Want to learn more about novelty betting and how to dominate some of the most undervalued markets in online betting? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got it all – from Love Island to the next leader of the Conservatives, and everything in between. Learn how to dominate one of the lighter sides of gambling and be prepared to have your mind blown about how random these things can get.
Top Bookmakers We Recommend for Novelty Betting
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Founded:
2000
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(11):
Bet £10 & Get £30 18+. Min deposit requirement. Registration Required. 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. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £100,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1934
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. Credited as 3 x £10 bets. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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Founded:
1886
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(9):
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £250,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1997
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(8):
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses 18+ New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 in free bets and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £100,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1926
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(8):
Bet £5 Get £20 18+ New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4 x £5 free bets. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £250,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1994
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(4):
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Bonuses 18+New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 4x£5 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 20 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £50,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1967
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(7):
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets 18+ New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £20,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
2006
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(7):
Up to £30 Matched Free Bet if your First Acca Loses + 100 Free Spins + £30 Uber Eats Voucher 18+ New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.20
Max. withdrawal: £100,000,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1989
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Payment methods(7):
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets 18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won't apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £50,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
2023
UK Gambling Commission
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at Evens (1/1) or above to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. EW bets min £20. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
How Do We Evaluate the Best Bookies for Your Novelty Bets?
We spend a lot of time at TPP doing the hard yards, so you don’t have to. And if it means watching trashy TV or reading up on who Donald Trump wants to go to war with this week, then we’re all over it. But what makes a great novelty betting site? Well, let’s show you what we’re looking for:
We want depth and variety. Can we find somewhere that goes beyond just outright winners and instead digs a little deeper? For example, instead of just choosing the top couple in Love Island, can we bet on who’ll be voted out next or the next couple to split up?
Next, we want to find value. Do the odds stack up against the competition? This may be best on more random markets, but we still want the best price possible. After all, if Taylor Swift is going to win a Brit award, we may as well make the most money possible as we listen to her sob through her acceptance speech.
First off, can we apply free bets or the welcome bonus to these markets? If the answer is no, the bookmaker likely doesn’t feature on our best novelty betting sites page. If yes, then it’s about seeing who goes the extra mile. Boosted odds and dedicated free bets are great places to start.
Best Novelty Betting Sites Ranked & Reviewed
We’ve given you a little taster of the best novelty betting sites on the market, but now we want to show you why the top three standout. These are the ones that have some of the most random things you can think of in terms of coverage and a truly “bet on anything” outlook. All things we absolutely love at TPP.
1. bet365 – Largest range of novelty betting markets
If we could only choose one online novelty betting site for the rest of time, it would be bet365. It’s the coverage and volume of markets that sets them apart from the crowd.
To start, they have a dedicated “specials” section and under this are a variety of weird and wonderful things to bet on from around the world. These include Nathan’s hot dog eating contest (men’s and women’s, of course), BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Love Island, X Factor - you name it, it’s there.
In addition, they go heavy on politics. And it’s not just the UK. You’ve got markets from Australia, Ireland, Sweden and the US at the time of writing, and we know they expand this further based on what’s going on in the world.
Overall, as a package deal, this is as good as it gets.
2. William Hill – Best for TV and entertainment betting
William Hill doesn’t land too far behind bet365, and if it’s strictly TV shows or entertainment betting, then they’d be even a better pick. We love the variety of markets to choose from, such as who will be the next James Bond and the biggest-grossing opening weekend films of the year.
It’s strange to compare odds about who the next character to be killed off in Coronation Street is, but here we are, and if you’re wondering, William Hill is best priced on Carla Connor. Who’d have thought (or cares!)? Odds generally are really strong, though, and if you’re betting on markets like Eurovision or Love Island, which most of the top bookies cover, then William Hill will be right up there as the best.
3. Ladbrokes – Best for Politics Betting
The final part of our triple threat is Ladbrokes. Their main USP comes from the political markets, specifically the UK and the US. As you can imagine, with a TV celebrity in charge across the pond, some of these markets can get spicy, and he’s even been awarded his own section of specials, such as if he will do a full term, when he will be replaced and, God forbid, if Trump will get named TIME person of the year.
There’s plenty in the way of alternative novelty betting markets, such as Eurovision, James Bond and The Oscars, but to be honest, bet365 and William Hill offer better coverage and better odds, so we’d likely choose them over Ladbrokes.
What is Novelty Betting?
You could blindly suggest that novelty betting is just non-sports betting, and you wouldn’t be far wrong with that. It’s kind of like “everything else” that doesn’t fit in with what you and I would describe as traditional sports betting…whatever that is.
We’re looking at things like pop culture and current events. This can include TV, music, politics, arts and even fashion. So, you might bet on the winner of your favourite TV show or bet on the next UK prime minister, and everything in between.
One thing that we would add is that it’s one of the most entertaining markets, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Who would even think about betting on Nathan’s hot dog eating contest? Well, us sickos at TPP, that’s who. And that’s why novelty betting is fun and a welcome escape from the seriousness that can come with sports betting.
