Ever since sports gambling became legalized in different states in the United States, NFL prop bets have been gaining in popularity during football matches in the regular football season and also during the Super Bowl and other major football tournaments.

These wagers are not directly related to the final score or outcome of the game or tournament. You can bet on anything except moneylines, point spreads, and game totals.

To bet on NFL props, look up what’s on offer at licensed sportsbooks and online gambling sites. You can access hundreds of prop bets before an NFL game. You can find them in a listing or the menu when you click on the game.

The three categories of NFL prop bets are player props, game props, and novelty props.

Player props are related to the activities and statistics of individual players. These props are on offer for every NFL game. Game props are wagers related to events and play activities occurring during a game or tournament. Novelty props are bets on fun and eccentric things that are related to the game.

Reasons why NFL props are so popular

The prop betting craze began in 1986, during a New England Patriots versus Chicago Bears game in Super Bowl XX when bookmaker Art Manteris created a prop on whether William Perry of the Chicago Bears would score a touchdown in the game. Since then there have been hundreds of thousands of prop bets. The popularity of NFL prop bets is due to the following reasons:

NFL props can be a good introduction to sports gambling

If you are new to sports-related gambling, NFL props can be a good way of dipping your toe in and getting to know how the whole thing works. You can learn how to gather pertinent data to place informed bets and increase your chances of winning. Or you can enjoy the thrill of trying your luck with pure gambling.

NFL props can keep you engaged in the game

Placing NFL prop bets can add to the action of the game and keep you more engaged with the activities happening on-field and even off-field. Many first-time bettors place wagers for the sheer fun of it and then end up learning about the game and becoming fascinated with the action. Betting on NFL props can add to the overall enjoyment of the game, rather than just rooting for a player or a team. You get additional action and find a reason to stay more involved with the game.

NFL props can be entertaining

NFL prop bets can range from serious to zany. You can bet on the number of passing yards by a quarterback, or who will score the first touchdown. There can be bets on who will win the coin toss, what will be the color of the Gatorade used to drench the winning coach, or which colored shirt a team coach might wear. You can also bet on the national anthem length, whether the sports announcer will utter a specific phrase, which commercials will be shown on the big screen, or how many times a team mascot will appear on the big screen.

NFL prop bets have limited value

NFL props are mainly for fun and entertainment, not for scorning big monetary wins. As they have limited value, professional gamblers looking to score big winnings tend to steer clear of them. That can make them profitable for the casual bettors. As betting limits are low, you can specialize in certain types of props and beat the sportsbooks by getting one or two lines accurate. Most sportsbooks limit the amount of money that you can bet on player props. That ensures there will be no instances of cheating or manipulation.

NFL prop bets can be thrilling

It is difficult to create sure-fire winning strategies with NFL props. With player props and game props, you can benefit to an extent by being knowledgeable of the game and referring to game and player statistics. The novelty props mostly involve guesswork. The overall uncertainty of these types of bets is a big draw for recreational bettors who are looking for thrills during the game and don’t care too much if they lose.