Prop betting, short for proposition betting, has come a long way in recent years. Once limited to quirky Super Bowl bets, it has now evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry with markets covering everything from sports and politics to entertainment and even the weather. In 2025, prop bets are bigger, stranger, and more diverse than ever, offering bettors exciting and sometimes bizarre wagering opportunities.
In this article, we’ll explore the most unusual and popular prop betting markets of the year, highlighting the trends shaping this unique betting landscape.
What is Prop Betting?
Prop betting refers to wagers placed on specific events within a game or outside of traditional sports betting markets. Unlike moneyline or point spread bets, prop bets focus on specific outcomes, such as a player’s performance, an event’s occurrence, or even a cultural phenomenon. These bets can be divided into two categories:
- Sports Prop Bets – Bets on in-game events (e.g., “Will Player X score a touchdown?”).
- Novelty & Entertainment Prop Bets – Wagers on non-sports events like award shows, reality TV outcomes, and even political elections.
With the expansion of legal sports betting across the U.S. and beyond, prop betting has exploded in popularity, leading to increasingly creative and sometimes outlandish markets.
The Strangest Prop Bets of 2025
As betting markets become more competitive, sportsbooks continue to push the envelope by offering some truly unusual prop bets. Here are some of the strangest options available in 2025:
1. AI & Technology-Based Bets
With artificial intelligence advancing rapidly, sportsbooks have introduced a range of AI-related bets. Some of the most bizarre include:
- “Will an AI-generated song reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by the end of the year?”
- “Will an AI chatbot replace a late-night TV host before 2026?”
- “Will a humanoid robot be granted legal personhood in any country?”
These bets capitalize on growing discussions around AI and its role in society, making them intriguing for tech enthusiasts and bettors alike.
2. Space Exploration Wagers
As private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and NASA ramp up their space missions, sportsbooks have launched markets for cosmic betting:
- “Will a civilian set foot on Mars before 2030?”
- “Will an asteroid mining company extract resources successfully by 2026?”
- “Will aliens be officially acknowledged by a government?”
While speculative, these bets attract science and futurism fans looking to put their money where their curiosity is.
3. Celebrity & Pop Culture Prop Bets
Hollywood and the entertainment industry continue to be a betting goldmine. Popular prop bets in 2025 include:
- “Who will be the next James Bond?” (A long-standing market)
- “Which celebrity couple will break up first?”
- “Will a major artist have an on-stage AI hologram performance?”
With influencers and TikTok stars gaining mainstream popularity, some sportsbooks have even introduced markets for social media feuds and viral moments.
4. Political & Global Events Betting
Politics has always been a hotbed for betting action, and 2025 is no exception. Some of the more unusual markets include:
- “Will a U.S. president or world leader be replaced by deepfake technology in a major scandal?”
- “Which country will be the first to fully adopt a digital currency?”
- “Will the United Nations formally recognize a new nation before 2030?”
While political betting remains restricted in some regions, the demand for wagering on major global events continues to grow.
The Most Popular Prop Betting Markets in 2025
Beyond the strangest bets, some prop markets have emerged as the most consistently popular among bettors.
1. Super Bowl & Major Sports Event Props
The Super Bowl remains the king of prop betting, with wagers like:
- Coin toss result (heads or tails?)
- Length of the national anthem performance
- Which color Gatorade will be poured on the winning coach?
Similar props are now available for major events like the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals, and even the Olympics.
2. Esports Prop Bets
Esports continues to be a booming industry, and prop betting has expanded to cover:
- First team to score in a match
- Player with the highest kills in a tournament
- Odds of a major team changing rosters mid-season
With competitive gaming drawing millions of viewers, esports prop bets have become a staple in online sportsbooks.
3. Reality TV Betting
Reality shows generate huge betting interest, especially for competitions like:
- The Bachelor/Bachelorette final rose predictions
- Survivor winner predictions
- Big Brother eviction odds
These bets keep audiences engaged throughout a season, adding an extra layer of excitement to their favorite shows.
4. Cryptocurrency & Stock Market Prop Bets
Financial markets have entered the prop betting world, with wagers like:
- “Will Bitcoin hit $100,000 before year-end?”
- “Which stock will outperform the S&P 500 this quarter?”
- “Will a major tech company face an antitrust lawsuit?”
Given the volatility of markets, these bets offer a blend of speculation and strategy.
The Future of Prop Betting
As technology advances and legal sports betting continues to expand, the future of prop betting looks bright. AI-driven odds-making, blockchain-based betting platforms, and augmented reality betting experiences may revolutionize the industry.
One thing is certain: as long as people enjoy making bold predictions, sportsbooks will continue offering wild, entertaining, and sometimes absurd prop bets to keep the action going.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re betting on the next big celebrity scandal, a groundbreaking space mission, or the color of the Gatorade at the Super Bowl, 2025 offers an exciting variety of prop bets. With markets constantly evolving, bettors can always find something new and intriguing to wager on.
Are you ready to test your luck on the strangest and most popular prop bets of the year?
