Futures
Long-term bets on events that will be decided in the future, like championship winners.
Futures bets are wagers on outcomes that will be determined at a later date, such as which team will win the Super Bowl, who will win MVP, or a team's win total for the season. They're placed well in advance and typically settled at the end of a season or tournament.
Futures can offer some of the best value in sports betting because the markets are less efficient than game-day odds. Early-season futures, before the market is fully formed, can present especially good opportunities.
The main downside of futures is that your money is tied up for a long time. A $100 Super Bowl futures bet in August won't be settled until February. This opportunity cost should factor into your betting decisions.
Example
In September, you bet $100 on the Bills to win the Super Bowl at +1200. If they win, you profit $1,200. Your money is locked up for ~5 months.
Related Terms
Top Sportsbooks
Top-rated platforms reviewed by our editorial team