Why Is Election Betting Popular?
Election betting is popular in many democratic countries as, let’s face it, as many people vote in these countries as watch sports.
Everyone who votes obviously also has a political persuasion and many try and cash in on the fact that they think their opinion is right. Other voters choose to hedge their bets, betting on the party they don’t want to get in; if they think they might be worse off financially with that party in power.
While many political elections go the way of short-priced favourites that have enjoyed massive advantages over their opposition in the polls in the lead up to the election, shock outsiders winning elections has become commonplace in recent years.
Donald Trump was around 4/1 (5.0) with most bookmakers to become President of America before triumphing over Hillary Clinton on the night. This uncertainty has led to more punters getting involved in elections, thinking that outsiders can offer terrific value, no matter what the polls say.
After Trump’s shock win, punters no longer believe that the media and political data are reliable pointers to electoral outcomes, and many are happy to try and cash in by going against the so-called popular opinions.
Betting On UK Elections
While America may be the leader of the Western world, betting on elections is massive in the UK, where betting is more widely accessible than in the US. Of course, the UK has also had its fair share of electoral shocks in recent years, especially Brexit.
The UK was expected to vote to stay in Europe but, the public vote belied the 7/2 (4.50) odds that were offered about the UK opting to leave Europe. Some shrewdies were believed to have landed substantial gambles on the outcome of the Brexit vote, having thought correctly that many people who hadn’t been considered in the polls came out to vote the UK out of Europe on the night.
But the bookies will have gladly taken that defeat on the chin, as it sparked new interest in betting on elections in the UK.
Popular Election Bets
An outright bet in politics is one in which you simply bet on which candidate or party you think will win the election. In the UK, this is likely to fall between the Conservatives and the Labour Party (though there are more parties), while the Democrats and Republicans fight out the American elections.
If Labour and the Conservatives are thought to have an equal chance of winning, you might expect the bookies to go even-money (2.00) about both parties. But the bookies will factor in a certain percentage for themselves and it’s more likely that bookies will bet 10/11 (1.91) both parties. A similar scenario in America would be covered by a moneyline bet.
Futures And Props
You might also hear the terms futures and props in election betting. Futures are bets on events that will be decided on a specific date sometime in the future, such as a general election. Props are bets that might or might not happen.
Which Bookmakers Bet On Elections?
Most bookmakers never miss a trick and most of the big ones now offer odds on election betting. You’ll find odds for all the big political events at William Hill, Bet365, Betfred, BetVictor, Betway, 888Sport, Sporting Bet, and many more.
To find the best odds for your election bets, we recommend you use an odds comparison site to find the best odds being offered by all these safe and trusted bookmakers. If you’re not already a member of any of these sites, you might even be able to create an account and claim a new player welcome offer.
Should I Bet On Political Elections?
Yes, you can bet on political elections, but whether you should bet on political elections is a whole different story.
If you’re sure you’re voting for the winning party, knock yourself out. Having a bet on your party will only make their win even more enjoyable. Just don’t be too disappointed if you lose, as the public have proved to be a fickle bunch that changes allegiances quickly and turn polls on their heads.
Here at Betting Gods, we take a more pragmatic approach to gambling. We’d rather bet on horse racing and other sports, for which you can study the form and make logical assumptions as to what the result of a race, match, or tournament will be.
Where can I find UK election betting markets?
Betting on political outcomes, including general elections, has become increasingly popular in recent years. In the UK, several bookmakers and betting platforms offer markets for betting on the general election and other political events.
If you’re interested in betting on the general election or other political events in the UK, there are several reputable platforms where you can find such markets. For instance, Betfair is known to provide a variety of political betting markets, including those related to specific by-elections, as evidenced by their coverage of the Mid Bedfordshire by-election.
Another platform, William Hill, also offers odds on political events, including general election betting and betting on by-elections in the UK.
When considering placing a bet on elections, it’s essential to do thorough research and stay updated with the latest political news and developments. This will not only enhance your understanding of the political landscape but also help you make more informed political betting decisions.
What Do You Suggest I Bet On?
Horse racing is one the most popular sport to bets on at Betting Gods, and many of our tipsters cover the racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. We even have an award-winning tipster that provides tips for a variety of horse racing in the United States.
Golf, tennis, greyhound racing, ice hockey, and basketball are other sports that our tipsters cover, and you’ll find tips for sports action in the UK, the US, and many other countries around the world.
Betting Gods tipsters must also pass a tough six-months vetting process to prove they have what it takes to make a long-term profit from betting. But most of our punters have made it their life’s work to beat the bookies and are willing to share their advice with you.
Many of our tipsters are happy to share some of their tips on the Betting Gods free tips page, while all of them offer affordable monthly subscriptions to their full services. You can even take a low-cost trial to make sure they’re the tipster for you, and Betting Gods offers a money-back guarantee.
So, the answer to your question can you bet on elections is yes, but we think you’ll enjoy betting on horse racing and sports much more, so check out our tipsters today. If you’d like more betting advice, please feel free to browse the hundreds of articles that are available on the Betting Gods blog. Happy punting!
