Futures

What is a futures bet?

Futures bets are wagers on events that will happen in the future, usually at the end of a season or tournament. Futures bets are popular in sports betting, but can also be found in other areas such as politics and entertainment.

In sports, futures bets can include wagers on which team will win the championship, which player will win the MVP award, or how many games a team will win in a season. Futures bets are usually made before the season or tournament starts, but can also be made during the season.

Futures bets can offer the potential for a large payout, but can also be difficult to win as the events being bet on are far in the future.

It’s also important to note that futures bets tie up your money until the event has been resolved. If you place a futures bet at the start of the season, you won’t get your money back until the end of the season, which can be several months away.

What is an example of a futures bet?

Here’s an example of how a futures bet works in basketball:

At the start of the NBA season, a bettor can place a futures bet on which team will win the NBA championship. The odds for each team winning the championship will be listed, with the favourites having lower odds and the underdogs having higher odds.

Let’s say the odds for the Los Angeles Lakers winning the championship are +350, meaning a £100 bet would pay out £350 if the Lakers win the championship. If the bettor believes the Lakers are the best team in the league and will win the championship, they could place a £100 futures bet on the Lakers.

Throughout the season, the odds for each team winning the championship will change based on their performance. If the Lakers start winning a lot of games and become the favourites to win the championship, their odds might change to +200, meaning the potential payout for a £100 bet would be lower than it was at the start of the season.