Futures Betting

With the legalization of online sports betting in Indiana, you can now stake your money on your preferred team in the futures markets, a prevalent method of betting on sports. Primarily, futures bets are about wagering on the team(s) expected to win the championship in the current season. However, futures betting also encompasses:

  • Division of conference titles
  • One-off tournaments or events
  • Regular-season wins
  • Records
  • Individual athlete player awards

This type of season-long bets usually results in long odds, implying that small futures bets can yield significant potential payouts. This is a major reason why futures betting is so popular. But should you engage in futures betting? Which sports are most suitable for futures betting? Is the risk associated with futures worth it? Can this risk be mitigated? This is your comprehensive guide to futures betting at online sportsbooks in Indiana.

Futures Odds Live at Online Sportsbooks in Indiana

Check below for the most recent futures markets at Indiana’s leading online sportsbooks for the:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • NCAA basketball
  • NCAA football
  • Golf

Select any bet to be directed to the sportsbook’s website. Here, you can create a new account, claim your bonus, deposit funds, and place your bet.

Can you explain what a Futures Bet is?

A futures bet, as the name implies, is a wager placed on an event, series, award, or achievement that will conclude in the future. Unlike single game wagers that are expected to be settled by day’s end, futures bets are for future events that may take an entire season to complete. The most prevalent type of futures wager involves betting on a specific team to win a league championship. However, futures bets can also be placed on teams or individuals to win various titles, tournaments, and events, or to accumulate a certain number of regular-season victories and reach various statistical benchmarks.

Online sportsbooks in Indiana offer futures markets for all major sports and leagues, each providing a variety of betting opportunities.

This implies that you have the freedom to place bets on the team or athlete you believe will triumph in the forthcoming Super Bowl or The Masters, with odds that are published well in advance of these events. These odds are regularly modified to reflect each team’s or player’s actual probability of victory. Naturally, the odds are fixed the moment you place a futures bet. Often, the earlier you’re able to place such a bet, the more favorable the odds will be.

How are Payouts for Futures Bets Handled?

Futures markets provide a list of teams or athletes who still have a possibility of accomplishing the specific goal you are betting on, with odds that vary.

To illustrate, when placing bets in the Super Bowl futures market, the odds for teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention during the regular season or the NFL Playoffs (once they have begun) will not be visible. Put simply, only teams that still stand a chance to win the Super Bowl will continue to be listed.

Positive odds are typically given to each team or athlete until one becomes a significantly favored. These positive odds indicate the amount you could potentially win, in addition to getting your bet back, for every $100 you wager on the winning side. However, when a team emerges as an evident favorite in a futures market, you might encounter negative odds. These negative odds show the amount you need to wager in order to have the potential to win $100, along with getting your bet back.

To put it differently, the odds listed next to each team or athlete in a futures market indicate the payout for a successful bet on that particular team or athlete.

For instance, if you examine the NBA futures market, you’re likely to find the Indiana Pacers listed with odds of +5500 to win the 2021 NBA championship. This implies that if you were to place a $100 bet on the Pacers to clinch the title, you would receive $5,500 in winnings, in addition to your $100 stake, should they unexpectedly triumph.

Sports Futures Betting Markets

Here is a brief overview of the different futures markets available for each major US sports league:

NFL futures bets

Bets on the following are included in the large NFL futures market:

  • Super Bowl winner
  • Division title winner
  • Conference title winner
  • Regular season win totals
  • Teams that qualify for the playoffs
  • NFL MVP
  • Season stats for various players (Over/Under)

MLB futures bets

The MLB futures market offers a variety of betting options such as:

  • World Series winner
  • League championship winners
  • Best regular-season record
  • Regular season win totals
  • Cy Young award
  • Various player seasonal statistics (Over/Under)

NBA basketball on courtNBA futures bets

Placing bets on the NBA also encompasses a broad range of futures odds and involves wagers on:

  • NBA Finals winner
  • Division title winner
  • Conference title winner
  • Regular season win totals
  • Teams that have qualified for the playoffs
  • NBA MVP
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Player season stats for various players (Over/Under)

NHL futures bets

The NHL shares similarities with the NBA, including the vast array of futures betting opportunities. These include bets on:

  • Stanley Cup winner
  • Division title winner
  • Conference title winner
  • Regular season win totals
  • Teams that will participate in the playoffs
  • Winner of the Hart Trophy (NHL’s Most Valuable Player)
  • Season stats for different players (Over/Under)

NCAA football futures bets

Betting on the following are common NCAA football futures:

  • Winner of the College Football Playoff National Championship
  • Team win totals
  • Conference title winner
  • Heisman Trophy

NCAA basketball futures bets

Bets on the following are common NCAA basketball futures:

  • NCAA Tournament winner
  • March Madness progression: round by round (Advancing to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, etc.)
  • Conference tournament winners
  • Team win totals
  • National Player of the Year (Naismith Award)

PGA Tour futures bets

Betting on golf futures focuses on individual golfers instead of teams. Typical PGA futures bets involve wagering on a golfer winning a major, which encompasses:

  • The Masters
  • US Open
  • PGA Championship
  • British Open

International futures

Other global futures markets may also encompass:

  • Placing bets on players to win a major tennis tournament (Australian, French, Wimbledon, US)
  • Fighters who have won an MMA title (UFC, etc.)
  • Soccer teams that have won a league title, cup, or international competition (such as the Premier League, MLS, etc.)

