What is a prop bet and how do I place one?

The term "prop bet" stands for proposition bet, and that is another way to describe a specials bet. This has turned into a very popular betting form with bettors in the United States, and there are a number of reasons for this.

Prop betting can take away some of the stress and pressure that typically comes with sports betting, and it should have some fun and excitement. As this form of betting has gotten more popular over the years, sportsbooks have continued to come up with new and interesting prop betting markets.

This guide discusses some of the ins and outs of prop betting and also provides some tips and betting strategies to use when utilizing this betting type. If you have never placed a prop bet before then, this is something that you should try soon.

It started with the Super Bowl

Prop betting initially became extremely popular during the Super Bowl as sportsbooks were looking for ways to get non-sports fans involved. The Super Bowl is watched and enjoyed by millions of people, and it's an event that isn't just for football fans.

These prop betting options became a way for bettors to wager on events that took place during the game but had little to do with football. Prop betting has now expanded to include sports-related wagers, but you can still find the fun options listed as well.

Two main types

There are two main types of prop betting options, and it's important to know which one you are wagering on. You can certainly bounce back and forth between the two types of prop bets, but you need to know and understand which one you are better at.

Fun prop bets

The first category is a fun prop bet, and this type of wager has little to do with the action that is taking place during the sporting event. This is still a type of prop bet that is most popular with the Super Bowl each year or any other major sporting event.

If you are wagering on a fun prop bet, then you have very little to do with how the outcome of that bet plays out. There is plenty of luck involved with a fun prop bet, and that can get frustrating if you are someone that is unlucky.

Here are some examples of a "fun" prop bet that you might see:

Length of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl

Color of Gatorade that is poured on a winning coach

Coin Flip: Heads or Tails

First song during the Halftime Show at the Super Bowl

Skill prop bets

Skill prop bets have started to become extremely popular in the sports betting industry as bettors tend to have more control over the outcome. There is research that is needed to be done with a skill prop bet, especially if you have any hopes of being successful.

Skill prop bets are usually offered on either individual or team achievements, and these prop bets can be found on most sporting events. There can still be some luck involved with a skilled prop bet, but less so than on a fun prop bet.

Here are some examples of some skill prop bets:

Over/Under four fumbles in a college football game.

Over/Under 4.5 Goals scored by the Carolina Hurricanes

First QB to 300 Yards: Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers

How do I make a prop bet?

Making a prop bet is extremely easy, and it works in the same way as any other sports bet that you have made in the past or plan on making in the future. The first step is to visit the sportsbook where you do your sports betting and find the sport or event that you wish to wager on.

After you have found the sport or event that you wish to wager on, the next step is to find the list of prop betting options offered by the sportsbook. This could be an extensive list, or there could only be a few options available to you.

From there, you will choose the prop betting market that you wish to focus on, and then you will enter in how much you want to wager. Once the bet is placed, you simply watch the action unfold and hope that your prop bet is a winner.

Prop betting tips and strategies

Now that you have a better understanding of how prop betting works, here are some tips or strategies to try when making these wagers:

Use a smaller betting unit

A betting "unit" is the amount of money that you use to bet on a market, and experts typically suggest picking one unit and sticking with it. That is not a sound strategy to use when betting on prop bets, and you need to use a smaller unit.

The reason for this is that prop bets tend to be a bit unpredictable, especially if you are getting into the fun prop bets. You don't want to lose a ton of money betting on which side the coin toss will land on.

Identify props with value

Since prop betting is still a form of sports betting, then you need to have a plan when utilizing this betting type. You will be overwhelmed with the amount of prop betting options that are available to you, and you need to find a way to single out the best options.

You want to look for prop bets that offer some sort of value in the odds as opposed to just looking for the bets that you feel are "locks." If you are making a prop bet, then you want to find one that will provide a nice payout or a reward.

Have some fun

The final betting tip to think about when making prop bets is to have some fun while doing so. The nature of prop betting is to provide some entertainment to sporting events, although there are some skill prop bets available as well.

This is a great betting type to explore when hanging out with friends or trying to get more people involved with a big game. The goal is still to win some money when betting on props, but there is more to this type of betting as well.