In this article, we’ll be looking at the best sites for betting on politics across UK, US and global markets, as well as how political betting works to helpful, strategic tips.
- How to Bet on Politics and Elections
- What Is Political Betting?
- UK Politics Betting Markets
- US Political Betting Markets
- Rest of the World Politics Betting Markets
- Why Politics Betting Is So Exciting
- Type of Politics Bets
- Top 5 Politics Betting Tips
- Biggest and Best Political Bets Ever Made
- Politics Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Best Betting Sites We Recommend for the Politics
Bet £10 Get £20 Welcome Offer 18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. Click for full T&Cs. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 get £40 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Up to £50 in Free Bets, 20 Free Spins & £10 Casino Bonus 18+ New players only | Available until 23:59 GMT 31.12.2025 Each challenge has its own TCs. Eligible Bets must be placed for each respective Challenge during the Promotional Period including the following: ACCA, Football, In-Play, and Casino. Each challenge has its own set of TCs and can only be completed 1x. Available to claim: 20 Free Spins, £10 Free Bet, 50% Back up Free Bet up to £20, £10 Casino Bonus when you wager £50+. If all are completed you will receive Max £20 Free Bet to be used on any sport. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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50% up to £50 Welcome Bonus 18+ New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Code: PLAY10; 1x per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; valid 60 days; Min odds 4/5 singles, 2/5 per acca leg; Some bet types excluded; Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Up to £50 in free bets 18+ Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 Get £10 + £10 Casino Bonus 18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 50 Bonus Spins 18+ Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 50 Bonus Spins credited on placement of qualifying Acca bet.50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements, bonus Spins only available on selected games and expires 7 days after being awarded. Debit card deposits only (exclusions apply). Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £5 get £20 18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 Get £40 18+ New UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required.
Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Up to £40 In Free Football Bets 18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet via mobile up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 Get £30 18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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£20 Backup Bet 18+ New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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0% Commission for 90 days 18+ The User must enter Bonus Code ‘COMMFREE90’ during registration. Only available to users who deposit via credit or debit cards. New Customers Only.
Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Trade with 0% commission for 60 days 18+ Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% commission for 60 days. Min. £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card or Instant Banking. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £15 Get £25 18+ New customers only. Max one £25 free bet. Min qualifying stake £15. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal are not eligible. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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How to Bet on Politics and Elections
If you know how to place a sports bet, you can also bet on any political bet the bookie offers. Nonetheless, because many people have not yet engaged with betting on politics in the same way they may have with other sports, they may feel unsure of how to proceed. With this easy, breezy, step-by-step guide, we have everything you need to know about the practicalities of betting on politics.
- Register an account with a sportsbook that provides markets for betting on politics. Skip this step if you are already signed up to an operator which doubles as a political betting website.
- Deposit funds in your account if you have none.
- Find the political markets – they may have their own tab or be located under ‘specials'.
- Choose the market you wish to back and select how much you would like to bet, just like any other market.
- Wait to see if your bet is successful. Betting on politics typically has longer waiting times than sports betting, with many events being several months in advance, so you may want to put the kettle on and not plan how to spend your winnings just yet.
What Is Political Betting?
Some types of betting can be more complicated than others. For instance, Asian handicap betting or booking points markets have a larger learning curve than simply backing your favourite team to win.
Betting on politics, however, is exactly what it sounds like, whether we are taking about Paddy Power political betting or any other political betting sites.
Political betting in betting terms simply refers to placing a bet based on a prediction about anything to do with politics.
This could be the result of an election or a referendum. Anything that can be considered political, and can be wagered upon, can be considered betting on politics.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to break down several examples of potential markets for betting on politics across UK and US political betting markets, the most likely results for our UK readers, as well as some examples from across the world.
UK Politics Betting Markets
There is often a very broad selection of UK political betting markets – not just because many of our recommendations are dedicated to that region, but also because there’s such a great deal of important and interesting upcoming events that works perfectly for betting on politics.
Government After Next Election
While there are of course many other parties within the British political sphere, this market will undoubtedly have its shorter political betting odds dominated by the Conversative and Labour party, and there may also be betting options for various coalitions. That said, there’s no election date right now, so it may be a while before you see a return on this one. On the upside, this can mean fantastic political betting odds if you pick an underdog market early, such as Most Seats or Overall Majority.
*The example table below showcases odds based on a Conservative majority win in the next general election. Other markets are also available.
