Revealed- How to Place Future Bets and Win
Every sports bettor wishes they could see into the future before placing bets. Since this is impossible, the best we can do is analyze the available data and make near-accurate predictions. Legal US Sportsbooks are keen on making the dream of seeing the future a reality by providing a rare and unique market, the future bets.
You can bet on future events and make significant profits if you correctly predict a match’s outcome. It’s more fun, exciting, and has the potential of a considerable payout compared to conventional bets.
What is a Futures Bet?
As the name suggests, a futures bet is placed on matches or games scheduled to be played in the future. Future bets require bettors to predict the winner of a tournament, such as the World Series or the Super Bowl.
However, particular sportsbooks allow bettors to place future bets on unique events, such as a specific player winning the MVP title in the NBA or being awarded the Player of the Season. However, placing a wager on a game scheduled in a fortnight is not considered futures betting.
A futures bet is usually made before the season begins, but some platforms allow users to place the same bets during the first two or three weeks of the league or season. The odds are dynamic, and so it is recommendable to place wagers when they are high.
One of the main reasons this type of betting is popular with US-based bettors is that it’s a single wager with a long life. Watching all the games for months as you wait for your bet to mature makes the whole experience more exciting. The massive payout is another highlight that gives them a higher cutting edge.
Check out the “Futures” tab on your preferred US Sportsbook to find potential future betting opportunities. Be sure to do thorough research to identify teams that are most likely to win the tournament.
Tips for Placing Futures Bets on Specific Sports
The rule of thumb is that you should only place a future bet on a game or sport that you understand. Here are examples of future bets that you can place in any legally accredited sportsbook here in the US.
NFL Futures Betting
Currently, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering a future bet opportunity for bettors to predict the winner of the much-awaited 2022 Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs are considered top contenders and have a significant chance of winning the Super Bowl with odds of +500. If you bet using $100 on this team and win, you will receive a payout of $600, that is $500 in winnings + $100 you staked.
Consequently, the payouts are significantly more for the underdogs or teams with a low possibility of winning the contest. For instance, if you wager $100 on Miami Dolphins to win, with current odds of +4500, you will get a payout of $4,600, that is $4,500 in winnings plus the $100 you used to place the bet.
NBA Futures Betting
League MVP is undoubtedly the most prestigious award in the NBA league. On BetMGM Sportsbook, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks forward guard, is currently favored to win the MVP with odds of 4/1 in the regular season.
Here is a simple calculation to help you know how much you will win if you stake with $100.
The total payout = stake x (numerator/denominator) + stake
$100 x (4/1) = 400 + $100 = $500
This sportsbook uses fractional odds, which most people find pretty difficult to understand. Convert them into a percentage by dividing the denominator with the numerator + denominator, and then multiply the result by 100, as shown below.
1/ (1+4) = 1/5 = 0.2 X 100 = 20%
From the above calculation, the odds of Doncic bagging the MVP award are 20%. However, if you do the same math on all the players listed as favorites for this award, the total odds will be more than 100%. Sportsbooks deliberately increase the odds to reduce the amount of money they pay out to winners, thereby increasing their profit margin.
MLB Futures Betting
Most bettors place futures bets on which team will win the American League. William Hill Sportsbook has a wide range of future bets opportunities, with generous welcome bonuses for new players to leverage and increase their bankroll.
When writing this guide, William Hills has awarded +250 odds to Houston Astros to win the league. If you bet on this team with $100 and it wins, you will get a payout of $350 ($250 in winnings plus the $100 you staked).
Surefire Tips for Placing Future Bets
Compare Odds: Take time to compare and contrast the odds offered by different sportsbooks to find the most ideal.
Place Bets Early: As mentioned earlier, the odds tend to change rapidly as the season nears. So, place your bets early enough to profit from the high odds set by the sportsbook.
Consider Hedging Your Bets: Hedging future bets not only reduces the risk of losing your stake but also makes the process more fun and exciting. That is, you can still get a significant amount from the bet no matter which team wins. Hedging is not easy, do due diligence before placing the bet.
Final Thoughts
Future betting is a superb way of spicing up your sports betting experience. It doesn’t matter whether you are a pro or novice bettor; you can profit from this betting market with the right strategy and mindset.
Virtually all the accredited sportsbooks in the United States offer free bets and bonuses to new members. Claim them to increase your bankroll and learn the ropes using the bonus before committing your own hard-earned money.