A prop bet in sports, short for “proposition bet,” is a wager that is not directly tied to the final score or outcome of the game.
In 2022, people wagered $7 billion on the Super Bowl, much of it on prop bets. One year later, an estimated $16 billion was wagered on the Super Bowl, with a good chunk of that on prop bets.
Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C., now allow legal betting on sports, powered by the ease of putting a few bucks down through digital devices.
Anyone seeking Super Bowl prop bets can now browse more than 1,000 options at leading sportsbook sites.
These prop bets include: how long the national anthem will last; what color of Gatorade will be poured over the winning coach; whether the coin flipped before the game will land on heads or tails; how long the halftime show will last; and who will score the first touchdown.
I was thinking that to spice up the ongoing saga of the Oakland A’s and their pursuit of a new ballpark at Howard Terminal or a still-to-be-determined location in Las Vegas, why not create a “Parallel Path of Prop Bets” relating to the process?
My suggestions:
• When will the A’s sign a binding legal contract to build a new ballpark?
• On what date will John Fisher, who has owned the team for 18 years, hold his first press conference?
• When will the last “Rooted in Oakland” banner be removed at the Oakland Coliseum?
• What will the A’s attendance be in 2023?
• How many games will the team win this season?
• On what date will Fisher, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred meet to discuss the ongoing negotiations to build a $12 billion urban ballpark at Howard Terminal?
• If Fisher sells the A’s, who will the buyer be?
Let your first A’s prop drop!
Andy Dolich operates Dolich & Associates, a sports consultancy, in Los Altos. A local resident, he has more than 30 years of experience as an executive in professional sports.