Year Boris John Is Replaced As Prime Minister
As there’s not an election called at the time of writing, one interesting market is the option to pick the actual year you think that Boris Johnson will be replaced as Prime Minister. This is a surprisingly deep market, as the replacement could take place within the party itself or through a lost election, so there is plenty of scope for predictions here when betting on politics.
Next Scottish Independence Referendum Result
One of the biggest political questions in the United Kingdom for many years has revolved around Scottish independence. As it looks increasingly likely that there will be another Scottish Independence referendum at some point in the future, the question of how Scotland will vote in such a scenario makes a fascinating market for betting on politics.
Next Conservative Leader
This is a great market if you want a broad selection of markets to choose from, and can offer some great political betting odds if you wish to back an underdog candidate. Just like betting on politics itself, this can largely be understood by the name itself. You are betting on who will be the next conservative leader. It really is as simple as that. You can also bet on similar markets for the next Labour leader and the next Scottish First Minister.
Referendum on Monarchy by 2030:
The royal family, once a seemingly immovable British institution, is now under immense scrutiny and is surrounded by intense controversy. So much so, in fact, that you can now bet on whether there will be a referendum on the monarchy by a date in the future selected by a bookmaker. A fascinating example of how betting on politics reflects changing national moods.
US Political Betting Markets
Wherever you are from, US politics has a massive influence and is of enormous interest to the rest of the world. In fact, is not unusual for people of one country to have as much knowledge about politics in the USA as they do their own. And that global interest means a massive selection of opportunities when it comes to betting on politics. Here are some of the most popular markets:
2024 Presidential Election – Winning Party
This, for many, will be the most interesting market of all. It’s the one for all the marbles: the winner of the next election who will guide the USA for the next four years at minimum. A lot of emotions are involved in this kind of prediction, so keep a cool head, and remember, betting early on these types of events early can often provide excellent political betting odds.
*This odds table showcases odds for a Democrat win in the next US presidential election.
2024 Democratic Presidential Nominee
The only problem with the above market example is it only really comes down to two main markets. Unless something truly remarkable happens, then either the Democrats or Republicans will win the election. That means that, if you want a broader market selection, then you’ll have to look elsewhere. Picking the Democratic presidential nominee may be the perfect alternative, as it’s election focused, but provides a greater variety of betting on politics picks.
2024 Republic Presidential Nominee
Exactly the same as the above market example, except your pick is for the Republican Party nominee rather than the Democratic Party equivalent. If you back both, you’re essentially betting on the final candidates who will go head-to-head in the election, a great example of using betting on politics to craft a logical strategic betting narrative.
Biden to Serve Full Term?
This is always a question for every President, as there’s actually the possibility they won’t actually be able to complete their full term. What makes this such an interesting market for betting on politics is that these political betting odds tend to become shorter as time goes on, and it becomes more likely Biden (or any future president in the same position) will carry out the full term.
Kamala Harris to become a two-term President of the United States before the end of 2040
We picked this market because it’s a great example of a special bet on politics, one which spans decades and that asks you to make some pretty immense predictions about the future of the country. It may be a while before you get your money back on this one, but it sure sounds like an interesting ride.
Rest of the World Politics Betting Markets
While UK and US political betting are undoubtedly the most popular political betting markets for UK readers, world politics often offer plenty of options and value. Check out some of our top picks for ROW politics betting markets below!
Next German Chancellor
This is just an example. In truth, any national election is eligible to be covered by bookmakers, each one having its own intricacies and details which make them interesting. As in sports, knowledge is power when betting on politics, so if you have some international insight on who could be the next German Chancellor, you can utilise it here.
Irish Unification Betting
The question of Irish Unification has become more pressing due to recent developments in the 21st century, and presents an interesting opportunity for those who enjoy betting on politics. The UK leaving the European Union has called a great deal of issues regarding trade and partnerships, and many believe Irish Unification could be a result. A typical market for this would be to bet on an Irish referendum taking place before 2030, and an additional market may also ask if that referendum is successful.
North/South Korea to reunify by the end of 2023
This market shows just how quickly the world of politics can change. Once viewed as close to impossible, now many bookies who offer betting on politics certainly feel reunification between these long-separated states to be enough of a possibility to provide markets on this actually happening.
Why Politics Betting Is So Exciting
While everyone has their own reasons for finding any variety of betting exciting, we would say that there are three key things which make betting on politics exhilarating in its own special and unique way. These positive attributes are true pretty much anywhere, whether you’re looking at William Hill political betting or Ladbrokes political betting, for instance.
