If you want to mix things up a little, or if you’re sick of live casino and sports betting, why not try politics betting?
Political betting has been popular for quite a while now, and it’s been on a steady rise ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. People love betting on who the next Prime Minister will be, who’s going to win the next elections, etc.
But where can you bet on politics? This article will tell you everything about politics betting and show you the best places you can place wagers on your favorite politicians!
What Is Politics Betting?
Politics betting is exactly what it seems like—it enables you to place wagers on events concerning politics. You can bet on who’s going to be the next Prime Minister of the UK or the next Mayor of a specific city, or anything else that’s a result of a referendum or an election.
This type of betting has a long history, and although it might seem like a niche, it’s quite popular, like TV show betting, for example.
Now, you might be wondering whether betting on politics is legal or not. Luckily, ever since the 1960s, political betting has been completely legal in the UK. Not only that, but it’s becoming more popular than ever.
With that said, let’s find out what the best websites for betting on politics are!
Top 5 Best UK Politics Betting Sites
Here are some of our top choices for betting on politics in the UK!
#5. 888Casino
888Casino is one of the most loved online casinos in the industry. It has everything you’d need for a smooth gambling experience and even offers numerous bonuses and promotions. At 888Casino, you can place political bets on:
- Who the next Prime Minister will be
- Who will become the next Labour party leader
- The next leader of the Conservative party
- US, European, and Australian politics
When you’re done placing your favorite political bets on 888Casino, you can also try its collection of casino games, ranging from baccarat and craps to poker, blackjack, and slots.
The casino’s website is perfectly optimized for all mobile devices, so you can rest assured you’ll be able to run it without an issue, whether you have an Android or an iOS. Placing political bets at 888Casino is also easy, as all you have to do is:
- Sign up and log in to your account
- Go to the “Sports” section
- Use the search bar to find your desired bet
#4. Betfred
Betfred is a bookmaker founded all the way back in 1967. First established as a single betting shop in Ordsall, Salford, it has since evolved into a huge online casino where you can place all sorts of bets.
At Betfred, you can place bets on various political affairs, including:
- Next General Election
- Prime Minister After Next General Election
- Next Party Leaders
- Rishi Sunak Specials
- Keir Starmer Specials
Besides political betting, you can bet on football, horse racing, dog racing, and tennis. The website works flawlessly and has an intuitive interface, meaning that you’ll find your way around it in no time.
To bet on politics at Betfred, you should:
- Log in to your Betfred account
- Go to the “Events” section
- Click on “Politics Betting Markets”
- Place your desired bets
#3. Betway
Betway was founded in 2006, and ever since then, it has been a place where people all over the world can bet on all sorts of sports and events. The casino offers outstanding customer support, generous bonuses, and plenty of security features.
At Betway, you can place the following political bets:
- The Next Mayor of London
- Rishi Sunak Specials
- Party Leaders
- US Presidential Election
- General Election in Denmark
Besides politics, you can bet on numerous sports at Betway casino, such as basketball, MMA, badminton, baseball, boxing, cycling, etc. You can also play the live casino and check out top-tier baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and dice titles.
The website is optimized for mobile devices, meaning that you can bet on the run without noticing a lack of quality. And here’s what you need to do to place a bet on politics:
- Log in to your Betway account
- Go to the sports section
- Click on the “Politics” section
#2. Paddy Power
Paddy Power is an Irish gambling company established in 1988. It’s a casino that offers a rich sportsbook and a plethora of unusual options for betting. If you’re looking to place some political bets, look no further, as at Paddy Power, you can bet on:
- Winner of the Next Government Election
- Year of the Next General Election
- US Presidential Election Winner
- Northern Irish Politics
- Brexit Specials
At Paddy Power, you can bet on various sports, play live casino, and participate in lotteries. You can also earn generous rewards from the various bonuses and promotions offered by the casino, so be sure not to miss out on them.
