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Welcome to our expert guide to political betting sites. This article contains everything that you need to know about the subject, including website reviews, information on different political markets and betting tips. Let’s start off with a list of our favourite sites for political betting online.
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Bet £10 Get £40 In Bonuses
22/08/23
Bet £10 Get £40 In Bonuses
Betfred has today’s early horse racing prices, extra places on selected races, live commentary + the custom racecard builder.
New customers residing in the UK who are at least 18 years old and who register for an account with us on any day other than Aintree’s Grand National day (15/04/2023). 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. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. 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.
New bettors; Code PLAY10; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
T&Cs apply. New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Opt-in required. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
*New members. Offer not available 15/04/23. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+
*New UK customers (Excluding NI) mobile only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). 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. 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. 18+. T&Cs apply
*New UK customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 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. Debit card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free Bet expires 7 days after credited. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply.
Promotions available to 18+ aged individuals who are registered customers of Spreadex. 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets, 4 x free £5 spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst. Min odds 1/2. Each free spin is worth 10p and there are no wagering requirements Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. Ts&Cs Apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £15 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free online casino spins at QuinnCasino. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org | Gamble Responsibly
New players only. Minimum stake £ 10, minimum odds 2, stake not returned. 1X wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 7 days from issue. Max conversion: £ 200. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply
Betfred – Our number one pick for betting on politics
10bet – Use Cash Out feature on your political bets
BetUK – Brit-focused bookie a wide pick for UK political markets
LiveScore Bet – Live update experts now a good choice for politics
BoyleSports – Lots of Irish politics markets
betway – Great range of specials not found elsewhere
Spreadex – The best choice for politics spread betting
Mr Mega – Solid range of markets and strong odds
QuinnBet – Irish bookie has lots of bonuses to use with politics bets
Betstorm – Enjoy free bets each and every Monday
Reviews of the Best Political Betting Sites
Let’s now go into some extra detail, with some in-depth reviews of the leading bookies you can bet on politics with. If you take the occasional punt on sports, then you’ll recognise some of these names as being among the leading online bookmakers in the UK today. Read more about the best political betting sites as our experts lift the lid on their coverage of current affairs:
1. Betfred – Bet £10 Get £40 In Bonuses
The political section on Betfred has a UK and US focus, with other politics markets from around the world being added as and when needed. They offer comprehensive coverage, with specials available concerning leaders like Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer in the UK section and plenty of options for US election betting markets.
Known as the Bonus King, you can be sure of a generous welcome deal at Betfred, who will quadruple your first £10 bet. For existing users, there are also daily price boosts which could be applied to political markets come election time. Betfred have plenty of extra features to offer their users, such as great apps and even a blog site that gives betting tips on politics.
The first thing that will strike you when you visit 10bet, is the clear and crisp site design. It’s really a pleasure to use and you’ll soon find the well-stocked politics section. As well as UK and US political markets, we also found a market on the next country to leave the EU and one for the Irish general election.
New users are treated to a 50% bonus on their first deposit, up to the generous amount of £50. Another regular promotion that can be used with politics bets is the acca boost. There’s some quality apps, plenty of payment methods and a useful Cash Out option, to guarantee an earlyprofit when betting on politics.
As the name suggests, BetUK is aimed squarely at the British betting market. That doesn’t mean that they only feature UK politics markets. We also found markets concerning American and EU politics, though naturally, it is in the UK where the most markets are available.
When you sign up for an account at BetUK, your first £10 bet will see you receive £30 in free bets. The BetUK Acca Club will provide you with boosted accas and free bets. There are also daily specials which will occasionally throw up politics bets with enhanced odds. Apps for Apple and Android devices, let you place your politics wagers, no matter where you are.
Launched in 2020, LiveScore Bet comes courtesy of the popular score update brand. They’ve made a confident start to life in the betting industry and that includes their politics coverage. This section is nicely laid out, with plenty of UK election betting markets, along with coverage of US, Ireland and EU politics.
New users will get £20 in free bets when they place an initial £10 bet. Existing customers will enjoy a £10 free acca bet every week, when they place two £10 multiple bets. Dedicated betting apps are available, along with lots of payment methods and a reliable customer service team.
Emerald Isle bookmakers BoyleSports are a great choice for anyone looking to place Irish politics bets. There’s lots of Irish markets here, ranging from betting on election winners, to next political party leaders and the identities of the next President and Taoiseach. US politics and the UK scene are also well covered, including markets based on Scottish independence.
New users will get their first £10 doubled, receiving £20 in free bets. BoyleSports are also great for fans of accumulator bets, with acca boosts, insurance and free bets available. With great betting apps and a smart site design, this brand is one to be considered.
