What Are Prop Bets? Full Guide to Proposition Betting
If you're looking for something different from the standard moneyline markets, prop bets are worth a try. Instead of betting on the outcome of a match, you'll wager on incidents that don't necessarily affect the final results. Also known as proposition bets, prop bets offer opportunities to wager even when you're not sure who will win. While it is more common in the U.S., they've become increasingly popular among UK punters, especially in football, darts, cricket or novelty events. They're not only fun but also keep you on your toes throughout the match.
If you’re ready to get started, you’ll find this guide helpful. We explain how to place prop bets, the pros and cons and how to get the best out of your stake. Now, let's get started!
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By LiveScore Desk, Editorial team for sports, betting and casino How Do Prop Bets Work?
Gone are the days when the only betting market available was moneyline or match winner. Most UK bookmakers now offer odds on markets that do not affect who wins the match. These markets are usually referred to as special bets.
You can place special bets on a player, team, or in-match situations. For instance, you can bet on the first team to score, total cards in a match, or a player to score a header.
A real example is betting on the “first goalscorer” in the Liverpool vs Newcastle in a Premier League match. In this case, you may back Mohamed Salah to score first. If he scores the first goal, you'll win your bet. However, if another player scores the first goal or no player scores at all, you'll lose your bet.
Another example is the “number of 180s” betting market in darts. So, let's say Luke Littler is up against Luke Humphries in the New Zealand Masters, you can bet on Luke Littler to hit over 4.5 180s. If he hits 5 or more 180s, you'll win the bet. On the other hand, if he hits 4 or fewer, you'll lose your bet.
Bookmakers usually set odds for these markets before the start of the event. Once you place your wager, the odds are fixed, and your payout will reflect the odds at the time you wagered. However, you can also place prop bets during live events. Their odds usually change according to the actions in the event. Examples of such markets include next team to score, next goalscorer, and checkout props.
Types of Prop Bets
Betting sites present prop bets in different forms. You can place player props, team props or event props. Find out how each option works below!
Player Props
Player props are some of the most popular prop bet types you'll find on betting sites. Rather than bet on the team to win, you can wager on anytime goalscorer, shots on target, or last goalscorer in football. In cricket, you can bet on total wickets by bowler, top team wicket taker, or first wicket method.
An example is betting on Marc Guehi to score at any time during an England vs Spain UEFA EURO Final match. Another example is to back Mark Wood to take the first England wicket in an Ashes Test match against Australia.
Team Props
Team props focus on how a team will perform for a particular aspect of the match, regardless of whether they win or lose. Rather than bet on who wins, you can bet on team total points in basketball, the next milestone in cricket, team total corners in football, and team 180s in darts.
For example, you can wager on the LA Lakers to cover over 110.5 points in a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. In football, you can find an option like Chelsea over 1.5 yellow cards. If you're betting on Wales at the PDC World Cup of Darts, you may back them to go under 15.5 180s during the tournament.
Event/Novelty Props
If you want more fun, novelty props are other options to explore. These are offered purely as entertainment away from traditional sports betting options. You can bet on outcomes in politics, music, awards, and reality shows. For example, you may predict the next UK prime minister or the highest score of the week at the Strictly Come Dancing show.
Some bookies may provide odds for entertaining moments during a sports event. An example is the first song that will be played in a stadium at kickoff. The NFL Super Bowl show features some of these props in abundance. You can wager on national anthem length and coin toss results.
Prop Bets in UK Sports
There is no denying that prop bets are more popular in the U.S., especially for sports like the NFL and NBA. However, they're becoming widespread across UK sports like football, cricket, rugby, horse racing, and darts.
Most bookies present props under special bets as add-ons to traditional match betting markets. They offer more fun and entertainment away from the regular markets, allowing you to try something different.
If you're looking to try props across various UK sports, here are some of the options you may opt for.
Football: You can wager on the next team to score, anytime goalscorer, assists, clean sheets, goalkeeper saves, and total team goals. Some bookmakers may offer markets like managers to be booked, substitutes to score, and players to hit the woodwork.
Cricket: For cricket, examples of prop bets include bowler wickets, player of the match, total team runs, most sixes, and method of dismissal.
Rugby: If you want to wager on rugby, you can try prop bets like first try scorer, drop goal scorer, player to be sent off, first try method, and race to 10 points.
Darts: Examples of prop bets in darts include first 180 of the match, finish on the bullseye, highest checkout, and first winning double.
Horse racing: Prop bets in horse racing focus on more special outcomes. Examples include winning distance, jockey to ride multiple winners, winning horse number, and winning time.
Pros and Cons of Prop Betting
Like other betting types, prop bets have several advantages and disadvantages. However, the pros outweigh the cons. Here are some of them.
Pros
Variety and entertainment: Prop betting offers more than just who wins an event. It keeps a match exciting and players engaged until the very end.- Live betting options: Props are even more exciting during in-play. You can bet on the next goalscorer, the next player to be booked, and the next wicket.
- Excellent for casual punters: You don't need to be an expert to play prop bets. You can wager on novelty events in politics and music.
Cons
Unpredictability and Unsustainability: Props can be challenging to research or predict. It may not be sustainable over time.- Too random: Some props rely so much on luck rather than skills. Examples include own goals and hitting the woodwork.
Are Prop Bets Legal in the UK?
Prop betting has been around in the UK for a long time, but the markets are usually offered under “special” or “side” betting. As a result, most punters don't know them as prop betting. They see them as add-ons to the main betting options, such as match winners and future bets.
Therefore, prop bets have always been legal in the UK. The UK Gambling Commission allows bookmakers to offer odds on prop bets as long as they meet responsible gambling standards. However, prop bets are not permitted for some novelty events, especially those involving personal tragedies, court trials, and underage participants.
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Responsible Gambling
Since there is a wide range of prop options, it's easier to wager more than you can afford to lose. Hence, we recommend that you set up deposit and time limits on your chosen bookmakers to control how much you spend. You may also opt for the GamStop self-exclusion programme if betting is getting the better of you. Take a break from betting for up to 5 years.
In addition, all UKGC-regulated bookmakers carry out identification checks to prevent underage gambling. You must present your passport or driver's license to confirm you're 18 years or older.
FAQs - What is a Prop Bet?
Football
United Kingdom
