We’ve Explained Prop Bets for 2026: Uncover the Variety of Proposition Wagers and Tips for Successful Betting
Prop bets bring a whole new world of betting your way! Because you’re not wagering on the final outcome of a game, match, or league, you’re free to bet on a ton of other fun elements instead.
From player and team props to game props and exotic bets, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about these exciting betting markets. We’ll also give you an example of a prop bet, so that you can see for yourself how they work and if they could be right for you. Join us now!
How does prop betting work?
Prop betting is a simple yet exciting way to bet on your favorite sports. Applicable to all sports, prop betting focuses on other events within a match or league, except for the final score.
For instance, with moneyline bets, you predict the winner of a match or league, while with lay betting, you can wager on a result not happening, i.e. which team will not win an event. By contrast, prop betting lets you wager on events within a match that have nothing to do with the final score, such as the amount of headers taken in a soccer match or the amount of home runs made during a baseball game.
Types of prop bets
As you can imagine, prop betting opens up a whole world of possibilities, as you can bet on several different elements across every sport imaginable. To get a better grasp of this huge range of markets, we can divide prop betting up into 3 distinct categories. Let’s take a look at each one in a little more detail.
Possibly the most popular type of prop bet, team props is when you bet on the performance of a team during a match or league, but regardless of the final score. An example could be betting on a team’s total hits in an MLB game, such as the Yankees to record over 8.5 hits.
Focusing on a specific player or athlete, player props let you bet on one person’s performance during an event. You can bet on a wide range of outcomes depending on the sport. For example, you could bet on whether Victor Wembanyama will record more than 3.5 blocks in the NBA.
As you can guess, game props focus on a specific game, and they’re a great collection of markets that add an extra layer of excitement when watching a match. You can bet on a number of events within a game, including things like the number of double faults in a tennis match, the hole results in a game of golf or over/under a specific amount of tries in a rugby match.
Consider novelty props as a fun alternative
Also called ‘exotic bets’, novelty props take betting one step further, sometimes into the abstract! This niche selection of markets focus on things often way outside of sports, and online bookmakers can offer you props on a number of domestic and international events, including things like elections, The Oscars, politics and even the weather.
Exotic prop betting can be very fun, especially if you fancy a break from concentrating on sports. Popular novelty props include betting on whether or not it will snow on Christmas Day in London, who will win the Best Female Actress at an awards show and who will next perform at the Superbowl.
Of course, novelty props are included in sports as well, as some fun examples include what color the referee’s water bottle will be during a match, the result of a coin toss at the start of a game and if certain celebrities may appear at a specific sporting event.
Examples of prop betting
Now that you’re up to speed on what prop bets are and how they work, let’s look at some examples of some popular prop bets and how they could pan out. We’re going to take baseball as an example and use American odds to show some prop bets you could make.
| Prop type | Selection | Odds | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Donovan Mitchell over 26.5 | -123 | Mitchell must score 27 or more points. |
| Assists | Julius Randle over 5.5 | +110 | Randle must record at least 6 assists. |
| 3-Pointers made | Matas Buzelis over 2.5 | +143 | The rookie must hit 3 or more shots from behind the arc. |
| Game prop | First Basket Scorer | +450 | Bet on a specific player (e.g., Victor Wembanyama) to score the game’s first points. |
Prop bets and parlays – the perfect match?
The table above shows you some prop bets and some example odds. You have the choice to place individual wagers, but you could also turn them to create a parlay bet. This is where you combine separate bets, called ‘legs’ into one wager. Parlay betting is a hugely popular way to wager on sports, as you can make your own bet slip with two or more legs.
Some bettors create parlays with 10+ legs, giving them eye-watering odds and the chance to land thousands in winnings. But before you run off and make the world’s largest parlay, bear in mind that with that level of potential profit comes an awful lot of risk! The important thing to remember about parlays is that all legs must be successful for the bet to pay out, so keep this in mind before you opt for creating this type of wager.
Using the example above, if you combined Donovan Mitchell over 26.5 points (-123) and Julius Randle over 5.5 assists (+110) into a parlay, you would first convert each to decimal odds (Mitchell = 1.81, Randle = 2.10), multiply them together (1.81 × 2.10 = 3.80), then multiply by your stake to calculate your potential payout. A $100 parlay bet would return $380 total ($280 winnings + $100 stake).
You can see why prop betting and parlays are a great match – the diverse nature of prop betting lends itself perfectly to creating parlays, and all good sportsbooks will offer you the opportunity to create these accumulator bets using player, team and game props.
Prop bets calculator
Pros and cons of prop betting
Prop bets open up a fun and diverse way to wager, letting you focus on player, team, or game outcomes beyond the final score. Here’s a quick look at the main pros and cons of this exciting market:
- Offer an expansive range of markets
- Suitable for beginners and seasoned bettors
- Can be combined to create parlays
- Odds can vary hugely across sportsbooks
Prop bets – perfect for every type of sports betting fan
There’s no doubt that prop bets offer some of the most versatile markets around. From player and team props to same-game props and exotic bets, this type of sports betting wager is fun, diverse and can be as simple or as complex as you wish.
Don’t forget, props can be great for creating parlays, or you can place individual wagers on a ton of events throughout a match or league – it’s completely up to you! If you’re looking for a great sportsbook that offers prop betting, make sure to check out the banners on this page to see what’s available in your area.
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Prop bets FAQs
⚽ What sport is best for prop betting?
The great thing about prop bets is that they apply to most sports. Any bet you make that isn’t dependent on the final score of a match or league can be considered a prop bet.
🏁 What’s the best sportsbook for prop betting?
Finding a great sportsbook is often a matter of personal preference. It’s hard to say that one is categorically better than another, but you must ensure the site is fully licensed, so that you can enjoy a safe and secure experience.
❓ Is prop betting worth it?
Prop betting is a hugely varied market, covering players, teams, games and leagues. With so much to bet on, we would say prop betting is definitely worth your consideration.
