What Does ‘Novelty Bets’ Mean in Sports Betting?

“Novelty Bets” (also called “Exotic Props” or “Specials”) are wagers on unusual events that fall completely outside of traditional sports markets.

In short: if you can think of it, and it’s not a point spread, a moneyline, or a player stat, it’s probably a novelty bet.

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Where You See Them

Novelty bets are most popular during massive cultural events, especially the Super Bowl and major awards shows.

• Super Bowl Props (The Most Famous):
  • The Coin Toss: Will it be Heads or Tails? (A simple 50/50 bet).
  • Gatorade Bath Color: What color liquid will be poured on the winning coach? (Purple, Orange, Blue, etc.)
  • National Anthem: Will the length of the National Anthem be Over or Under a set time (e.g., 1 minute, 45 seconds)?
  • Halftime Show Props: Will the singer wear a hat? What will be the first song performed?
• Non-Sports Examples:
  • The winner of a reality TV show (like The Voice or Survivor).
  • The winner of the Presidential Election.
  • The next Pope.
  • Which celebrity couple will get engaged next.

Novelty Bets vs. Prop Bets

The line between these two is often blurry, but here is the easiest way to think of it:

Bet Type	Focus	Example
Player Prop	Player performance	Patrick Mahomes Over/Under 2.5 Touchdowns
Game Prop	Flow of the game	Will the game go into overtime?
Novelty Prop	Non-game spectacle	Will the first commercial be for Bud Light?