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Value
Value is the most important aspect of any betting strategy. In a world where betting money can move odds just as much as bookie analysis, UK political betting is one of the few fields where punters can find consistent value. If you start your bets early, you can find ridiculous underdogs who evolve into favourites or even winners. -
Variety
While most sports logistically have a limit to the markets they can offer based on the rules and specifications of that game, no such limit applies for betting on politics. If whatever you are betting on can be considered political, it counts – there are really no other rules or restrictions than that beyond what your favourite bookmaker is willing to offer markets on. -
Real World Impact
The events you will be wagering on when betting on politics will likely have a massive real-world impact. This means there are even greater stakes beyond your wager, and that can provide an incredible interesting and exciting experience. It’s also a kind of social betting, as often what you are betting about will impact everyone in a way no sport could. Betting on politics really is unique unto itself.
Type of Politics Bets
In order to understand the different types of bets that exist in politics, we should first look at the different ways to place a bet: spread bets and online sportsbooks.
Spread betting sites let you bet on what a result will be. The more correct you are, the more you will win. However, the more you are incorrect, the more money you can lose. A good example of this is Spreadex, where you can bet on points spreads on sporting events as well as election results.
Meanwhile, online sportsbooks provide the most convenient option for players. Through online bookmakers, players can wager on almost anything – the options found nowadays are practically unending. A lot of the bet categories available in sports are available in politics too, the most common being a straight up bet, handicap bet, and proposition bets.
Straight Up Bets
A straight up bet usually involves betting on one of two or more possible outcomes. These include outrights. For example: betting on a specific candidate to win an election.
Handicap bets
A handicap bet consists of wagering according to the margin you think a candidate will win by. For example: Trump to win popular vote with 2% extra.
Prop bets
Prop bets rely on the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event – these are usually smaller, less important events. For example: Trump to lose popular vote but be re-elected.
Do keep in mind that these are just examples of what betting on politics looks like. The actual markets themselves really are close to limitless so long as they are related to the world of politics in some way.
Top 5 Politics Betting Tips
One of the most interesting and positive attributes of betting on politics is that the individual markets themselves can be varied to a point of unpredictability. However, that poses a challenge from a strategic perspective – it is hard to prepare for markets you’re not entirely sure of. With that in mind, we have broken down key strategic points that we think are applicable for betting on politics in general. Here are our top 6 political betting tips:
1. Bet Early
Getting in early can provide you with bigger winnings. Let’s use election betting as an example. While you could wait until the day before the election to place your bet, the latter will likely have less value compared to a bet placed a year earlier.
Usually, margins tighten the closer an election draws, while the number of possible candidates is thinned down to a possible two or three. The more candidates in the race, the higher the odds for your selection. This goes for US political betting such as elections, primaries, and most examples of UK political betting markets.
2. Don’t Bet on Your Favoured Candidate for the Sake of It
This may seem like an obvious point to some, but a few punters fail to realise that political betting requires the same in-depth analysis and research that any other betting market would. Politics betting is not about wagering on your preferred politicians, but finding a bet where the odds are higher than the probability.
Analyse statistics, polls and reliable news sources before placing any bets. Moreover, make sure you wager on elections you understand well.
3. Research Independently
Not all news sources are not always trustworthy. In order to back the data you find, utilise a broad and reliable variety of sites and publications.
It’s also a good idea, especially when dealing with a market for an issue people are deeply passionate about, to try and get information from all sides of the political spectrum. If, for instance, you were only to pay attention to sources that were very pro one election candidate, that you may end up believing that candidate’s chances of winning are a great deal better than is objectively true.
Even speaking to acquaintances and observing comment threads can also give you a great indication of what is on people’s minds.
Lastly, don’t necessarily assume that the largest source of information is the correct one. Quite simply, large news outlets can be incorrect in their predictions. Brexit is an example of a political event which occurred despite news outlets generally believing it was a very slim possibility. It's also fair to say that most news sources have their own political biases and opinions, just as most people do, so while it’s good to consider all information seriously, do so with a pinch of salt.
4. Beware of Polls
While polls can be a useful tool to help you gauge the odds, they are a flawed tool, as has been spotlighted by several recent instances where they have been drastically wrong in major political events.
They provide a snapshot of people’s opinions, but don’t always tell us the whole picture.
