Betting Strategy Guide
Futures Betting Explained
Key takeaways
- A futures bet is on an outcome decided over a season, such as a championship, a division, a season win total or an award.
- Futures pay long odds, so at +2000 a $20 bet wins $400, but the stake stays tied up until the outcome is official.
- Futures markets usually carry a higher margin than single games, and how a shortened season is settled depends on the sportsbook's house rules.
A futures bet is a wager on an outcome decided later in a season rather than in a single game: who wins a championship or a division, how many games a team wins, or who takes an award. Futures pay long odds, but your stake is tied up for weeks or months and the sportsbook's margin is usually higher than on a single game.
Common futures markets
- Championship winner: the team that wins the title, often listed before the season starts.
- Conference and division winners: fewer teams, so shorter odds.
- Season win totals: an over/under on a team's wins, such as 9.5, priced like a total.
- Awards: most valuable player, rookie of the year and similar honors.
Availability varies by sport and by sportsbook.
How futures odds pay
| Odds | $20 bet wins | Implied probability |
|---|---|---|
| +300 | $60 | 25.0% |
| +1000 | $200 | 9.1% |
| +2000 | $400 | 4.8% |
| +5000 | $1,000 | 2.0% |
At +2000 a winning $20 ticket returns $420: $400 profit plus your stake. The implied probability is 100 ÷ 2,100 = 4.8%, so the bet has value only if you rate the team's chances higher than that.
A higher margin than single games
Add up the implied probabilities of every team in a championship market and the total is usually well above the 104.8% of a -110 / -110 game, often 120% or more. With dozens of possible winners, each price carries part of the margin. Compare prices before you bet, and see how the vig is measured.
How prices move through a season
Futures odds change with results, injuries and trades. A team at +2000 before the season might be +600 after a strong start, or +5000 after losing its best player. Your ticket keeps the odds you got when the bet was accepted, whatever happens to the price later. A ticket that is still alive late in the season is also when many bettors consider a hedge.
Settlement and shortened seasons
Futures settle when the outcome is official. If a season is shortened, canceled or changes format, whether a bet stands, is graded on the official result or is refunded depends on the sportsbook's rules, and so does the handling of ties in award markets. Check the house rules before you bet, and size futures as part of your bankroll, since that money stays tied up.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
Betcris Arizona is licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. You must be 21 or older and located in Arizona to place a bet. Check the current promotions before you bet, and read our responsible gaming policy. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a futures bet?
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A bet on an outcome decided later in a season, such as the champion, a division winner, a season win total or an award winner.
How much does a +2000 futures bet pay?
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A $100 bet wins $2,000, so a winning ticket returns $2,100. The implied probability is 100 ÷ 2,100, about 4.8%.
When do futures bets pay out?
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When the outcome is official, for example after the championship has been decided. Until then your stake stays on the bet.
What happens to a futures bet if the season is canceled?
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It depends on the sportsbook. Under its house rules a bet may stand on the official result or be refunded if no winner is declared, so check them before you bet.
