Prop Betting

Looking for a complete prop bets guide? We here at Bet Station have created a complete guide explaining everything you need to know about proposition betting. If you are new to sports betting, we have a wide range of betting guides to help you become a pro in no time. You will find everything you need to know about prop bets below.

If you have joined any of the best sports betting sites, you will have seen how they usually display three types of wagers; the spread, over under, and moneyline. This does not mean there is a shortage of bets to be placed at a sportsbook. In fact, there are dozens, sometimes hundreds, of wagers you can place at any one sporting event; depending on the sport or sportsbook you sign up to.

What can you expect if you are looking for proposition bets? Props are one of the most exciting wagers in the world of sports betting, as they usually have good odds. Prop betting is usually one of the best wagers in terms of risk versus reward. This is because you can stake relatively small amounts on a single wager and come out with some large returns. If you want more information about props, then keep reading!

What are Prop Bets?

Propositions, or prop bets, are a unique type of wager that does not rely on the final score of a game. If you were to make a spread, over under, or moneyline bet, a team would either need to win or lose by a certain amount for your bet to win. A proposition bet is usually independent of the scoreline. This will vary on the sport you bet on, but you can win the bet even if the team you wager on loses the game

The best way to think about prop bets is with an example. If you were to look at an average soccer game, there are usually a variety of wagers to place. Some of these involve predicting goal scorers, fouls, or yellow cards. These types of wagers are proposition bets, as they do not rely on the outcome of the game. If you bet on Ronaldo to score twice inside the first half, it does not matter if his team wins or loses the game. You still get paid either way, as long as the bet comes true.

This example relates just to soccer, but the same applies to every other sport. If we stick with just the American classics, there are many proposition bets for each sport. Starting in the NHL, you could have the first goal scorer, the number of penalty minutes, and even the number of attempts at the net in a certain period. You’ll find similar bets for baseball. The first player to hit a home run, first strikeout, etc.

How do Proposition Bets Work?

Prop bets work just like any other sports-related wager. You bet on an outcome and you can only win some cash if that event comes true. The only difference is your bet is not usually dependent on the result of the game. Meaning, that you are not betting for one team to win, but for an event inside of the match. This may sound complex, but it’s actually straightforward and exciting.

The reason this type of wager is a popular choice amongst players is down to several factors. Perhaps the most important is the returns. Let’s take the Los Angeles Angels game at the Boston Red Sox, for example. At the FanDuel Sportsbook, the Angels have a moneyline of -142 to win the game. This return is not great, as your $10 would only win $7.04. Instead, let’s say you fancied Mike Trout to hit a home run. That would pay +295, even if the Angels lost. If you were feeling really confident of Trout’s abilities, two home runs are up there for +2700. This would turn your $10 into a rather juicy $270; from one bet!

Hopefully, this would give you a good idea of what to expect from prop bets and what makes them so popular. If you sign up for one of the best sports betting sites, they usually have a section where you can request a bet. This is where you can combine multiple propositions into one wager, leading to some incredible returns. An example is, that Trout, Taylor Ward, and Shohei Ohtani all hit one or more home runs for +6835.

How to make Prop Bets Online

Placing a prop bet is one of the most enjoyable parts of sports betting. Although, we recommend new players place their bets before the start of the game. We say this because it can take a long time to browse the various wagers offered on an online sportsbook and they regularly freeze or adjust the odds while a contest takes place. If you are betting mid-game, you might run out of time while browsing for the bet you want. So, we recommend doing all the betting ahead of time while you are a beginner.

If you want to know exactly how to place a proposition bet, you need to find it first. This is where you browse the sportsbook looking for the exact wager you want to bet on. This can include the first point scorer, the first person to be cautioned by the officials, or even one player to have a certain number of assists. The possibilities for prop bets are extraordinary. Depending on the sport you pick, you can bet on trivial aspects of a game that you usually take for granted. Going back to soccer, you can bet on the number of throw-ins, corners, and even the number of shots on target from individual players.

Prop bets are tricky to get right, which is what makes them so financially rewarding. Usually, to get good returns at a sportsbook, you can combine your wagers into a parlay or round robin. This is where they link two or more of your wagers together to form a more valuable payslip. You can do the same with prop bets. However, you rarely need to, thanks to the high returns.

How to Win a Proposition bet

How do you win a proposition bet? We should let you know right now, that there is no guaranteed way to win any sports bet. However, that does not mean you are on your own! Simply follow the tips below and you should cut your losses and maybe even win a bet or two along the way!

