If you’re looking for one of the most fun (and potentially profitable) types of sports bets, let us be the first to welcome you to the wild world of futures betting.
Futures betting allows you to wager on events long before they happen — and before Vegas truly has a feel for the correct odds. This allows you to lock in juicy prices that would be inconceivable just a few weeks later.
Of course, it’s not quite that simple, which is why most people lose money betting futures. In this guide, though, we’ll reveal some of the top futures betting strategies and the top betting sites to use, including our #1 pick, BetOnline.
Can we guarantee these strategies will make you a winning bettor? Of course not. But we’re pretty confident you’ll be a lot closer to being a successful handicapper when we’re done.
Best Sites for Futures Betting
- BetOnline: Best overall
- Bovada: Most competitive odds
- BUSR: Variety of markets to bet on
- MyBookie: $1,000 welcome bonus
- EveryGame: Most competitive football odds
- Xbet: #1 pick for horse racing betting
- Thunderpick: 24/7 customer support
- MyStake: User-friendly interface
- BetUS: Fast payouts
- SportsBetting.ag: Two-decade-long experience
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What is Futures Betting: Explained in Simple Terms
A futures bet is a wager that’s placed on an event in the future. This may sound ridiculous — aren’t all bets placed on events in the future? — but a futures bet is typically one that happens well in advance of the event being wagered upon.
One of the most common types of futures bet is a bet on who will win a championship before the season starts. You’re betting on who you think has the best chance of winning but absent any information about how the season will actually go.
You can make futures bets on just about anything, including individual awards, props, over/unders, and more. Futures bets are also staples of just about any sport, so you can make them on virtually any event offered at your favorite sports betting site.
>> Find out more about futures betting at BetOnline.
How to Read Futures Bets
Futures bets are almost always expressed the same way as traditional betting lines. For example, if you wanted to bet on the Lakers to win the NBA title before the season, you might see odds like +2000.
This means that if you bet $100 on the Lakers and won, you’d get a payout of $2000. Conversely, if the Lakers had odds of -150, you’d need to bet $150 to win $100.
However, you’ll rarely see negative odds on long-term futures bets, as that would mean that one player or team would be a massive favorite over the field.
Advantages of Betting Futures
Betting futures is pretty easy and straightforward, as it’s one of the most basic bets you can make. Now, let’s look at some of the advantages of betting so far in advance.
Futures Bets Come with Better Prices
You’re going to get the best price possible on futures, and the further out you are from the event, the better the price will be.
This is due to the inherent instability of these bets. A lot can happen in a few months, and in order to incentivize people into taking these wagers, the bookies have to give favorable odds to do so.
That being said, most sports are relatively predictable. The best team before the season usually hoists the trophy at the end of it. There are outliers, of course, but in most cases, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how the season will go before it starts — so why not bet when the odds are most in your favor?
Great for Smart Bettors
If you know a lot about a sport, you’ll probably have the edge over the rest of the betting public when it comes to betting futures.
The simple fact is that not everyone can accurately predict how a season is likely to play out before it actually does. If you can get a good idea of the most likely storylines, you can lock in some incredible odds — all while the rest of the betting public is still chasing the ghosts of last season.
If you eat, sleep, and breathe a certain sport, you’ll have a huge advantage over average Joes who only check in occasionally — and you can monetize that knowledge with futures betting.
>> Visit Bovada for more information about futures betting.
Futures Betting Pairs Logically with Other Bets
Betting futures allows you to start telling a story about how you foresee the season playing out. From there, it’s easy to start finding other potentially profitable betting opportunities to pair with your futures bet.
Say you want to bet on the Dolphins to win the Super Bowl (hey, you’ll get great odds). Ask yourself what it would take for them to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season, and you’ll likely find a bunch of juicy companion bets to make as well.
For instance, Tua Tagovailoa would likely have a monster season, so you might want to bet the over on some of his props. Tyreek Hill would probably blow up as well and could be a good bet for Offensive Player of the Year. Mike McDaniel would almost certainly be a strong bet for Coach of the Year…the list goes on.
