What Is a Futures Bet?
A futures bet is exactly what it sounds like: a bet on something that will be decided later down the line — often weeks or even months from now.
You’re betting on season-long outcomes like:
- The Iowa Hawkeyes winning the Big10 Conference Championship
- A player winning MVP or Heisman
- Number of wins Iowa State football gets over the course of a season
- Who wins a championship (Super Bowl, March Madness, etc.)
It’s not about tonight’s game — it’s about predicting the bigger picture. As a result futures bets aren't eligible for most sports betting sign-up offers in Iowa.
Where to Find Futures in Your Sportsbook App
Most apps like FanDuel and DraftKings have a “Futures” tab right in the main menu.
You’ll usually see them broken out by sport. For example:
- NCAAF: Heisman Trophy Winner / Big Ten Winner
- NFL: Super Bowl Champion / MVP / Division Winners
- NBA: Championship Winner / Rookie of the Year
Scroll through, find your sport, and lock in your pick early in the season (or anytime, really — the odds adjust as the season goes on).
Why Futures Are Popular Among Sports Bettors
Futures are a bit like buying stock in a team or player; you’re essentially investing in the season and riding out the bet.
- Big payouts for small bets (especially on underdogs early)
- Season-long action that keeps you engaged week to week
- Fun to bet before the season starts, when anything feels possible
Most IA betting apps allow you to early cash out your futures though it's dependent on the event and specifically sportsbook.
Futures Bets FAQs
Only when the outcome is final. For example, if you bet on the Super Bowl winner, you won’t get paid until February.
This is contingent on the individual sportsbook and event your futures bet is on. If your team is looking good and the sportsbook offers a cash-out option, you can lock in a partial win before the season ends.
Yes you can bet on futures markets after the season starts. Odds will update weekly based on performance, but you can still jump in. Depending on the status of your bet you may be able to cash it out early.
You can’t place any futures on individual college athletes from Iowa-based schools, due to Iowa state law.
Author
Tyler Olson has lived most of his life in Iowa, working in sports media for over a decade, writing and editing primarily NFL, sports betting, and iGaming content. His primary focus is giving sports bettors the most up-to-date information on legal operators, sharing the latest promo code offerings and analyzing team and player odds bettors can place bets on.