Prop Betting: What It Is and How Proposition Betting Works

One of the great things we’ve found about online sportsbooks in Canada is the range of bets they offer for events and matches, especially team and player proposition bets. This gives you more ways to get involved in the action.

But what is prop betting? If you aren’t familiar with this term then don’t worry– we ARE, and we’ve been making prop bets for years. Using that in-depth knowledge, we’ve created the below guide which explains exactly what prop betting is, how it works at Canadian online sportsbooks, and how you can do it.

Top Sports Betting Sites for Prop Betting 2026

What is prop betting? An initial explanation

Like we did in our guide on live betting in Canada, let’s start with a basic introduction to props bets. Prop is actually short for proposition, and props bets are effectively like a proposition on a specific sporting event. For instance, it’s like someone asking the question, how many goals do you think Lionel Messi will score in Argentina's first group stage match in the 2026 World Cup? There’s a few more specifics to consider though when looking at what is prop betting, which we discuss below.

A prop bet is a type of bet not directly related to the outcome of a game

There are three main premises when looking at proposition bets:

1. They are a type of bet that isn’t directly related with the outcome of a game.
2. There can be TEAM or PLAYER prop bets.
3. Prop bets typically relate to a specific stat, occurrence, or non-occurrence in a single game.

“Who will win in the NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons” - this is NOT a proposition bet. It is an outright/moneyline bet where you are simply picking the winner of an NBA game.

“Will Josh Giddey get more than 10 assists in the NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons?” - this is a PLAYER proposition bet. You are betting on whether or not you think a specific player will make a specific in-game achievement.

“How many 3pters will the Detroit Pistons score in their upcoming NBA game against the Bulls?” - this is a TEAM proposition bet. You are betting on if you think a specific team will get over/under a specific statline in a specific NBA game.

Proposition bets come in all shapes and sizes, and you can usually find a massive range of options relating to team and/or player performances for the most popular sports that Canadian online sportsbooks support. The most common sports to feature a large range of props bets are soccer, basketball, football, baseball, hockey, and tennis.

Many Canadian online sportsbooks allow you to combine multiple prop bets

Similar to how you can combine multiple outright winner/moneyline bets on different games into one PARLAY bet, most CA online sportsbooks allow you to combine multiple team/player props on a single game into one SAME GAME PARLAY bet. In other parts of the world, these are called bet builders as you are effectively building a bet with multiple different legs in. For example, you might make a Same Game Parlay bet on the above Bulls vs Pistons NBA game including these selections:

1. Cade Cunningham to score over 25 points
2. Jalen Durren to get over 10 rebounds
3. Detroit Pistons lead after the first half

This example combines two individual player props and a team prop, and the odds for the three selections would be combined together to give you the odds and potential payout of the Same Game Parlay bet. From our experience, with these bets, you can get as creative as you want, and add as many individual legs as you want from the same game, and we think it makes for some incredibly exciting betting options.

Pros and cons of proposition betting

Prop betting offers flexibility, more potential enjoyment, and it’s great for sports fans who love diving into the stats and nuances of the sports they follow. We also think they can really help expand your betting strategies and give you more options to work with.

However, simply by their nature, proposition bets are typically more risky compared to things like moneyline picks– especially when you start combining multiple picks together. On top of that, to be effective, they generally require more knowledge, research, and insight, and not everyone has the time for this.

Pros and Cons

• More betting variety
• Potential for improved betting strategies
• Great for stats nerds
• Higher potential odds/payouts

• They need more research to be effective
• They can be confusing for beginners

Examples of prop betting at online casinos in Canada

We think it’s much easier to understand prop betting by actually looking at some live examples at Alberta betting apps and other online sportsbooks. In the below table, we have gathered a range of different team or player proposition bets that were live at the time we created this guide:

As you can see, there is a fantastic range of variety, and from our time testing the best CA betting sites, they are always adding new types of proposition bets. For example, one that is becoming more common is the time-specific prop bet. For instance, with many soccer matches, you can bet on specific actions such as goals, cards, or corners to happen within a 5 minute period of a half.

Tips for making props bets at Canadian online sportsbooks

Whether it’s baseball betting in Canada, or proposition bets for other popular sports, we’ve got a heap of experience. During our time testing our recommended sites, we have noticed that there are some simple things you can do to bet effectively, and make the most of team and player props.

1. Research is king

We do not think proposition bets are something you can make effectively without doing research. You need to look at things like recent form, player performances, injuries, H2H matchups between teams or players, and other things that might potentially impact the outcome of your proposition picks.

2. Consider using a mixed strategy of prop and classic bets

We typically do not go all-in on higher risk props bets or same-game parlays (SGPs) for our betting strategy. Instead, we utilize a mix of simpler bets such as moneylines and spreads, and then throw in a few team or player props with a lower betting amount for a potential higher payout.

3. Be sure to read the exact winning conditions carefully

Whenever we make a team or player prop bet, or an SGP, we make sure to double-check our bet slip entry, the odds, the stake we entered, and the winning conditions where the bet will payout. We say this because we have made errors previously with the specific wording of bets. For example, many NBA basketball bets can include or NOT include overtime, and this can completely change the value and the implied probability of the bets. Always double-check what you are betting!

4. Consider the impact of each leg for SGP props bets

Contrary to what you would think, it’s NOT always a good idea to add prop bets with a high implied probability to your Same Game Parlay bets. In some instances, adding legs to your SGP bets that have low odds can actually reduce the potential payout of your bets with no good reason.

Instead, it can be better to simply stick with the higher-risk SGP legs, but have less overall legs that need to come in to get your payout. Always look at the merrit of each SGP leg in its own right, but also how it impacts the overall odds, implied probability, and potential payout of your bets.

How to get started with a CA online sportsbook to make props bets

Whether you’re using new betting sites in Alberta, or other online sportsbooks in Canada, you HAVE to register an account and deposit some CAD to be able to place proposition bets. This is usually a simple process, and in most instances you can get up and running in a few minutes by following these steps:

1. Click any of the CA sportsbook banners on this page.

2. Click the sign up, register, or relevant join button.

3. Follow the instructions and enter any required info.

4. Accept site T&Cs if needed.

5. Complete any initial verification.

6. Log in to your new account.

After logging in for the first time, depending on the site, you might have to complete additional verification in the form of a full KYC check. It’s best to get this done ASAP as it will save time. Usually, you have to upload ID documents and take a selfie, so that this info can be checked against the personal details you’ve previously provided.

With your account created and verified, all you need to do now is make a CAD deposit using one of the accepted deposit methods, and start browsing the range of proposition bets the site offers.

Conclusion– props bets offer unlimited betting variety and entertainment

That’s our guide on what is prop betting completed and we hope you now have a clearer idea of how these bets work, and the potential entertainment and value you can get from them. The key is to understand exactly how the props bets work, to do additional research for them, and to make a balanced approach with a range of singles or simple parlay bets too, as part of your overall betting strategy.

Canadian online sportsbooks generally have a brilliant range of team and player prop bets, and if you want to get in on the action yourself and start placing them, all you need to do is click any of the relevant banners we’ve got on this page– these should be a series of recommended, legitimate CA online casinos for your region that we’ve tested and reviewed.

Prop betting FAQs