Futures Betting Explained: How to Bet on Futures in Sports in 2025?

Futures betting is one of the most thrilling aspects of sports betting, offering opportunities to wager on long-term outcomes such as Super Bowl champions, NBA MVPs, MLB division winners, and more. With the rise of online sports betting in 2025, learning how to bet on futures and understanding the odds can lead to impressive payouts. Here’s everything you need to know about futures betting and how to maximize your sports betting strategy.

What is Futures Betting?

Futures bets are wagers placed on long-term events, where bettors predict outcomes like which team will win the championship, which player will win the MVP, or season win totals. These bets are settled at the conclusion of the event or season, often offering high-value odds.

Popular Futures Betting Markets:

• NFL Super Bowl Futures: Predicting the Super Bowl champion before or during the season.
• NBA MVP Futures: Betting on the NBA MVP winner.
• MLB Futures: Wagering on teams to win the World Series or individual player stats.
• NCAA Futures: Predicting the March Madness champion or Heisman Trophy winner.

Futures odds open at the start of the season and fluctuate as the season progresses. As teams perform better or worse, sportsbooks adjust the odds accordingly.

How Does Futures Betting Work?

Futures betting odds can be placed before the season begins and adjust over time based on team performance, player injuries, trades, and betting trends. The odds are locked in once your futures bet is placed, regardless of how they change throughout the season.

Example of Futures Betting:

• Kansas City Chiefs: +500 to win the Super Bowl (Bet $100 to win $500)
• New York Jets: +25,000 to win the Super Bowl (Bet $100 to win $25,000)

Odds fluctuate as teams improve or decline throughout the season. Betting on long-term outcomes offers the potential for significant payouts if you make successful predictions.

How to Read Futures Odds

Understanding how to read futures odds is key to maximizing your profits. Futures odds are often presented in American format, reflecting how much you can win based on a $100 wager.

Example of Futures Odds:

• Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl: +500 (Bet $100 to win $500)
• Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl: +10,000 (Bet $100 to win $10,000)

You can calculate the implied probability and potential payout using a sports betting odds calculator to determine the best bets.

Potential Payouts for Futures Bets

The payout for a futures bet is determined by the odds of your wager. The higher the odds, the greater the potential payout, but also the higher the risk. For example, bets with long odds have a lower probability of winning, but the payout can be massive if the outcome hits.

Here’s a look at different futures odds and potential payouts:

Stake	Odds (American)	Implied Probability	Potential Payout
$10	+120	45.45%	$12
$10	+500	16.67%	$50
$10	+1,000	9.09%	$100
$10	+5,000	1.96%	$500
$10	+10,000	0.99%	$1,000
$10	+50,000	0.20%	$5,000

When Are Futures Bets Paid Out?

Futures bet payouts are awarded once the event is completed and the sportsbook has officially graded the result. For example, Super Bowl futures are paid after the game, while bets on season win totals may not pay out until the season is over—even if the bet outcome is decided before the final game.

Types of Futures Bets

Futures bets are not limited to predicting the Super Bowl or NBA Finals champion. In 2025, futures markets are diverse and include a variety of long-term betting opportunities:

1. Championship Futures: Bet on the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL champion.
2. Individual Awards: Wager on players to win the MVP, Cy Young, Heisman Trophy, or Coach of the Year.
3. Season Win Totals: Bet on whether a team will win Over or Under a set number of games in a season.
4. Player Stat Futures: Predict player achievements, such as the most touchdowns, highest batting average, or leading scorer.

Where Can I Make Futures Bets?

Futures bets are available at all major online sportsbooks and sports betting apps. The odds and available markets can vary, so it’s essential to compare options to ensure you're getting the best value.

Top Online Sportsbooks for Futures Betting:

• BC.Game Sportsbook
• CrypotobetSports Bookmaker
• Mostbet Sportsbook
• Winscore Sportsbook

These sportsbooks offer a variety of futures markets, competitive odds, and promotional offers to help you maximize your returns.

Advantages of Futures Betting

Here’s why futures betting is growing in popularity in 2025:

1. High Payout Potential: Futures odds often provide better payouts compared to traditional betting options, especially when betting on underdogs.
2. Action All Season: Futures bets can be placed throughout the season, keeping you engaged with every game.
3. Long-Term Strategy: Futures bets require careful planning and allow you to capitalize on changing odds as the season unfolds.
4. Enhanced Betting Experience: Betting on long-term outcomes enhances your enjoyment of the season, as every game impacts your wager.

Disadvantages of Futures Betting

While futures betting has its perks, there are also risks to consider:

1. High House Edge: Futures markets generally offer a higher edge to sportsbooks, as only one outcome is rewarded.
2. Long-Term Commitment: Your bet is tied up for a long period until the outcome is determined.
3. Uncertainty: Injuries, trades, and other unforeseen changes can dramatically alter the odds and your bet’s outcome.
4. Market Saturation: Popular futures markets like the NFL MVP can see odds saturation, reducing potential profits.

Futures Betting Strategy

Successful futures betting strategies involve timing, research, and flexibility. Here are a few tips to get ahead in the game:

1. Buy Low on Struggling Teams: If a highly talented team is underperforming early in the season, you might get better futures odds by betting on them when they are undervalued.
2. Shop for the Best Odds: Different sportsbooks may offer slightly different futures odds. Compare odds to find the best value bets.
3. Hedge Your Bets: If your futures bet has gained significant value, you can hedge by placing a wager on the other side, guaranteeing a profit.

Hedging Futures Bets Example:

If you placed a $100 bet on the Kansas City Chiefs at +1,200 odds to win the Super Bowl, and they make it to the championship, you could hedge by placing a $100 bet on the opposing team (e.g., San Francisco 49ers at +110) to lock in a guaranteed profit.

Conclusion: Is Futures Betting Right for You?

Futures betting offers thrilling opportunities to wager on long-term events with high payout potential. In 2025, as online sports betting continues to expand, understanding how to bet on futures, read futures odds, and develop a winning strategy is essential to success. Whether you’re betting on Super Bowl futures, NBA MVP predictions, or MLB division champions, mastering the art of futures betting can bring exciting rewards.

Ready to dive into futures betting? Visit top sportsbooks to compare futures odds and start placing your bets today!