• How likely is the prop? This may not sound like a tip, but we assure you; that it is! Depending on the sportsbook you join, they could offer you a prop with boosted odds. Say the sportsbook was offering you +1000 for Sidney Crosby to score and assist against the New York Rangers. If you know hockey, then you would know Crosby assists more often than scoring goals. Maybe this bet is worth a punt, or maybe there is one that is more likely to come true.
• Adjust your stake: As we have said above, the returns for this type of wager are quite good. This means you can afford to stake less than usual and still come out with comparable returns. Each player will have a different idea of what they are prepared to lose, but you can avoid heavy losses by reducing your stakes.
• Compare and contrast: One of the best parts of prop bets is the research phase. This is where you browse the various wagers offered by the sportsbook looking for "the one". This is where you can become proficient at recognizing a good deal or not. For example, in soccer, they had +300 for one player to have two shots on target. However, they also had +1400 for the same wager, plus a couple of corners for each team.

Examples of the Best Prop Bets

We here at Bet Station want to make it as easy as possible for new players. That is why we have compiled a range of prop bet examples below, to help give you an idea of what to expect from a sportsbook. Whether you are a fan of baseball, hockey, football, or basketball, we have an example or two for you! If you are looking for prop bets for special occasions like the Super Bowl, we have you covered!

The Best Super Bowl Prop Bets

Props are one of the most popular bets during the Super Bowl because of the relatively easy ways to win. Although this may sound strange, there are many prop bets that involve little to no skill, just a pinch of luck. By far the most popular proposition bet is the coin toss. This is where you can bet on the result of the coin toss done at the very start of the Super Bowl game. The result can either be heads or tails, giving you a 50/50 chance of winning the bet. What makes this bet so fun is that they settle the bet before the game even begins. Allowing you to enjoy the rest of the game with a smile; if you win!

NBA Prop Bets

The NBA is another extremely popular choice for prop bets, thanks to the high-scoring games and wide variety of choices. You can have prop bets on a player’s points scored during a game, if they assist, or the total number of rebounds. You can even bet on the number of blocks, free throws, and fouls conceded by certain players. They also have team prop bets, such as the first team to score a total number of points. Basketball is a fantastic sport for prop betting as there is a wonderful variety of wagers to place on every aspect of the game.

NFL Prop Bets

In case you missed the 2022 Super Bowl, there are plenty of prop bets to enjoy throughout any NFL season. A prop bet is usually a wager on an individual or a team’s performance. You can enjoy these prop bets for just one game, or a combination across the entire season. One example is the number of touchdowns thrown by a quarterback all season. Another could be the passing yards in one game. The choice of NFL prop bets is fantastic and they usually come with more rewarding odds than your typical moneyline or spread bet.

Best MLB Prop Bets

Just to recap, a prop bet is one that does not rely on the final result of a game. This means you can place bets before or even during a game, and get a payout before the game has concluded. In the MLB, there is a fantastic mix for proposition bets, but the most popular choice is on an individual’s performance. You can bet on a player to get a certain number of hits, the pitcher to give away some runs, or even players to hit home runs. You can also bet on the team’s performance. For example, a certain scoreline at the halfway point.

Fun NHL Prop Bets

The NHL is another excellent source for prop bets. Some of the best sportsbooks offer you yes or no questions. This can include whether a player scores a goal, gets an assist, and if the game will go into overtime. These wagers are usually very rewarding, as they combine multiple variables into one bet, resulting in reasonable odds. At the very best sportsbooks, you can pick four or more yes or no questions to form a prop bet specifically designed for you. That is not the only type of NHL proposition bet. They also have bets for individual players and team performances.

What are the odds of Proposition Bets?

Proposition bets are great because of their odds. If you look at moneyline bets, they usually have mediocre returns; especially if you bet on the favorite. However, if you were to look at most prop bets, you can often more than double your stake. This applies to most sports, such as hockey, football, baseball, and basketball.

Using the NBA game between the Heat and the 76ers, the moneyline is only -144 and +122, respectively. Meaning a ten-dollar wager can either win you $6.94 or $12.20. However, if you were to look at a prop, say the first player to score a point, the lowest odds offered at FanDuel were +750 for Bam Adebayo. There are other types of prop bets with lower returns, but this is a good example of a high-risk, high-reward wager.

The odds for each prop bet vary on the likelihood of the event. Some sportsbooks allow you to request a bet. This is where you can combine multiple props into one wager. You could bet on the Miami Heat to lead at halftime, score four three-pointers, and for Adebayo to score at least 20 points. Most sportsbooks give you complete control when requesting a wager like this, and they almost always have exceptional returns!

