What is a prop bet? This question gets asked really frequently. Prop betting, or proposition betting, allows you to wager on specific events within a game, rather than the overall outcome.
These bets add excitement and variety to sports betting by focusing on individual players, teams, or even in-game scenarios. From predicting a player’s performance to unique game events like the number of corner kicks, prop bets let you get creative and they work for just about every sport market.
The prop bet meaning is simpler than you might have first thought. This bet involves wagering on specific events or outcomes within a game that aren’t directly tied to the final result. Unlike traditional bets focusing on who wins or the total points scored, prop bets center on unique aspects of the game, such as player performances, team stats, or even off-the-wall occurrences.
A prop bet allows you to bet on an event occurring (or not) during a game. Sportsbooks like Borgata betting sites typically set odds for each possible outcome, and you choose which side to wager on. Although, sometimes they will let you create your own custom prop bet, where you can create the betting line yourself.
Here’s a real life example of a prop bet for an NFL game:
If you bet $120 on over and Mahomes throws 3 or more touchdowns, you win $100.
The list of prop bets you can make on sportsbooks is almost never ending. That’s why many of these providers often put their prop bets into different categories. Here’s some that you’ll commonly find:
These bets revolve around individual player performances. Examples include:
These focus on a team’s performance within a game or event. Examples include:
Game props relate to events that happen during the game, independent of players or teams. Examples include:
These are creative, often light-hearted bets that may not require sports knowledge. Examples include:
Each sport is different and comes with its own set of key events and outcomes to bet on. This presents a wide variety of factors to bet on as a player. Here’s some of the most popular prop betting markets for some of the most popular sports markets:
| Sport | Prop bet markets |
|---|---|
| Football | Passing yards Rushing yards Receptions Interceptions Touchdowns |
| Basketball | Rebounds Steals Assists Blocks 3-pointers |
| Baseball | Home run Strikeouts Runs scored Runs batted in (RBI) Steal a base |
| Hockey | First team to score Power play goals Penalty minutes Shots on goal Saves |
| Soccer | Assists Yellow cards Shots on target Free kicks Corners |
Prop betting sites are becoming a hot trend in the world of sports betting, and for good reason. Unlike traditional bets focused on final scores or outcomes, prop bets let you get into the finer details of a game. Like how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw or the number of three-pointers a basketball star will sink. This added variety appeals to bettors who want more than just picking a winner.
One of the key drivers of their popularity is engagement, as these bets make even the smallest moments into something to get excited about. Whether it’s a random coin toss or a player breaking a personal record, there’s always something to cheer for. Lastly, the rise of online sportsbooks has made prop bets more accessible. With intuitive interfaces offering hundreds of prop options per game, bettors have never had more choices than they do today. Hopefully our online betting guide for prop bets will help open your mind to these possibilities when you next visit a prop betting site.
Combining prop bets with parlay bets is a strategy for spicing up your betting experience while potentially increasing your potential payouts. This creative way of combining the two popular forms of betting into one. But, what are betting parlays? A parlay bet ties multiple individual bets into one larger bet. But, to win this parlay bet all of the individual predictions (legs) must win for the parlay to pay out. When combined with prop bets, this could mean wagering on multiplier player, team or game outcomes.
The example below shows how prop bets can be used in combination with parlays for a basketball game:
If all three outcomes occur, your parlay bet wins.
To turn prop betting into a winning strategy, it’s important to approach it with some skill and planning. Whether you're new to prop betting or looking to refine your approach, here are five tips to help you maximize your chances of success:
Knowledge is power. Before placing a prop bet, dig deep into a player’s or team’s recent performance and statistics. Look at their past games, matchups, injury reports, and other factors that might influence their performance. For example, if a quarterback is playing against a weak defense, betting on them to throw for over a certain number of yards could be a smart move.
It’s easy to bet on your favorite player or team, but don’t let emotions drive your decisions. Prop betting is about facts, not feelings. So make sure your bets are based on data and logic, rather than fan loyalty or wishful thinking.
When you’re getting started, stick with simple props that you already understand, like over/under on player statistics or basic game outcomes. Starting simple helps you build confidence and as you gain experience, you can explore more complex props such as combined player/team outcomes or novelty bets.
Not all sportsbooks are weighted evenly, some are more favorable than others and include better bonuses, odds, payment methods, support, security and many more important factors. Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend hours deciphering all of this information yourself. Here at the Players Best we have a huge variety of sportsbooks reviewed, with honest ratings for each.
Last-minute changes, such as injuries or lineup changes can drastically affect the outcomes of prop bets. Keep an eye on news right before the game starts, as this information can present a unique opportunity to place a more informed bet. For example, if an important player is removed from the lineup, you may want to bet against a prop that involves that player.
So it seems we’ve solved the question of what is a prop bet together - solid teamwork! Now you’re well equipped to hit up your favorite sportsbook and start putting our prop betting tips into action, testing out all of the different categories and options for different sports. Don’t forget to try combining prop bets with different markets like parlays and live betting. If you need a helping hand finding your next sportsbook, we’d be happy to help here at Players.org. You can find hundreds of the top sportsbooks reviewed and rated right here.
A prop bet is a bet placed on specific events or outcomes within a game that don’t directly affect the final score. Some real world examples of this include predicting a player’s stats, a team’s performance, or fun occurrences like the outcome of a coin toss. By understanding what is prop betting in sports, you are in a better position to make informed bets.
Traditional bets focus on the final result, such as which team wins or the total score. Prop bets, however, can involve smaller, more specific events, such as how many touchdowns a player will score or whether a game goes into overtime.
Yes, many sportsbooks offer live prop bets during games. You can bet on a wide range of events as they unfold, such as whether a player will score in the next quarter or how many fouls will occur in a period.