This is essentially an extension of our advice regarding news sources, and that is to consider all possible outcomes, but remember that nothing is ever written in stone. Keep in mind too that a small probability is still a probability, something that people often forget when betting on politics. If a candidate has a 1% chance, that is not the same as no chance at all. It doesn’t mean we necessarily think that would make for the wisest move when betting on politics, but it is important to take all possibilities into account.
5. Consider the Value of the Odds
There are essentially two steps in deciding whether a market is right for you, and this is the case in many forms of gambling not just betting on politics.
First, you need to consider what you think is likely to happen, or who/what is likely to win. In other words, what market you think would represent a successful bet.
The second part is working out if the odds provide good value. If for instance, if you think a candidate has a 60% chance of winning but they are given odds equivalent to 80%, that would still represent an unwise bet. This often happens with favourites, especially in election.
Punters often like to favour major candidates, as they believe it is a less risky choice than placing an election bet on a candidate with less of a reputation. However, the odds will often reflect this and then some. Check out the political betting odds quality of all markets you are interested, but don’t be surprised if it is actually the underdogs which provide the most value. You can also compare the best odds of top bookmakers to further enhance your odds quality.
Biggest and Best Political Bets Ever Made
Betting on politics has the potential to earn you a substantial figure while still being enjoyable – and some lucky bettors have truly been able to experience that. There certainly have been some impressive political bets over recent years – here are our three of our favourites:
1. George Elliott
One of our all-time favourite political betting stories is that of Sedgefield taxi driver George Elliott, who bet on Tony Blair becoming leader and Prime Minister following a lucky taxi ride in 1983. Following an eye-opening conversation with his passenger, Elliot was impressed by the young politician and proceeded to head to a local bookmaker to place a bet on him. Elliott was quoted odds of 500/1, and sure enough, the unlikely event followed through and won him an unbelievable £5,000 in 1997. The 14-year wait did not go to waste!
2. John Mappin
One of the largest bets in politics was that of 51-year-old Cornish hotelier John Mappin, who had high hopes on Donald Trump winning the 2016 US Presidential election. In fact, they were high enough to place over 30 bets amounting to £3,500 at a variety of odds.
Mappin claimed that he had never placed a bet before this one, yet was compelled to do so through a data analysis system simply three days after Trump entered the contest. The latter sure did not let Mappin down, who enjoyed a massive £110,767 victory!
The fantastic figure wasn’t his only cash prize, however. Mappin told ITV news that following his win, Eric Trump called Mappin to thank him for his support, while inviting him to meet President Trump. Mappin said: “I've been working with an information analyst system for about 20 years.
“The purpose of it is to predict outcomes. I was examining information out of America, specifically social media patterns. When Donald Trump's presidency bid was announced, we really knew three hours later that he was going to win.”
3. The Lucky London Gambler
A first-time political bettor from Kingston, London, placed a bet on the Scots, shortly after realising that they were unlikely to vote for independence in the 2014 referendum.
The middle-aged businessman had carried out a lot of research before coming to this conclusion, which in turn saw him bet a whopping £900,000 with William Hill on a no vote. Despite odds that were not in his favour, the daring wager paid off, and saw him earn an extravagant £1,093,333.33.
He said: “Losing the money would have seriously hurt, but I wouldn’t have lost my house. I would call it responsible gambling, a reasoned wager.”
Politics Betting FAQs
There are lots of great sites for betting on politics. While our favourite picks can be found at the top of this article, our top three bookies would be Smarkets, Paddy Power, and William Hill provider.
In terms of bet types, there’s a selection of prop bets, straight picks and handicap bets. Typical examples include predictions on things like elections and referendums. Really though, anything related to politics that could pose a prediction can be offered for betting on politics.
Yes. Any bet on a licensed UK bookie is 100% legal. On top of that, winnings from any bet you place will also be tax-free.
Yes. While UK markets may be most common for a political betting website aimed at British users, anything that they think may be of interest to their users can be bet on. That includes US political betting, and indeed, politics from all around the world.
It depends on the terms and conditions of that specific promotion; however, there are many sports promotions that can be used on specials markets, such as betting on politics. That said, keep in mind that many offers have time limits, which may be an issue if the outcome of your bet will be settled many months or even years into the future.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Betting on politics is a unique form of betting. Even though it may work like sports betting, and it may have the versatility of other forms of novelty betting, there’s nothing else quite like it. The real-world implications, the strategies involved in betting on politics, the international scale and the variety of markets are very much its own.
We hope that in this guide you’ve been able to see just how interesting and exciting betting on politics can be, as well as how accessible it is thanks to our selection of fantastic top betting on politics bookmakers.