about events that will unfold over time. By understanding the definition and characteristics of futures bets, sports bettors can make informed decisions about which wagers to place and how to manage their risk.