Advantages of a Futures Bet

Futures provide a simple gateway into sports betting, allowing even novices to effortlessly select their preferred team to claim the championship, place a modest wager, and reap significant rewards if the team delivers. They are the ideal bet for supporters who will be anxiously following the team’s performance throughout the season. Additionally, the lengthy odds associated with most teams make futures a market where a small investment can potentially yield substantial returns. For those desiring a more intensive exploration, a range of different futures can be wagered on, and by monitoring the markets year-round, bets can be placed at the most favorable odds. In summary, futures offer an enjoyable and accessible method of sports betting for all.

What Amount Should You Wager on a Futures Bet?

If you bet within your budget and only use money you’re willing to lose, the amount you place on any futures bet is entirely your decision. However, effective bankroll management suggests that you should create a betting bankroll and avoid betting more than 1% to 5% of this amount on any single wager. If you plan on making multiple bets across different futures markets, it’s recommended to adhere to this guideline. Establish a unit amount that represents 1% of your bankroll and wager one to five such units on each futures bet, depending on your level of confidence.

However, if you are considering placing a bet on your favorite team to win a title during the preseason or early season, or on your personal favorite to win the title, a single futures bet can be placed outside the usual bankroll management principles. However, ensure that the amount you bet is one you are comfortable losing, as the odds will show you that most futures are a long shot.

Which sport is most popular for futures betting?

Futures are accessible for virtually all sports and are not necessarily more fitting for one sport than another. However, NFL futures, especially Super Bowl futures, are the most favoured in the US. NBA, MLB, and NHL championship futures are not far behind in popularity. This is likely because nearly everyone has either a favorite or hometown team in the Big Four major US sports, or at minimum, a prediction on who will clinch the title this season.

Early Withdrawal of a Futures Bet

Online sportsbooks in Indiana may potentially allow you to cash out an ongoing futures bet early. This could be a beneficial strategy if your team is in a close competition for the championship and you lack complete confidence in their victory. Opting for the cash out option ensures that you secure some earnings, or at the very least, don’t leave with nothing.

This feature is exclusively available on Indiana online sportsbooks. The potential cash-out amount can be viewed in your list of active bets. If you find the price agreeable, a single click is all it takes to cash out. However, you might find more value in hedging your bet, which means betting against your futures bet to cover other potential outcomes and secure a profit. The decision depends on the cash-out price offered and the current odds in the futures market.

Wagering on Team and Player Future Outcomes

Props for team titles are highly popular. They are straightforward bets that are easy to understand and place, attracting even casual sports enthusiasts. More avid fans might be interested in exploring other futures markets such as team win totals. In this market, you can place over/under bets on total game win lines set by bookmakers. However, you might want to conduct more research on the teams you are betting on or against in this market.

For more committed fans, delving into player futures might be appealing, where you can place bets on specific season statistics set by oddsmakers. This could include wagering on an NFL running back’s total yards rushed, an MLB pitcher’s total personal wins, an NBA player’s average points per season, or an NHL player’s total goals. Thorough research is once again vital to success in this, especially when betting on these particular player futures markets.

Top 3 Major Mistakes in Futures Betting

Placing a futures bet is usually a set it and forget it type of wager. You put down some money on your preferred team to win the championship, giving you an additional reason to rejoice if they triumph, and barely any concern if they don’t. It’s perfectly fine to engage in this type of futures betting, or to delve further into the futures markets of the sports you’re passionate about, making multiple bets when the odds are in your favor, and hedging and playing the markets to your advantage. Regardless of your approach, it’s crucial to steer clear of these common errors in futures sports betting:

1. Betting too big

Futures are inherently risky, so avoid the error of placing excessively large bets on them. Given that the odds are typically substantial, there’s no need to wager large amounts to secure a significant payout.

2. Betting too many

The high odds on most future bets allow you to choose more than one option and still turn a profit if any of them succeed. However, avoid selecting too many options within the same market, as this could guarantee a loss regardless of the outcome.

3. Not hedging

If the futures bet you’ve placed is nearing a win, you might get a chance to hedge. This implies placing a bet against yourself to secure some assured gains. Don’t let the allure of a massive payout cloud your judgment about its potential failure. Neglecting to hedge could result in regret if you end up empty-handed when you could have secured at least a minimal gain.