6. betway – £30 Matched Free Bet If Your First Acca Loses
One of the best known names in the UK gambling industry, betway are certainly a good choice for fans of betting on politics. We found markets here that we didn’t elsewhere, such as specials involving the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the SNP leader Humza Yousaf. Overall, the politics coverage is broader than at most other bookies.
New users get their first acca bet refunded if it loses. Existing customers can enjoy a Free Bet Club and daily Betway Boosts, that can sometimes feature political markets. With dedicated apps and a very useful Cash Out feature, betway should be part of your political portfolio.
The place to go for political spread betting is Spreadex right now. Along with normal fixed odds markets for UK and US politics, they also have spread betting markets. You can choose to buy or sell in markets such as the result of the next UK general election, or the party that will gain the most seats. So if you were to back Labour to win and they won by a huge majority, you’d earn more winnings than if it were a slim victory. The bigger margin that they lost by, the more that you would stand to lose.
Open a Spreadex account and when you place a £25 fixed odds bet, you will get £50 in bonuses. Unfortunately there’s no offers for existing users that can be used in conjunction with political betting. If you want to place spread bets on the go, then there’s dedicated apps for iPhone and Android.
Founded in 2021, Mr Mega is a relatively new name on the politics betting scene. The politics market can be found in a section that is shared with various specials markets, such as entertainment awards. Yet once you find the politics markets, you’ll find that there’s plenty of coverage of UK and US political matters, with strong odds.
New users that sign up and bet £15, are rewarded with a £15 free bet. For existing users, there’s an acca boost deal and the chance to take an early profit on your politics bet with Cash Out. At present there’s no betting apps, but hopefully this will be something that’s added as the brand becomes more established.
9. QuinnBet – Get 50% Back As A Free Bet Up To £35 + 10 Free Spins
Unlike fellow Irish bookmaker BoyleSports, QuinnBet doesn’t quite match the detailed coverage of politics in the Emerald that we would have expected. They do at least cover the UK and USA political scene well, with plenty of markets and competitive odds.
Where QuinnBet really excel is with their range of offers. New users get 50% back on any losses on their first bet, which allows you to take a chance in terms of backing an outsider. There’s also daily free bets, acca bonuses and a 25% weekly rebate on any losses.
Finally we end with a newbie to the world of politics betting. Betstorm launched in 2021 and they have made a lively start. They feature political markets covering events in the UK, US, Greece and Turkey, which is a wider spread than we found at some more established brands.
The menu system may take you a little while to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be fine. New users get a generous welcome offer in which your first deposit is trebled. There are also free bets to be enjoyed every Monday and betting contests to compete in.
How Candidates for the Top Political Betting Website Compare
The following table ranks our recommended sites in various categories for online political betting.
Best Bookie For Politics
Betfred
UK Politics
BetUK
Most Markets
betway
US Politics
Betfred
Best Odds
10bet
Irish Politics
BoyleSports
Best New Site
LiveScore Bet
World Politics
Betstorm
What is Political Betting?
You can essentially bet on anything where there is a definitive outcome and that includes politics.For the most part, political betting concerns elections and votes. That includes elections to decide a country’s government, party leadership votes and referendums to decide a nation’s decision on a certain political matter.
There are also markets based on when certain political shifts will happen, such as when an election may be held, or when a party leader might leave their job. Odds are based on factors such as past results, polling and the amount of money being wagered by punters.
Sometimes the bookmakers are reliable when it comes to predicting political results, while on other occasions they get it wrong, which is good news for bettors.The bookmakers were spot on when it came to the Scottish independence vote in 2014, making ‘no’ the 2/5 favourite, which implied a 70% chance, at a time when the polls were roughly 50/50.
On the week of the 2016 Brexit referendum, bookies cut the odds of a remain vote to just 2/9, implying an 82% chance of victory. The polls at the time saw the result as being much closer and the Leave campaign was ultimately successful, with 52% of the vote.
Donald Trump started out as a 150/1 outsider to become the President of the USA in 2016, back when he was still seeking the Republican nomination. On the day of the election, his opponent Hilary Clinton was just 1/6, rated by the bookies as having a 85% of winning. Trump did not become the favourite until deep into the process of counting votes.
So as you can see, when it comes to politics, even the pollsters and the bookmakers don’t always get it right. That can present plenty of opportunities for you to do just that.
Latest UK Political Betting Odds
Now we’re going to take a look at the odds for a major political gambling market. Here are the current UK general election betting odds, showing which party is rated likeliest to have the most number of seats.
