Props and parlays in brief

Beyond the three core markets, two more bet types come up constantly. Here's just enough to recognise them — and why one deserves extra caution.

Player & game props

A prop (proposition bet) is a wager on something other than the final result — usually a specific stat. "Will this player score over 24.5 points?" or "Will there be over 18.5 total three-pointers?" are props. They can be fun and let you use specific knowledge, but the bookmaker margin on props is often higher than on main markets, so the prices are less generous than they look.

Parlays (accumulators)

A parlay combines several bets into one ticket. Every leg must win for the parlay to pay out, but the odds multiply, so the potential payout looks huge.

That payout is the trap. Combining bets multiplies the margin against you too, and the chance of all legs landing drops fast: three 50% legs is only a 12.5% shot. Parlays are higher-variance — you'll lose far more often, with occasional big wins — which is why they're heavily promoted. They're entertainment, not a strategy. A run of single bets at fair value is almost always the steadier approach.