When to place a Prop Bet

It is never easy to decide what type of wager to place when sports betting. One type of wager may seem likely to occur, but there is no way of knowing until after. While we can’t help you win every prop bet, we can hopefully help you choose the right one and avoid losses.

• Check the stats: No matter what bet the sportsbook is offering, always check the stats. Sportsbooks like Betway usually have a section dedicated to the team’s stats plus some figures around each player. This can help you decide whether the bet is worth placing. If it’s an NBA bet for a player to get several assists, and he is in fine form, then it sounds like a bet worth placing.
• What are the odds? Most prop bets have odds that are better than your typical spread or moneyline. However, there is also a mix of propositions that are either very likely to occur or not likely at all. The problem is, that if an event is likely, then it will be low-paying. Plus, if the wager is unlikely, then it is probably not worth betting on in the first place. Just because you can place a bet, doesn't mean you should.
• Should you make a prop parlay? If you look at a typical parlay, the benefit is to combine low-paying odds into something better. When it comes to prop bets, it’s not usually worth your time to combine them. This is because prop betting is usually quite risky, which is why they typically have great returns. Making a parlay would increase your odds drastically if you are right, but is it worth the additional risk?

Why Choose Proposition Bets

Prop bets are usually a good way to have fun while sports betting. That’s not to say other bets are boring. But the props offer a lot of excitement and you don’t need to predict who will win. Below are a couple of tips to help you choose a prop at the right time.

• Who will win? If you are new to sports betting, the aim of the game is to predict who will win the contest. However, sometimes a matchup is too close to call on paper, which is where proposition bets come into play. Say you don’t know who will win between the 76ers and the Heat, but you predict James Harden was going to run riot. You could put on several wagers just surrounding Philadelphia’s star man. Such as the total number of points, assists, or rebounds in one game.
• What’s a good prop? A good proposition bet comprises two parts. Part one is the bet and part two is the odds. The bet is the most important part, as they usually give you a selection of bets to choose from. The more complex the prop bet is, the higher the rewards. The odds tell you how much you could win if your prediction comes true. If the wager only returns a couple of bucks more than your stake, then is it really worth placing?

Where to place Prop Bets

Prop bets are one of the most popular choices of wagers at the best online sportsbooks. That’s because the very best sportsbooks offer their players a variety of exciting props to choose from. Props can vary depending on the sportsbook you join. However, any of the ones listed below will provide a fantastic range of props to enjoy.

Prop Bets DraftKings

DraftKings might well be the home of daily fantasy sports, but it’s also an excellent provider of casino games and one of the best online sportsbooks. What makes the DraftKings Sportsbook so good is the wide range of sports to choose from. Add this to the brilliant selection of props and you have an online sportsbook that can’t be beaten.

FanDuel Prop Bets

FanDuel is an excellent choice for online sports betting. They also offer a top-notch daily fantasy sports service plus some casino games, but it’s the sportsbook that stands out in our FanDuel review. If you visit the sportsbook, you will see they offer a superb variety of wagers for almost every popular sport. Whether it’s the NFL, NBA, or MLB, FanDuel has an incredible collection of proposition bets to choose from.

Proposition Bets Betway

Betway might well be one of the best-hidden gem sportsbooks in America. With its brilliant sports selection and a fantastic array of stats about each team, Betway is up there with the very best. What makes Betway so special is how often they boost proposition bets. If you look in the Betway Boosts section, you will find a humongous range of proposition bets. These wagers range across multiple sports, such as football, tennis, and Esports, giving you a variety to choose from.

PointsBet Prop Bets

Although PointsBet is famous for PointsBetting, it is another sportsbook where you can find some truly fantastic props. Take basketball, for example. You can place prop bets on the highest-scoring quarter, the leading team after each quarter, and even the winning margin for each team. They also have bets on whether the game will finish with an odd or even number of points and whether there will be overtime. They have a brilliant collection of bets to consider.

Final Words on Proposition Bets

Prop bets remain a popular choice for many reasons. One being they usually have better returns than outright predictions for the winner. Another being they rarely rely on the final score. Meaning you could win your bet long before the match is over. The third and final reason is that they are a lot of fun! Prop bets usually rely on individual performances, allowing you to enjoy the game even if your team loses.

Proposition bets are notoriously hard to judge. However, the odds are usually excellent; making it a risk worth taking! If you find that prop bets are not working out for you, then there are a couple of things to consider. Are you betting on sporting events you are familiar with? Are you doing enough research before placing a bet? Have you considered taking a break and setting deposit limits on your account? Although there is nothing more frustrating than losing, there is nothing worse than chasing losses into oblivion. Remember, when the fun stops, stop betting!