Prop bets and futures are two of the most popular ways to wager at licensed New York sportsbooks, yet they also carry some of the widest variation in house margin you'll find anywhere on the betting menu. Understanding what you're actually paying in vig — and which markets the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) allows — will help you make smarter decisions about where to put your money. For a broader look at who's operating in the state right now, start with Best New York Sportsbooks Ranked: FanDuel, DraftKings & More.
What are prop bets and how do they work at NY sportsbooks?
A prop bet — short for proposition bet — is a wager on a specific outcome within a game rather than on the final score. Think: how many passing yards a quarterback throws for, whether a player scores a touchdown, or how many strikeouts a pitcher records. Because these markets are harder to price efficiently than a standard point spread, the sportsbook typically embeds more margin into the odds than the standard -110 on each side you'd see on a spread bet. That -110 figure already implies roughly a 4.5% margin per side; on many player props, the implied margin runs higher because the books know recreational bettors pay less attention to line shopping on these markets. NY sportsbooks are not required to publish return-to-player percentages the way casino slot operators are — payouts here are entirely market-determined, so the only real check on pricing is competition between licensed operators.
What are futures bets and what can you wager on in New York?
A futures bet is a wager on an outcome that won't be settled for weeks or months — Super Bowl winner, NBA championship odds, MVP awards, season win totals. The tradeoff for the longer time horizon is that your money is tied up until settlement, and the house margin embedded in a full futures board is typically wider than on a single-game market. NY's blended hold percentage across all mobile wagering runs approximately 7–10%, with state reporting showing figures in the 8–9% range; futures markets are one of the main reasons that blended number sits above the 4.5% per-side figure you'd calculate on a straight spread bet alone. For a detailed breakdown of what spread vig actually costs you per bet, see Spread Betting at New York Sportsbooks: What the Vig Actually Costs You.
Are there any prop or futures markets that are off-limits in New York?
Yes, and this catches some bettors off guard. Under NYSGC rules, wagering on in-state college teams — Syracuse, St. John's, Fordham, and similar schools — is prohibited. That means no player props, no game props, and no futures involving those programs, including conference or national championship markets where those teams appear. The ban is team-specific, not a blanket college sports prohibition; you can still bet on most college games and player props as long as neither side is an NY-based school. Professional franchises like the Giants, Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers are fully available across all bet types.
How does the vig compare across different prop and futures bet types?
| Bet Type | Typical Odds Format | Approximate House Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Spread (single game) | -110 / -110 | ~4.5% per side | Most transparent pricing; easiest to line-shop |
| Player Props (rushing yards, strikeouts, etc.) | Varies; often -115 / -105 or wider | Higher than spread; market-determined | RTP not published; shop multiple apps |
| Season/Championship Futures | American odds; full board margin embedded | Contributes to blended 7–10% hold | Capital tied up until event settles |
Which sportsbook is best for props and futures in New York?
That depends on your betting style. If you want the deepest player-prop menus — quarter-by-quarter stats, alternate lines, same-game parlays — FanDuel and DraftKings consistently offer the widest selection among NY-licensed books. If you're a futures player who shops for the best championship odds, you'll want to compare lines across at least three apps before committing, since futures pricing varies more between operators than spread pricing does. For a full breakdown of one of the top options, check the FanDuel New York Review: Odds, Bonus Bets, and Withdrawal Speed. If moneyline-style straight wagers on game outcomes are your primary focus, the companion guide at Moneyline Betting at New York Sportsbooks: How It Works and What It Costs walks through the math in plain terms.
21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. All prop and futures wagering in New York is subject to NYSGC oversight; legality and available markets may differ if you are physically located outside New York State at the time of wagering.