There are few things more enticing to a typical sports better than prop bets when they show up. They seem like unique betting options that make a lot of sense in some cases, but they don’t always pay out like a person might originally think.
What’s the good and the bad when it comes to prop bets? We take a look at the general pros and cons, and weigh in on whether or not it’s worth putting money down. Everyone has their own opinion on prop bets, but as professionals, we always try to steer people in the right direction.
Table of Contents
The Good
Everyone has their own opinion on prop bets, but there are some definite positives that draw people in. After all, they wouldn’t be around if people didn’t find the intrigue of placing prop bets here and there.
Prop Bets Offer Something Different
It can be relatively boring to bet on matchups only when it comes to sports betting. Prop bets offer some different things for people to place wagers on if they wish. It’s a way to be a little more challenged in general, which is always nice.
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Fun
There is something to be said for just having some fun with a sports bet. It gets tough placing the same type of bets all the time, so some will switch things up and go with the fun aspect ocassionaly.
Even those who are looking to have long-term success with sports gambling can still have fun once in a while and not break the bank. Maybe limiting the amount of prop bets per year will be the answer to still having fun while also staying disciplined. It’s a way for casual sports people to get involved in the game and get that taste of betting as well.
Huge Winning Opportunities
Everyone dreams about hitting it big with a huge betting win. The truth of the matter is, no one is going to win big if they are only doing traditional money lines on close contests. Prop bets open up some amazing winning opportunities that could significantly change a person’s bankroll.
To make a huge profit on a bet, there are usually some long odds for a pick or two that could end up coming true. They are long odds for a reason, but they can lead to huge winning opportunities if handled correctly. The success rate doesn’t have to be great, as long as they are won occasionally.
This makes betting intriguing enough for people who might not want to put a lot of money down to see if they win big. Even a smaller bet could turn out pretty well with a long-shot winner.
Full Game Engagement
Prop bets help fill in the gap if there are some parts of the game that are not as exciting. Since prop bets can happen at any time during a game, injecting some life into an event makes sense.
As an example, there are prop bets out there based on which player scores first, or any other type of statistical achievement throughout the game. Prop bets for each half or each quarter are also available to get through the tougher parts.
With traditional sports betting, everything is locked in before the game starts. Certain prop bets will stay open throughout the game so that people can make in-game wagers. With so many people betting from their phones, it’s a great opportunity to have fun the entire time.
The Bad
As great as prop bets can be, there are some negatives that every sports gambler should understand before getting started. If the negatives are not talked about, it could end up being a terrible situation for people falling in too deep.
There Are a Lot of Sucker Bets
A huge key in placing a prop bet is identifying the right opportunities. In a lot of cases, there will be multiple choices for a profit. At the very end are some long shots that probably have no shot whatsoever to have success. Think about a huge underdog, or a feat that seems impossible to happen. Examples include picking a number 16 seed to win the NCAA Basketball Tournament, or a freak play like a safety to be the first score in a game.
Is it theoretically possible that the two longshot options happen? Yes, but even if they do, the sports books are rarely paying out as much as they should. If a number 16 seed were to win the NCAA tournament, correctly predicting that should pay out much more than the odds sports books would give. It’s just best to stay away from these options that have virtually no shot of happening.
Fun Prop Bets are Just Straight Up Gambling
Most sports fans of petty familiar with all the different prop bets that are available with the Super Bowl. Placing a bet on something like whether the coin flip will be heads or tails is the perfect example of a fun prop bet.
Anyone who is just looking to have fun will find this to be intriguing. However, it’s considered a bad prop bet overall because the goal of a successful gambler should be to use skill to sway things in their favor. There’s absolutely no skill predicting a coin toss.
Instead, always look for skilled prop bets as a way to win a little more consistently. Examples include how many points a basketball player scores, how many touchdowns a football player accumulates, and more. This requires sports knowledge to make educated predictions.
Rules Might Not Always Be Clear
It’s important to read all the rules with a prop bet so that everything is clear beforehand. Since some of them are made up and created on the spot, the rules are not always be as clear as some might want.
One perfect example that always seems to have some weird rules is betting on the color of liquid poured on the winning Super Bowl coach. Different sportsbooks will have different rulings on what happens if a color not on the list is used. If it’s a hybrid color, that could also cause some trouble in ruling the winner. Finally, if multiple types of liquid is thrown on a coach, which one is the actual winner?
Some want to stay away from prop bets and all the different ways that they can lose a ruling by a technicality. It’s frustrating, especially for those coming from more straight gambling.
Betting Limits Exist
It’s far more common to find a betting limit on prop bets. This is done so that if any information is leaked at the last minute, the sportsbook is not having to pay out a ton of money.
A perfect example of this is the length of the national anthem during the Super Bowl. There might be information that leaks based on the rehearsals, which can put a firm betting limit on everything. Some might not think it’s fair, but no sportsbook is going to lose money because of leaked information.
Betting limits exist to some extent in other forms of gambling, but not nearly as much as with prop bets. They can feel a bit too restrictive to some gamblers, which is why they stay away instead.
What to Look For With Prop Bets
Prop bets might sound fun and exciting, and it sure would be nice to win, but some people stay away from them as much as possible. It’s true that chasing prop bets and not looking at the odds can be bad for anyone’s bankroll. Not all prop bets are create equally, as some will actually give some pretty bad odds for a result that is nearly impossible.
It’s crucial to always be aware of value. Too many prop bets are thrown together with bad value for half of the picks. Stay away from long shot picks with non-long shot odds.
It’s always important to check prop bets and see what odds different sports books are providing. It’s one thing to put money on a long shot, but at least do it is the best as possible. That way if it does happen, the payout is a lot more lucrative.
Are Prop Bets Ultimately Worth It?
Prop bets break up the monotony of placing typical bets that everyone is aware of day after day. They can be fun and exciting, especially when putting a little bit of money on a longshot. Sure, maybe a longshot rarely comes through, but when it does, it can feel amazing.
Prop bets are here to stay, especially for big games. Give them a look and see if any of them make sense wagering on. Being disciplined, just like with other forms of sports betting, is the key to success. If value is there, prop bets help boost the bankroll.