The idea is that once you have a narrative in mind for your bets, it’s much easier to put other bets into perspective. This could open up a whole world of great wagers for you.
Of course, if your futures bet goes wrong, you could be setting yourself up for massive failure as well…but fortunately, the great odds you’ll be getting should largely offset that possibility.
Makes Seasons More Entertaining
A simple sports betting futures bet before the season begins can keep you engaged until the very last whistle is blown. If you bet on a team before the season, you’ll ride with that team until they’re mathematically eliminated from contention.
That means that you’ll be completely engaged in every single game they play that season, right until the end. The entertainment value of such a bet is insane.
Yes, you’ll have some bets that fizzle out almost immediately — but the ones that last will be filled with so much drama that you’ll be unable to look away.
>> Place futures bets at BUSR.
Disadvantages of Betting Futures
With all that being said, there are definitely some downsides to making bets well in advance. Here are a few of the things you should know about before you start wagering on futures.
Betting on Incomplete Information
The whole idea behind futures betting is that you’re accepting better odds in exchange for making a bet with reduced information.
That means that a smart bet made before the season could go bad in a hurry if things don’t pan out the way you thought they would. If your team disappoints, or if they’re derailed by an injury to a key player, your wager could go up in smoke.
Your bet could also be affected by transactions within the season. If a rival makes a big trade at the deadline, your team’s odds could plummet as a result. You’ll never have as much info as you’d like when betting futures. If that frustrates you, then these bets might not be for you.
However, if you’re willing to make an educated guess in exchange for some juicier lines, then you could end up being a talented futures handicapper.
Ties Up Your Bankroll
Any futures bet you make won’t be paid out until the event in question is over, so any money you allocate towards one of these wagers could be tied up for months.
This could be a problem for gamblers with modest bankrolls, as they might not be willing to lose that liquidity. It could mean passing up other potentially profitable wagers simply because you don’t have the money readily available to make them.
Some sites allow you to cash out of bets early, but there’s usually a penalty for doing so, which may defeat the purpose of making the futures bet in the first place. So, if you’re going to bet futures, you should probably set aside a chunk of your bankroll for these bets — and budget the rest of your money as if you’ll never get the futures cash back.
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Futures Betting Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from the Experts
There’s an art to futures betting, and those who know how to do it can exploit inefficiencies on the way to beat Vegas at their own game. Those people are few and far between, though, and most people end up losing money betting futures.
Luckily for you, though, we’ve put together a list of some of the top futures betting strategies used by sharp bettors across the world — and we’re sharing a few of them below.
Tell Yourself a Story
We touched on this earlier in the article, but you should try to figure out a logical narrative for the season when making a futures bet.
Don’t just say, “Hey, the Lions have great odds; I should bet on them to win the Super Bowl.” Try to figure out how the Lions could win the Super Bowl, and then work backward from there.
What would it take for Detroit to be the last team standing? How likely is that to happen? Do the odds you’re being offered truly reflect that possibility?
Thinking like this can allow you to determine if you’re really getting a good price or not. Seeing a +3000 line can be very tempting, but if there’s virtually no shot of that bet coming in, it’s still a sucker’s play.
Make a Variety of Bets
When you’re telling yourself the story of how the season will go, you’ll likely come across a bunch of corollary bets that will need to come through for your primary future to win.
Using our Lions example, a season in which Detroit wins the Super Bowl is also likely one in which Jared Goff vastly exceeds expectations, Jahmyr Gibbs is in the running for Rookie of the Year, and Dan Campbell takes home Coach of the Year honors.
If you make all those futures bets as well, and your primary bet hits, you stand a very good chance of turning a big payday into a massive one.
>> Place futures bets at MyBookie.
Don’t Be Afraid to Hedge Futures Bets
You should also think about what would happen if your primary bet doesn’t come in. What would stop your team from winning the championship? What other teams are likely to benefit in this scenario?
Betting against your primary wager — also known as “hedging” — can be a smart play in these situations. Yes, it guarantees that you’ll at least lose some money, but it can also reduce your losses and greatly increase your chances of coming out in the black.
