How to make a futures bet

The futures market is a different way of betting than the day-to-day plays. There are several betting markets available to wager on from the moneyline to the point spread.

Futures markets become live at the end of a league's season and stay open throughout the duration of it. Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2022-23 NHL season as a +1,000 favourite to win the Stanley Cup. A popular example of futures bet would be placing a wager on the Super Bowl champion.

The Los Angeles Rams jumped the futures odds board last offseason after trading for Matthew Stafford. Sportsbooks and gamblers deemed the Rams as a better bet to win with Stafford in the fold. The best players shorten their odds as the playoffs inch closer. This was the case with Connor McDavid and Shohei Ohtani. It's a difficult market to have success in as you are placing bets when all or most teams have a chance at winning.

Futures markets allow you to place bets on sports' championship, major awards and individual performances. Popular options include betting on division and conference winners and how many wins a team will get. Futures betting isn't limited to the Big Four and is offered in everything from golf to soccer.