We love to bet spreads or point totals as much as the next guy, however, they can get boring after a certain point. When they do, there’s no better way to “spice” up the action than with prop bets. Prop bets can pretty much be anything, which is where the fun comes from.
But what is a prop bet? Well, that’s what we’re going to answer in this in-depth guide to how Las Vegas props work, and perhaps more importantly, how you can make money off this popular bet type. There’s A LOT to cover so let’s get right into it!
Prop (proposition) bets vary so much in terms of what they offer but pretty much any sporting event has them available in some kind. Props are side bets that typically don’t have to do with the game’s actual winning outcome.
Props are often around statistical outcomes — of both players and teams. For example, you can bet on who scores the first touchdown in an NFL game. Pick the right player and you have a pretty penny waiting for you.
Super Bowls are notorious for their prop bet selection. Popular props include betting the coin toss (heads or tails), the over/under on the national anthem singing time, and halftime music show props. Like we said, prop bets can be ANYTHING.
Prop betting strategy entails finding the right sportsbook provider and then looking for oddsmakers offering betting markets on particular events the bettors are interested in playing.
The best way to do this is to wait for a particular event to come up — let’s say the Superbowl — and then look around for prop bets on the event. Not only does it mean the bettor can enjoy watching their favorite event, but it adds a little more spice to the day knowing there is money to be won!
Once the bettor has found markets with their favorite provider, they must begin searching through the various prop bets on offer and try to find value in the markets. Like with any wager, it’s important for the bettor to find something that could favor the bettor; competitive odds, high likelihood of paying out, and overall a balanced wager. Be persistent with prop bets, shop the various sportsbooks, and ultimately chase value in every wager.
Many betting pros or “sharps” believe that proposition bets are designed to ruin casual, uninformed bettors. Of course, the “juice” (the money the oddsmaker takes) on proposition bets is higher than on regular betting lines. However, this doesn’t take away from the value of Vegas prop bets.
Because prop bets are largely designed for bettor’s entertainment, it means the bets are given less attention from the providers. Prop bets are often associated with over/under, which means that if bettors want to be really smart, they can go and search the over/under from the same provider and look for more value there.
So, what is the point of prop betting? There is tremendous value in prop betting and those who are able to research the specifics of player performance should probably look to wagers on mainstream betting lines. Prop bets are generally for the casual player, but there is always value to be taken, regardless of the bettor’s knowledge.
For those bettors who love to research players and the finer details of the particular sport in question, it’s well worth taking a look at the prop bets on offer!
