Pros and Cons of Futures Betting

Futures betting is one of the most popular and straightforward ways to bet on sports. Also known as outright betting, all you need to do is predict the winner of a league or tournament and wait to see what happens.

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While there are many benefits of futures betting, there are also some disadvantages that you need to be aware of. Below, we highlight the pros and cons of futures betting. Let’s start with the advantages before looking at the drawbacks.

Pros of Futures Betting

Futures betting is similar to moneyline betting. However, rather than predicting the winner of a game, you’re predicting the outright winner of an entire competition. Here are three of the main benefits of futures betting.

Fun and Profitable Way to Prepare for a New Season

Futures betting is an enjoyable – and potentially lucrative – way to gear yourself up for a new season or one-off tournament. It gives you the chance to assess all the teams, evaluate the bookies’ odds and get excited about the forthcoming action.

For example, if you’re an avid follower of the NBA, you can check out the bookies’ outright prices months before the new season gets underway, and this will only help prepare you for the campaign ahead.

Early Lines Offer Plenty of Sharp Opportunities

Sportsbooks release futures betting odds months or sometimes even years in advance. You will find outright odds for the next NFL season as soon as the previous season is over, while prices for the next FIFA World Cup are available years before the tournament.

Early lines offer sharp opportunities, as expert bettors have the chance to take advantage of markets long before most casual bettors are interested. Keep your eyes peeled and make the most of early lines whenever you can.

Pros and Cons of Betting Against the Spread

Futures Betting Odds Can Present Great Value

It can often be difficult for oddsmakers to get their prices correct when they’re trying to predict the outcome of a league or tournament that doesn’t start for a few months. Consequently, futures odds tend to offer excellent value.

As the start of a new season draws nearer, the bookies will be able to refine their outright odds based on updated information. With that in mind, we recommended taking advantage of early futures betting odds.

Cons of Futures Betting

Unfortunately, like all forms of gambling, futures betting is not immune to drawbacks. Here are a couple of futures betting disadvantages that you should be aware of before you place your next outright wager.

You Have to Wait All Season for the Bet to Land

Most bettors want to get their hands on their winning as quickly as possible. However, futures bets are not determined until the end of the season. This means you could be waiting multiple months to find out if your bet has won or lost.

Pros and Cons of Totals Betting

Your Money Will Be Tied Up Until the Season Ends

When it comes to betting on individual games, you can take your winnings from one game and use the money to bet on the next game. By contrast, if you wager $100 on the winner of the next MLB World Series, you won’t see that money again for a long time.