Next UK General Election Betting Odds
Political Party
Odds
Labour
2/7
Conservative
7/2
Reclaim Party
100/1
Liberal Democrat
200/1
Reform UK
500/1
Green Party
500/1
UKIP
1000/1
Most Popular Political Betting Markets
In this section we’re going to drill into some of the most popular political betting options that you’re likely to see through online bookmaker brands on their sportsbooks.
UK Politics Betting
Here are the most common markets that you will see when looking at UK politics betting sections.
Next UK Prime Minister – Who will be the next UK Prime Minister? This could be a political figure from the people in power within the reigning party of government, such as Rishi Sunak when he took over from Liz Truss, who in turn succeeded Boris Johnson. Or you could bet on the leader of an opposition party, taking charge after an election, such as Keir Starmer of Labour.
Year of Next Election – There is meant to be a general election within every five years. While five years is the maximum amount of time between elections, the ruling party can choose to hold an election at an earlier point. You can therefore bet on what year the next general election will be held in.
Most Seats at Next General Election – With this market you are betting on which party will win the most seats at an election. They don’t necessarily have to get enough seats to form a majority government, just more than the other political parties.
Next Government – This market requires you to be specific about the composition of the next government. So you could bet on a Labour Majority, or a coalition between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats.
Overall Majority – This market gives you the option of backing a party to win an overall majority, such as a Labour Majority or Conservative Majority. There is also the option of betting on there being No Overall Majority.
Next Labour Leader – Quite simply, you are betting on who will be the next leader of Labour. There is some strategy to employ here, because if Labour were to lose the next election, they would likely change leader, while if they win, it could be some years before they required a new leader.
Next Conservative Leader – You can also bet on who will be the next Conservative leader. This has been a very busy market in recent years. Since the Conservatives won the 2010 General Election, they have had five different leaders, despite remaining in power during that time.
London Mayoral Election Winner – Who will be the next Mayor of London? This election is held every four years, though the 2021 election was delayed a year from 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The major political parties all field candidates, but independents also stand, making this an interesting market.
Specials – There are often political specials available when there is a demand for a market. You can sometimes bet on when the Prime Minister or opposition leader will leave office. During an election, there are lots of additional markets, such as betting on the election results within individual constituencies.
US Politics Betting
Here are some of the most popular markets that you can expect to see when looking at a US political betting section.
US Presidential Election Winner – Who will be the next President of the United States? If you bet on this market near the time of an election, you will know who the candidates are. Should you bet on this market some years in advance, you may be betting on Presidential Election odds for someone that you are hoping will become an official candidate.
Winning Party – Which party will win the election? This is a straight fight between the Democrats and the Republicans.
Party of Popular Vote Winner – The election is decided by the Electoral College system. This is different to the popular vote, which is simply the amount of people who have voted for a party. George W. Bush in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2016, both won the election, but lost the popular vote to the Democrat candidate.
Next Democratic Presidential Nominee / Candidate – You can bet on who will be the official candidate for the Democrats at the next Presidential Election. It’s also sometimes possible to bet on who will become nominees.
Next Republican Presidential Nominee / Candidate – The same markets are available for Republican nominees and official candidates.
Other Politics & Election Betting Markets
There are other political betting markets available from different parts of the world. Here are some of the ones that you are likely to find.
Next Country to Leave the EU – The UK voted for Brexit and left the European Union. You can bet on who will be the next country to leave the EU, with Italy being the current favourites in this European politics betting market.
Scottish Independence – There was a referendum on Scottish Independence from the UK, back in 2014. You can bet on whether there will be another referendum within a certain timeframe and whether Scotland will become independent before a certain year.
Next SNP Leader – The dominant political force in Scotland in recent years has been the Scottish National Party. You can bet on who will be the next leader of the SNP.
Irish Political Betting – There are various markets based on Irish politics, especially at sites such as BoyleSports or Quinnbet, that come from the Emerald Isle. These include who will be the next President and next Taoiseach. You can also bet on who will be the next leader of various Irish political parties.
Can I Use Offers to Bet on Politics?
When it comes to promotions and bonuses, there are plenty that can be used in conjunction with betting on politics. Obviously there are many that are centred exclusively around the biggest sports for bookmakers, such as football and horse racing, but there are still lot of opportunities for political betting UK punters. Let’s take a look at some of the types of offers that you can enjoy.
Deposit Match
When you sign up for a new account at many online sportsbooks, they will 100% match your first deposit with a bonus amount. Some, will give you an even bigger bonus figure. This type of offer is also sometimes available for existing users, with future deposits getting a boost.
Free Bets
Many bookmakers prefer to give free bets as a welcome present. After you place your first bet, they will give you a certain number of free bets to use. Free bets are also often given to existing users, which can then be used for wagering on politics.