How to Place Your First Novelty Bet
These types of markets, while fun, can be hidden away in the doldrums of a sportsbook. So, we’re going to take our number one site for the best novelty bets, bet365, and show you exactly how to place your first novelty bet.
Entertainment Betting Pros & Cons
We absolutely love the novelty and entertainment sections. The chance to bet on random things? Yes, please. But there are some downsides to what can be controversial markets. So, here’s all you need to know about what’s good and what you need to avoid.
- Bet on what you love – If you’re not really into your sports, this allows a route into markets that you know and love. Fancy yourself as the next PM, or do you sit and binge-watch Love Island every night? Then you can put your talents to good use and spot value from areas that others would miss.
- Variety and year-round action – There’s always something to bet on. Politics never sleeps, and TV shows come out 52 weeks of the year. Unlike sports, there’s no offseason, so you’re never bored.
- Potential for untapped value – These types of markets generally aren’t that well monitored by the bookies. They can also be much harder to predict. For example, if you’re betting on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and someone says something controversial, likely, Joe Public won’t take too kindly, and they plummet in the odds to be the next contestant to leave.
- It’s fun – Simply put, these are light-hearted markets that are, for the most part, seen as a bit of fun. It’s great for betting with friends or posting up on social media.
- Highly unpredictable – There’s no form guide to fall back on here. Things can change in the blink of an eye, and contestants can move from hero to zero. News can break from nowhere with no rhyme or reason, so you need a bit of luck to profit long term.
- Limited markets and timeframes – There’s not a ton to bet on. Reality TV betting might have up to five shows at any one time. Compare that to football, which has hundreds every day, and it can become a little limiting.
- Lower betting limits – Bookies will cap the amount that can be wagered, mainly due to its unpredictability. There’s not a huge amount of money invested, so it’s harder for them to market. You’ll often find that margins are much higher as a result. In fact, we’ve seen some 120% shockers in the past, which is brutal.
Most Popular Novelty Bets
If you’re new to novelty bets, then you may be surprised to see just how much coverage there is. Some are random, we won’t lie, but to give you an idea of what to expect, we’ve looked at some of the more popular events and then markets linked to each.
UK Politics
The UK political scene is a big one. There’s always something happening, whether it's general elections, local elections, or party leadership contests. For UK bookies, we’d assume that this has the largest range of novelty betting odds, and as a result, the most markets. Here’s what you can find.
The general election usually takes place every five years in the UK, but it can be called sooner if there is a lack of confidence in the current leader. We’ve had four leaders since 2015, which highlights the current plight of UK politics, more than anything. For this market, you can bet on the majority or hung parliaments, seat-by-seat betting, and even voter turnout.
Another big one is betting on the new leader of a party. You’ve five main ones in the UK: Labour, Conservative, Reform, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. These can fluctuate massively with political developments and are more active than the outright general election.
US Politics
Betting on the US political scene has become way more popular in recent years. This has come down to Donald Trump, for the most part, and his divisive views. From a betting perspective, it’s been great as more people seem to have an opinion on what’s going on across the pond, so markets are buzzing right now.
Simply put, this is all about who will take the top seat in the White House. Presidential elections run every four years, and you can bet on things like the outright winner, electoral college count and even spreads on the numbers of seats/votes.
During the primaries, you can bet on who will be the leader of the Republicans or Democrats. This is an interesting market, as you usually have two or three front-runners to start. However, it’s not uncommon for someone to have a late surge in the betting, which is exactly what Trump experienced when he outlined his plans for moving the US forward.
The Royal Family
The Royal Family can be quite an interesting one, especially if there’s news or even a bit of scandal that makes them relevant. Lots of punters like to take a run at baby names, and even marriages or relationships… usually when they are ending, which can make for some interesting markets, for sure.
This is a classic. As soon as someone is expecting, the market for baby names and gender preferences takes off. Names aren’t released until they are born, so these can drag on for months. Generally, regal names that are classically English or have ties to former members of the Royal Family. We’re still waiting for the first official Jonathan, but surely that’s right around the corner.
Divorce. Pregnancies. Engagements. Bachelor parties. You name it, if there’s an event between a couple or a future couple, you can bet on it. One of the weirdest was the location of Prince Harry’s bachelor party. Surprisingly, Benidorm didn’t pull through, and instead he went low-key to a friend's Hampshire residence. Missed a trick, big time!
Reality Shows
Reality shows are where things really start to ramp up. You can bet on TV shows from around the globe, but for the most part, they are made up of UK and US shows that we all love to binge-watch after a hard day’s graft.
This is by far the most popular right now, and it pulls the crowds from a betting perspective, especially amongst the younger generation. There are tons of markets, such as top male, top female, top couple and of course, which couple will leave the villa next. Daily shows means that odds fluctuate all the time, so it’s an interesting one to keep track of and find a bit of value.
Another stalwart of the British novelty betting market. It’s been going for 20 years now, which is crazy. From a betting perspective, it’s all about the King or Queen of the Jungle, or simply put, who you think will win. You can also bet on the next person to be voted out, which occurs most days after the first week.
