Novelty bets, also known as proposition bets, special bets, alternative bets, or non-sports bets, gives punters the chance to wager on the outcome of a wide range of sporting and non-sporting events.
Novelty bets, due to the many options available, have significantly grown in popularity with punters in recent years to the point where if you can predict the outcome of something, the chances are a bookie will have odds on it. From politics to sports and music to royals, novelty bets can be found far and wide and make for a unique and exciting betting experience for both beginner and experienced punters.
What is Novelty Betting?
Novelty betting involves predicting the outcome of any event taking place across the globe – and we mean anything! As long an event can gather some form of interest, bookmakers will undoubtedly price it up for all to enjoy. Whilst novelty bets are not usually associated with sports, nowadays as part of the novelty-bets-can-be-found-on-anything train, you won’t have to look far to find bookies offering sports novelty bets relating to the most popular tournaments and players. Novelty markets can include events taking place over a wide period of time, such as tv show outcomes and celebrity pregnancies or one day events such as the weather or something happening during a sports match.
Novelty and specials bets are rapidly growing in popularity with as many as tens to hundreds of millions worth of these bets being place annually. To make these bets even more appealing, betting sites have even started offering specific novelty promotions for punters to enjoy. Just like any other type of bets, different bookies will offer varying levels of odds for novelty betting events so make sure to shop around to find the most lucrative margins.
Types of Novelty Bets
The most popular types of novelty bets include:
- Politics
- Music
- Sports
- TV Specials
- Weather
- The Royal Family
- Current Affairs
Paddy Power
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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 Betfair
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New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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 William Hill
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Most Popular Novelty Betting Markets
- Academy Awards
- Britain's Got Talent
- I'm a Celebrity
- Dancing on Ice
- Strictly Come Dancing
- Love Island
- Too Hot To Handle
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year
- Betting on the Weather
- Politics and General Elections
- TikTok Betting
- Eurovision
- WWE
Why Should You Bet on Novelty Markets?
Given their near-infinite possibilities, punters can find lots of different novelty betting markets available all throughout the year which makes them a great substitute for when sporting events are not showing. Betting on novelty markets can also add to the excitement of many events which would otherwise have little-to-no interest to punters.
Most importantly for bettors, however, is the fact that novelty bets present a chance to make a profit. Unlike sports events where bookies use many different algorithms to accurately price up odds, novelty bets are much more unpredictable which makes it difficult for betting sites to be as accurate in their estimates. For this reason, finding a novelty betting market with overpriced odds by the bookie could prove to be extremely lucrative. Finally, some novelty bets can be placed live (such as in the case of vote counting during general elections) as well as accessed on mobile, making it these bets available at any time and any place.
5 of the Greatest Novelty Bets Ever Made
1 – Luis Suarez Bites
Following a series of bites on the pitch back in 2012 and 2013, several bookies decided to price up the odds of Luis Suarez going in for more during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This market proved particularly popular amongst punters given the sheer ridiculousness of it but when hungry Suarez couldn’t help but get a taste of Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder in the final match of the group stages, punters were given a surprising payout!
2-The Queen’s Hat
The Queen’s attendance is one of the staples at the Royal Ascot, but every year since 1973, there has a been a novelty market for predicting what colour hat her majesty will be wearing. This market has proven to be extremely popular and is said to have become as traditional to Royal Ascot as the races themselves. If you’re wondering what happens when the Queen opts for a unique shade of teal not offered by betting sites, the bookies will typically pay out based on the nearest block colour.
3 – Alien Existence
For many people, finding the existence of aliens is a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ which is why several bookies throughout the years have created markets with generous odds where punters can wager on a timeframe by which alien existence will be confirmed. As it stands, none of these bets have ever received a payout, but who knows? Could this be the year humanity discovers extra-terrestrials and you get your first novelty betting win?
4 – Gatorade at the Super Bowl
Every year a big bucket of Gatorade is poured over the winning coach of the NFL Super Bowl (because why not?) with the colour of this shower being the focus of many punters. Whilst it is virtually impossible to logically predict the colour of the Gatorade, it has still proven to be a hugely popular novelty market which makes for a bit of fun. Past years have featured orange, yellow, blue, purple and even no shower.
5 – Futures Betting
Futures betting involves predicting on something specific that will happen in the future to you or someone close to you. This type of novelty bet cannot be made online but instead by approaching a bookie directly and requesting your own bet. Some example of futures betting include whether your child will go on to be the next UK Prime Minister or whether you will one day receive a Nobel Peace Prize.
Novelty Betting FAQs
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Although not constantly on offer, some bookies will offer novelty and specials promotions to punters (usually closer to the day of the event)
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Different betting sites offer different markets, so this depends on what exactly you are looking for. That being said, Paddy Power, Betfair and Interbet have the widest selection of novelty markets of all the top bookmakers.
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Different bookies will have different policies when it comes to requesting your own novelty bets so we suggest contacting the betting site directly team to see if they can price up your unique novelty bet.
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Placing a novelty bet is the same as placing any other sportsbook bet. Simply go to your favourite bookie’s sportsbook, navigate to the novelty bets section (usually listed under specials bets, tv and specials, novelty specials or other similar phrases) and choose which market you would like to wager on.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Novelty betting is a great way to have add some extra fun while betting and although these bets will likely never match the level of excitement and drama that comes with sports betting, they still provide a way of making regular events far more interesting. With their constant availability and so many options to choose from, there is a novelty bet for everyone and given that they are so unpredictable, who knows? You just might make your own novelty betting profit!
Adam is avid sports writer (5 years and counting) who has been betting for as long as he's been legally able to. As an Arsenal fan, he knows a thing or two about the importance of patience (and heartbreak).