This can be especially smart as the season goes on, and it looks more likely that your bet will come in. You’re likely going to get a good payout from a long-term futures bet, so it can make sense to make a smaller bet against it to lock in a profit.
For example, if you put $100 on Detroit to win the Super Bowl at +3000, and they make it to the big game, you might want to bet against them to actually win it. This will reduce your total payout, but if you calculate it correctly, you’ll guarantee a profit.
Bet Futures Throughout the Season
You don’t have to limit yourself to wagers before the season starts when betting futures. You can continue to wager on these throughout the season, although the odds will get shorter as the season progresses.
However, betting futures midseason can sometimes be the best of both worlds. You’ll still be able to take advantage of longer odds, but you’ll have more information on which to base your wagers.
This can be especially valuable if you can identify dark horses that you feel are undervalued. Betting on the odds-on favorite likely won’t be profitable, but if you can pick out a team or two that could potentially surprise people, you can put yourself in a juicy situation.
>> Explore futures betting options at EveryGame
Anticipate Big Events
There are certain things — like a big trade at the deadline — that can drastically change the odds on a dime. If you have a feel for how these events will shake out, you can lock in favorable odds before they shift.
Now, predicting these kinds of personnel changes can be a full-time job in and of itself. Most sports have rumors that fly around the deadline, though, and you can generally get a feel for which players are likely to be moved — it’s just up to you to try to figure out where they’re going.
Of course, you should limit yourself to betting on teams that are already contenders with this futures betting strategy. That way, if they do make a big trade, you’ll benefit from the odds boost — and if they don’t, well…you’ve still got a good future bet on a contender.
Bet at Multiple Sportsbooks
Just because you’ll usually get good odds on popular futures bets doesn’t mean that you should accept the first ones you come across.
Line shopping is one of the bedrock strategies of any successful sports bettor, and that’s true for betting futures as well. Finding a better line is almost as good as figuring out a better bet, and you should spend a good amount of time researching the best odds.
While lines usually don’t shift quite as rapidly on futures bets as they do some other wagers, you still need to be able to take advantage of favorable odds quickly, and to do that; you need to maintain accounts at multiple sportsbooks.
This is especially true if you plan on wagering around trade deadlines, which is one time when futures can change on a dime. For example, if you are not sure which sportsbook to use, our BetOnline review shows that it’s the #1 pick for futures odds – we’ll discuss more on that below.
>> Sign up at Xbet and place futures bets
Don’t Neglect Deposit Bonuses
Just about every online sportsbook in the world will give you bonus money for making an account with them, usually in the form of free bets or deposit matches. These bonuses are a goldmine for futures bettors.
Futures betting involves taking long odds, so you won’t win very often, but when you do, you’ll hit big. Why not use the bonus money to fund this speculation?
You can bet on longshot futures for free, and if you get lucky and they come in, you’ll have a tidy little profit on your hands.
Of course, if you want to get your hands on this bonus cash, you’ll need to sign up at multiple sportsbooks — but we’ve already told you to do that.
Best Sportsbooks for Futures Betting
If you want to bet futures, some sites are better than others. Here are a few of our favorites, each of which is well-known for its safety, trustworthiness, and excellent odds.
1. BetOnline – Best Futures Betting Site Overall
- Variety of futures betting markets available
- 50% welcome bonus of up to $1,000
- 10x wagering requirement on the bonus
Experienced gamblers know that BetOnline is usually one of the first bookies to issue odds on any event, and futures are no exception. They’re a great place to bet if you want to get in way ahead of the public money, but it’s also worth checking back in with them periodically, as their odds are extremely competitive. It’s also one of the best crypto sports betting sites available right now.
Type in BET1000 at sign-up to get a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 with a 10x rollover. Or, if you’d prefer to use Bitcoin, enter code CRYPTO100 for a 100% match up to $1,000 (there’s a 14x rollover for this one).
>> Sign up at BetOnline and place futures bets.
2. Bovada – Most Competitive Odds for Futures Bets
- Some of the most competitive odds online
- Excellent sportsbook with a variety of sports
- Up to $750 sports betting welcome bonus
When one season ends, one of the most entertaining things to do is immediately head over to Bovada to see the early lines for next year. Our Bovada review shows that it has comprehensive futures markets on all the major sports, and the odds are excellent.
