What Is a Futures Bet?

min read
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after a touchdown during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
(Matt Durisko/AP Photo)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Nov 19, 2023, 5:13 PM

A futures bet is a broad classification of long-term wagers that is typically resolved weeks, months, or even years in the future.ย 

Futures betting markets contrast with more typical straight bets, like point spreads or moneylines, which are single-game wagers that are often resolved in the near term.ย 

At the BetMGM online sportsbook, bettors can wager on which team will win the Super Bowl odds, Heisman Trophy odds, college basketball national championship odds, and more.

Any wager on those long-term markets would be examples of futures bets.ย 

How to Calculate Futures Payouts

Because futures markets typically involve forecasting events far in the future, a successful futures bet may pay out a far greater return than many other kinds of bets. A typical single-game underdog could pay +300, while a typical futures bet could pay +3000.

Letโ€™s say you bet on Mike Tomlin to win in the NFL Coach of the Year odds market at +2500. A successful $20 bet would return your $20 plus $500 in winnings.

Futures betting can be very difficult, but also very profitable!

Visit the sportsbook for updated odds, the best sports betting promos โ€” including BetMGM’s welcome offer โ€” and more.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.