Missouri Futures Betting Guide: How to Bet Futures in MO

What is a Futures Bet?

A futures bet is a wager placed on the outcome of a particular event or season that will be determined in the future, typically much later than the current sports season. For example, in Missouri (or any other state where sports betting is legal), you might place a futures bet on which team will win the Super Bowl, (like the Chiefs Super Bowl odds), the NBA Championship, or the MLB World Series at the beginning of the season.

Futures bets can also cover individual achievements, like which player will win an MVP award or set a season record. These bets are usually offered with long odds because the outcome is uncertain and far in the future. The odds can change throughout the season depending on team or player performance.

How to Read Futures Odds in Missouri

Before placing a futures bet in Missouri, you'll want to know how futures odds work, and how to understand those.

Plus Odds (+)

• These represent how much profit you can make on a $100 bet.
• For example, if the odds are +200, it means that if you bet $100 and win, you would make a profit of $200.
• Plus odds show that the outcome is less likely to happen, so the potential payout is higher.

Minus Odds (-)

• These show how much you need to bet in order to win $100.
• For example, if the odds are -150, you would need to bet $150 to win $100 in profit.
• Minus odds indicate that the outcome is more likely to happen, so the potential payout is smaller.

Even Odds (-100 or +100)

• This means you will win the same amount as your bet.
• If you bet $100 on +100 odds, you would win $100 in profit if you win the bet.
• Even odds are a 50/50 chance (ignoring the house edge), so the payout is exactly what you bet.

Why are Futures Bets Popular?

Futures bets are popular for several reasons:

• Long-Term Excitement: Futures bets allow bettors to stay excited for the entire season or even longer. For example, betting on a team to win the Super Bowl or a player to win MVP means you're invested in their success for months, making the season more thrilling.
• High Payout Potential: Since futures bets are often on less certain outcomes, they offer higher odds and potential payouts. If you place a futures bet early in the season and it hits, you could win a significant amount of money.
• Strategy and Research: Futures betting often involves more strategy and research compared to regular game-to-game bets. Bettors can analyze teams, players, or trends, and use that information to make informed predictions. This makes futures betting appealing to those who enjoy deeper analysis.
• Opportunity for Value: Futures odds can shift throughout the season based on performance, injuries, and other factors. If you place a bet early, you might get much better odds than those available later on, offering the chance for greater value.
• Entertainment and Fan Engagement: Betting on a long-term outcome, like who will win a championship, makes fans feel more connected to the sport and their team. It can be an exciting way to follow a season with a personal stake in the outcome.

You can even use Missouri sports betting bonuses to boost your payouts while betting on futures. 

Missouri Sports Teams to bet Futures on

Missouri is host to several local sports teams that are worth betting futures on.

• NFL Imagine you're placing a futures bet on the Kansas City Chiefs. You bet that the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl at the start of the season. The odds might be something like +600, meaning if you bet $100 and the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, you would win $600 in profit.
• NBA For Missouri, which doesn’t currently have an NBA team, you could bet on the Brooklyn Nets (or any other team, in this case) to win the NBA Championship. If the Missouri team were to exist, this bet would be very similar. Let’s say the odds for the Nets are +800. If you placed a $100 bet, and the Nets won the NBA Championship, you’d win $800.
• MLB The Kansas City Royals are a great team to bet on. You might place a futures bet at the start of the season on the Royals to win the World Series. The odds could be +500. If you place $100 on the Royals and they win the World Series, you would win $500 in profit.
• NHL For hockey, you could place a futures bet on the St. Louis Blues to win the Stanley Cup. Let’s say the odds are +1500 at the start of the season. A $100 bet on the Blues to win the Stanley Cup would earn you $1,500 if they come out on top.
• College Football You might place a futures bet on the Mizzou Tigers (University of Missouri) to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. The odds could be +4000. If you bet $100 and Mizzou pulls off a surprise victory and wins the championship, you’d earn $4,000 in profit.
• College Basketball For college basketball, you could place a futures bet on the Mizzou Tigers again, this time to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Let’s say the odds are +2000. If you bet $100 and the Tigers win the tournament, your profit would be $2,000.

Building a Futures Betting Strategy in MO

Before placing a futures bet, you may want to consider implementing strategies that goes into futures betting in Missouri. Here's what to remember.

Bet to Your Strengths

Betting to your strengths means focusing on sports or teams that you know well. If you're an expert on the NFL, for example, you’ll have a better understanding of player performances, team dynamics, and trends that could impact a futures bet. 

This knowledge helps you make more informed decisions when placing bets. Betting on teams or sports you’re familiar with allows you to identify potential value bets that other less experienced bettors might overlook, giving you an edge.

Do Your Research

Research is key when placing futures bets because you're betting on long-term outcomes. It’s essential to analyze teams, players, injuries, past performances, and even coaching changes that could affect the outcome of the season. 

For example, if you're betting on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, you should monitor their regular-season performance, any injuries to key players, and how other teams in the league are performing. In-depth research helps you make smarter bets and recognize when the odds offer good value.

Shop at Different Sportsbooks

Not all Missouri sportsbook apps offer the same odds or promotions, so it’s important to shop around to get the best deal for your futures bet. Odds can vary between different sportsbooks, and even small differences in odds can lead to big differences in your payout over time. 

For example, if one sportsbook like BetMGM MO offers +500 odds on the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series, but another offers +550, the latter would give you a better return on your bet. By shopping at multiple sportsbooks, you maximize your potential return and ensure you’re not leaving money on the table.

Have Fun

While betting on futures can be a serious strategy for making money, it’s important to remember that it should also be fun. Betting on a team like Mizzou to win a national championship or the St. Louis Blues to win the Stanley Cup adds excitement to watching the games and following the season. 

When you approach betting with the mindset that it’s a form of entertainment and enjoy the process, it helps reduce the pressure to always win, and you can enjoy the thrill of the journey, win or lose.

Pros & Cons of Futures Betting

Get Ready to Place a Futures Bet in Missouri

Now that you're familiar with futures betting, placing a bet in Missouri can be an exciting way to engage with your favorite sports. Whether you're betting on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl or the Mizzou Tigers to take the NCAA title, futures bets allow you to make long-term wagers with the potential for big rewards.

Just remember to bet to your strengths, do your research, and shop for the best odds. Most importantly, have fun with the process and enjoy following the season knowing you have a stake in the action.

Author

Editorial Staff

@Bet_Missouri

The veteran team of Missouri sports betting experts behind BetMissouri.com.