Fiat currency users get a 50% match up to $250, while crypto fanatics can earn a 75% match up to $750 with code BTCSWB750. Both bonuses come with a 5x wagering requirement.
>> Find the best odds at Bovada.
3. BUSR – Best Variety of Markets for Futures Betting
- Excellent variety of sports betting options
- $1,500 welcome bonus
- Excellent boxing odds
- 24/7 customer support
BUSR is at the forefront of futures betting in a ton of different international sports, including some you may not have ever heard of before. Their live betting section is top-notch as well, giving you full support on both ends of the spectrum.
If you want a 100% deposit match up to $1,500 as a welcome bonus, enter SPORTS100FP when you make a new account. Be aware, though, that it comes with a 20x rollover and a $100 minimum deposit.
>> Place futures bets on a variety of sports at BUSR.
4. MyBookie – Most Generous Bonuses for Futures Bets
- 50% welcome bonus of up to $1,000
- Variety of offers for existing users
- Amazing live betting section
While MyBookie is well-known for its long-term futures, they have great midseason future markets as well. If you think you know who’s likely to win the Cy Young Award or NBA Rookie of the Year, stop by here before the season ends to get a great price on your hunch.
New players can cash in code MYB50 for a 50% match up to $1,000. This welcome bonus has a $50 deposit minimum and a 10x rollover attached.
>> Up to $1,000 welcome bonus at MyBookie.
5. EveryGame – Best Football Futures Betting Odds Online
- Best Thursday Night football betting odds
- $750 welcome package
- Decades-long experience
Everygame has a variety of futures props that are available months before each season starts, allowing you to wager on a lot more than just who will win the championship that year. If you like betting on individual players, check in here first.
They have a very creative welcome bonus as well. It’s a 100% match up to $750 (if you enter code 3XBOOST250), and you’ll get $250 of it at a time over your first three deposits — provided you satisfy their 4x wagering requirement, of course.
>> Place football bets at EveryGame.
Guide to Futures Betting Online: FAQ
Can You Parlay Futures Bets?
Yes, you can parlay futures bets. It’s generally not advised, as futures bets are longshot wagers, to begin with, so there’s little point in making them even harder to hit.
Then again, if you get lucky, the payday could be massive.
Can You Cash Out a Futures Bet?
Yes, some sportsbooks allow you to cash out futures bets.
This can allow you to limit your losses on bets that you’re no longer confident in or to reclaim some of your bankroll if you need it before the futures bet comes in.
Also, make sure to always opt for fast payout betting websites. We found many excellent sites to use, and our BetUS review showed that it’s one of the best picks for fast banking.
Are Futures Bets High Risk?
Yes, futures bets are considered high risk, as you’ll be making a wager with very limited information.
Expect to lose the majority of future bets you make — the trick is earning enough on the winners to compensate.
Not sure which sports to bet on? Check out these articles:
Are You Ready to Place Futures Bets Online?
Futures betting is one of the most fun ways to bet on sports. If you like high-risk, high-reward gambles (and who doesn’t?), betting on long-term futures is one of the best ways to get into sports betting.
Above, you’ll find five of the best and most trustworthy online sportsbooks for betting on futures. We’d recommend checking any or all of them out if you’re looking to get started, as they have great odds, generous welcome bonuses, and incredible customer support.
If you are looking for the best site to place futures bets, we once again recommend BetOnline.
All that’s left to do is look into your crystal ball and decide what you want to put your money on — you’re not likely to run out of choices anytime soon.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Online gambling comes with risks. There’s no guarantee of financial gain, so you should only gamble with what you can afford to lose. All information on this site is for entertainment purposes only.
While gambling can be fun, it can also be addictive. If you or anyone you know suffer from a gambling addiction problem, we recommend that you call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 to speak with an advisor. Please remember that our guides and all gambling sites are only for people who are 21+. Also, check with local laws to find out if online gambling is legal in your area.
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