No-Lose Bets
A third type of welcome offer is a no-lose bet, where you get your stake refunded if your first wager is a loser. These can also be given out as a bonus to existing customers, giving the opportunity for punters to place a political bet at a high price, without having to worry about the outcome.
Enhanced Odds
A common type of promotion that you see a lot of sportsbooks is daily enhanced odds offers. The prices of certain popular markets are given a boost beyond their normal level. This can include political betting odds when there are big events such as elections.
Acca insurance
During elections, when there are lots of political markets due to be settled at a similar time, you might want to place an accumulator bet. With acca insurance, if only one of your selections loses, then you will get your stake returned, up to a certain stated amount.
Acca Bonus
This is another accumulator based accumulator. With an acca bonus, the more selections that you choose, the bigger the boost to your profits will be added.
Cashback
No one likes to lose bets, but sometimes it can happen. When it does, having a cashback or rebate offer available, can certainly soften the blow. You will receive a percentage of your losses back every week or month, to add to your betting balance.
Types of Political Betting Market
Regardless of what the country in question is, there are certain staple political betting markets, that tend to be used by bookmakers. We’re going to take a look at some of the most popular types.
Election Winner – Bet on which political party will win an election in a certain country.
Next Prime Minister / President – You can pace wagers on who will be a country’s next Prime Minister or President.
Next Government – With this type of market you are tasked with predicting the composition of a government. Will it be a certain party with a majority win, or some form of coalition.
Year of Next Election – Bet on what year the next election take place in a stated country.
Spread Betting– Sites with spread betting capabilities will allow you to place spread bets on political markets, such as the number of seats that a political party will win. The more accurate you are, the more you win. The less accurate you are, the more you lose.
Next Leader – Bet on who will be the next leader of a certain political party.
Referendums – Countries often hold referendums on political matters, such as whether to stay within a political establishment like the EU or UK, or become independent.
Top Political Betting Tips
Here are a few tips that will help you with your political betting. Follow this advice to boost your profitability.
Tip 1: Don’t Trust Polls
Polls have not always proved to be accurate when it comes to elections and referendums, even though they are supposed to indicate public opinion on the political landscape. This has especially been true in recent years, with the results of the 2016 Brexit Referendum and the US election of the same year, being at odds with the polls. Though polls are worth looking at and considering when placing election bets, they’re no longer trusted in the way that they once were. Take this on board as part of any betting strategy you use with politics odds.
Tip 2: Consider Shy Tories
The previous point brings us to the concept of ‘shy Tories’. When people are asked who they will vote for by pollsters, it would seem that voters of left-wing parties such as Labour, are more likely to answer honestly than right-wing parties, such as the Tories/Conservatives. You can therefore expect right-wing parties/outcomes to be more likely than the polls might suggest.
Tip 3: Vary Your Research
Do plenty of research before placing a political bet, but make sure that you vary it. So don’t just read left or right-leaning newspapers or websites, read both. There are different types of people using Twitter, than Facebook, so check out what is being said about political events on both sites. Talk to a varied group of friends, family and acquaintances. It is easy to simply gauge the opinion of people that are just like yourself, but you are danger of creating an echo chamber situation, where you assume everyone agrees with your views.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our guide to betting on politics. As you will have discovered, theres plenty of choice for UK punters in this area, with many online sportsbooks covering politics in-depth. All of our recommended websites fall into this category, but our absolute favourite political betting site is Betfred.
All of the biggest bookmaker brands let you bet on politics, including our recommended sportsbooks. You will find the politics section, within a bookie’s A-Z list of sports/events.
How does political betting work?
Betting on politics is no different to betting on sport. You are trying to predict a certain outcome of an event, such as who will win an election.
Where to bet on politics?
We’d suggest trying one of our recommended sites within our political betting guide. They all cover politics in some depth, have strong odds and some generous bonuses.
How do I understand politics betting odds?
Politics betting odds are displayed either fractionally or with decimals. With fractional odds, the second number refers to the stake and the first the winnings. So 2/1 means that a £1 bet would win you £2. With decimals, the number shows your total return for a bet of £1. So 3.00 means you would get a return of £3 with a £1 bet.
Which countries feature in political betting most often?
UK bookies often concentrate on British politics, while Irish sportsbooks will concentrate on political markets concerning Ireland. US politics tends to feature heavily at all bookmakers.
How to bet on politics?
Just go to one of our recommended sites for betting on politics. Find the politics section from the A-Z list of sports and events. Then pick out a bet from the bookmaker odds on offer, choose your stake and confirm.
Dan Fitch
Pro punter
A writer and editor for some of the top names in the gambling industry for nearly 20 years, Dan also works as a freelance sports journalist for publications and websites such as ESPN, FourFourTwo and LiveScore.
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