Not only is Thanksgiving day about family and food, but it is for enjoying football as well! Of course with all of your family gathering to enjoy some good food and football, it is a great reason to entertain them with some fun adult betting games too.
Since there are 3 football games on Thanksgiving day, you can play these games during any or all of them. You do not necessarily have to gamble on the games, but it does make it more interesting. If you do decide to make these betting games, be sure you tell your invitees in advance so they know what to expect.
Below you will find some Thanksgiving football betting games you can play at your next gathering. From prop bets to bingo, you are sure to find something to entertain your guests.
Football Squares
A football squares pool generally requires selling the squares days or weeks before any football game. Usually, they are $1 or more per square but for lighthearted betting, you could make them 25¢ per square. It is best to determine the payouts before selling the squares so people know what prizes to expect if they win.
For example, if you were to charge 25¢ per square, you would collect $25. Your prize payout might look like this:
First Quarter – $2.50
Second Quarter – $5
Third Quarter – $7.50
Fourth Quarter – $10
Sometimes people decide to give prizes to the person that also has the reverse score. For instance, if the end of the first quarter was 7-3, then the person who had 3-7 would also win a typically smaller prize. Here is how that payout may look on $1 squares:
First Quarter: Regular – $10, Reverse $5
Second Quarter: Regular – $15, Reverse $10
Third Quarter: Regular – $10, Reverse $5
Fourth Quarter: Regular – $30, Reverse $15
For a non-betting option, consider giving a small prize, maybe something from Dollar Tree, after each quarter.
If interested in playing football squares, you can download a FREE printable sheet here.
Thanksgiving Football Trivia Game & Multiple-Choice
What would a party be without trivia?! If you are feeling crafty, you can make up your own trivia sheet. Or head over to our Etsy shop to purchase a 20 question trivia game or a 10 question multiple-choice option. Both of these have different questions so you could opt to play two different rounds of trivia. An answer key is included with each.
After you have your trivia sheets printed out, determine how much to collect from all participants that want to play. Then, set a timer for 5 minutes. On your go, have your guests fill out their trivia sheet. Once the time is up, go over the answers. Whoever has the most amount of correct answers wins the money (or prize if you decide to offer a non-betting game).
Thanksgiving Day Props Football Predictions
A props prediction sheet is another easy activity that makes the football game more interesting to watch. Again, decide on how much everyone will pay to the pot in order to play. Then, before the game begins, have each betting guest mark which event they think will happen during the game. Once the game is over, you can determine who got the most correct, thus winning the prize.
You can grab a Thanksgiving Day Props game here, where you can print off as many copies as you need.
Pass The Pumpkin
In this game, instead of passing a football, your guests will be passing a small to medium-sized pumpkin around.
First, decide on a set amount that everyone will pay to the pot in order to play. Next, decide who will start with the pumpkin by drawing cards or rolling dice. Once the game starts, everyone should keep an eye on who has the ball. Every time the possession of the football changes from one team to the next, the pumpkin will get passed clockwise. Play continues like this until the end of the game, where the last person holding the pumpkin wins the pot!
You could also pay and play each quarter, making the payout to whoever holds the pumpkin after the quarter ends.
Thanksgiving Football Bingo
Last but not least, Bingo makes the football game even more exciting to watch!
You can purchase our handmade set of 15 different regular bingo boards here or 6 different Thanksgiving Props bingo boards here. You will receive a tracking sheet to keep tabs on everything happening in the game. If you prefer to make your own, you can use this free printable found here.
You can play traditional bingo where the first to cross off five in a row wins. Or wait until the game is over and whoever has the most crossed-off total on their board wins.
And that’s it! I hope you enjoy some or all of these fun Thanksgiving Day betting games with your friends and family!
If you want more suggestions, head over to read 52 fun Thanksgiving family game ideas and activities!