TV Specials
TV specials cover “everything else” from the world of entertainment. It’s a market that changes more than most, and even though it’s more niche than ongoing TV shows, it runs year-round, which adds to its popularity.
There are always rumours as to who will take over the role of the next James Bond. It’s one of the biggest gigs on the big screen and propelled the careers of the likes of Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and most recently, Daniel Craig.
Doctor Who is about as big as they come in the UK in terms of TV series. It first aired in 1963, and since then, 15 Doctors have been appointed. This is one of those markets that stays live more than most, mainly because of the uncertainty of whether actors will leave due to the huge filming demands that come with the position.
Awards & Ceremonies
If you’re looking for something where you can find an edge, awards and ceremonies betting is the way to go. They include films, music, TV, and radio, among others, and you can use news or current events that break throughout the year to delve into finding a bit of early value.
So, this is the big one. It’s the premier awards ceremony, possibly in the world, but certainly in the movie-making industry. The nominees are often released a couple of months before the ceremony, so you can gauge what might go well in good time. A good tip here is to check out box office numbers in terms of popularity, but don’t take that as gospel, as it’s been known to throw out some random curveballs, especially for Best Picture. Anora, in 2025, is a great example of this.
The Grammys are music's Oscars, basically. It’s the pinnacle for all artists across multiple genres and can be career-defining. You’ll have markets for things like Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male and Best Female, to name just a few. It’s more mainstream than the Oscars in terms of betting, so expect this to be more about the popular vote than some obscure left-field band or artist you’ve never heard of.
Explore Our Guides to Entertainment Betting
Why Should You Wager on Novelty Betting Markets?
One of the reasons we love online novelty betting is the ever-present action. There’s always something going on, and there’s always something to bet on. Most sports will eventually take a break, but the fun never stops with entertainment, with a huge range of markets to choose from.
Also, it makes those mundane events exciting. Let’s face it, Sports Personality of the Year is not what it once was, but by exploring a bit of value from the betting markets, it becomes a lot more appealing. And, if like me, you often get dragged into watching TV shows that the other half wants to watch, having a few bob on the winner keeps things a little more interesting.
Finally, it’s underrated how much value there can be. The markets aren’t that high up on the priority list for the bookies, so if you can get an inside scoop from one of the seemingly millions of blogs/news sites out there, you can get in quick and find some amazing bets as a result.
Novelty Betting Tips & Strategies
We’ve spoken a lot about finding value from novelty betting odds, but now we’re going to show you how to go about it. The more time you can invest in your strategy, the better the ROI. Here are a couple of points to keep in mind:
Do Your Research – Information is King
Okay, so this is as generic as it gets, but knowledge is the most valuable asset when it comes to these markets. If you’re betting on politics, stay up to date with the latest news, polls and public statements. For reality TV, either watch or read the countless blogs and YouTube channels that dissect these shows for a living. The more information you can gather, the stronger your bets will be.
Shop Around for the Best Odds
Just because you’re betting on random things does not mean that you shouldn’t look for the best price every time. Almost all the major online bookies will cover TV shows like Love Island and I’m a Celebrity, so there’s going to be discrepancies in pricing. Even small differences like 4/1 to 5/1 can make a huge difference to your bottom line.
Leverage Expert Analysis and Guides
For this, we’re expanding on the research section above and highlighting the importance of utilising experts' knowledge. Most of them make a living off predicting what might happen, rather than recapping what’s already happened. For example, TMZ will have dozens of articles on the Oscars, most from highly regarded writers whose sole job is to cover exactly this. For politics, check out Andrew Sparrow, who is one of the lead writers for The Guardian. He has very little political bias in his writing, which is super-rare these days and is one of the best for providing insights that challenge, rather than conform.
Greatest Novelty Bets Ever Made
The novelty betting markets are wild and wonderful, which is why we love them so much. Bookies have fielded some bizarre markets, and most of them don’t come into fruition. But occasionally, the stars align and those 200/1 longshots land. Here’s a look at some of the best novelty bets we’ve seen to date.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
If you only take one lesson from our guide on novelty betting, then let it be not to sleep on these markets. Most see them as a bit of fun, something to pass the time, even, but the reality is that there’s a ton of value if you get it right. If you can find an angle on your favourite TV show or anticipate a storm brewing on Downing Street, you can get in quick and make a good ROI.
Novelty Betting Sites FAQs
bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes stand out as the three best novelty betting markets. They include everything from the next Prime Minister to the next winner of Love Island.
Most of the major online bookies will have entertainment betting sections. This includes betting on reality TV, awards ceremonies and even the Royal Family. Placing a bet works just as it would with sports, where you choose the odds, enter your stake and confirm your bet.
Some bookies might have one-off offers for major novelty bets such as betting on The Oscars or the next James Bond. These usually come in the form of boosted odds, rather than traditional welcome offers like free bets and bonuses.
Pretty much. If the novelty and entertainment betting section of the likes of bet365 and William Hill are anything to go by, then yes. The only limitations in the UK are things like youth and amateur sports, which are not governed by the UK Gambling Commission.