Most importantly, navigating the Paddy Power gambling website is easy, and placing political bets is even easier. Here’s how to do it:
- Sign in to your Paddy Power account
- Find the “Political betting” section
- Place your desired bets
#1. William Hill
William Hill is undoubtedly one of the best online casinos where you can make political bets. It’s also one of the oldest British gambling companies, founded in 1934. The casino offers online poker, bingo, sports betting, and various political betting options, such as:
- Rishi Sunak Exit Date
- Next Party Leader Betting
- Next Cabinet Member to Leave
- Next Permanent Labour Leader After Keir Starmer
- Most Seats in General Election
- Keir Stramer Exit Date
- UK Politics Specials
- Year of Next Scottish Independence Referendum
- Next Prime Minister
- Next Irish President
- Next Irish Party Leader
- Next Irish General Election Winner
Besides the huge selection of political bets you can make at William Hill, the casino also offers numerous bonuses and promotions. Customer support is reliable and efficient, and there are numerous security features in place, which ensures maximum safety and a smooth gambling experience.
Placing a political bet at William Hill casino is also easy, as all you need to do is:
- Sign in to your William Hill account
- Find the “Politics” section
- Place your desired bet
What To Consider When Choosing a Political Betting Site
When choosing a political betting site, you should consider:
- Promotions and bonuses. One of the first things you should consider when choosing a political betting site are the promotions and bonuses. Most online casinos have generous welcome bonuses that you can use to try out your luck and place some bets. There are also numerous promotions that can earn you loads of rewards, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.
- Customer support. You can rest assured that any online casino that has great customer support is worth betting on. With a reliable customer support team that’s got your back, you’ll never have to worry about facing any issues and being unable to resolve them. So, check whether your desired website has customer support, how you can reach out to them, etc.
- Payment methods. When choosing a political betting site, you want to choose a website that has your preferred payment methods. You can find out which payment methods a website accepts simply by visiting its FAQ section.
- Mobile optimization. Betting from the comfort of your home or when you’re on the go is always a big plus. That’s why you should always check out whether the political betting site you want to place your wagers on is mobile-friendly. Read a few reviews on it, see how it works on your mobile device, and you’ll be good to go!
Most Popular UK Politics Betting Categories
One of the reasons why political betting is fun is that there are numerous categories you can place your bets 7on. Check out the most popular ones in the following section!
Who Will Be the Next UK Prime Minister?
Betting on who the next UK Prime Minister will be is always fun. You can usually choose between the leading cabinet minister presently working under the current Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition.
The market for this bet also usually flips after reshuffles because Prime Ministers change cabinet jobs, etc. Another downside is that the elections for the PM in the UK are held every 5 years, which means you have to wait quite a bit to bet again.
Will Brexit Be Reversed?
Even though Brexit happened in 2020, many people are still placing wagers that the UK will rejoin the EU in the future. No one knows the answer to whether Brexit will be reversed, but you can place your bet and hope for the best.
Who Will Become the Next London Mayor?
When placing wagers on who will become the next London Mayor, you can usually choose between the Conservatives and the Labour. The betting markets are steady, as they don’t change at all until the election itself.
You can place your bets both on a single person and on multiple candidates. The first candidate to earn more than 50% of the votes in London wins.
Which Gender Will the Prime Minister of the UK Be?
As there are no presidents in the UK, people love betting on Prime Ministers. Besides guessing who the next Prime Minister of the country will be, you can also guess which gender they’ll be.
In the past, two women have been PMs—Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. It’s quite certain that there will be another female Prime Minister in the future, so place your bets wisely!
Which Country Will Leave the EU Next?
Similarly to how you can bet on whether Brexit will be reversed, you can also place your wager on which country will be the next one to leave the EU.
Although it’s quite uncertain whether any country will do it in the near future, placing this bet can bring you big cash in the long run if you play it right.
Will Ireland Ever Be a Sovereign State?
Irish reunification, also known as United Ireland, is the proposition that Ireland becomes a sovereign state. If this happened, the Republic of Ireland would merge with Northern Ireland and become a state on its own.
The referendum on this was called in 2016, and people have been placing bets on whether Ireland will ever become a sovereign state ever since.
The History of Politics Betting
One of the earliest political bets ever placed was in 1553, when King Edward VI was lying on his deathbed. Apparently, merchants back then wagered on how long he’d live and who would succeed this famous monarch.
Yet, the roots of politics betting can be traced to the 18th century, when brokers and bankers from London started placing bets for and against changes in the parliament. Betting on elections was forbidden, as it had a huge impact on economic prosperity at the time.
It was not until the 1960s that gambling became fully legal and widespread in the UK. Once the public could bet on elections, everybody joined in on the fun. As a matter of fact, politics betting was so popular that it influenced Alec Douglas’ victory in 1963.
How Does Sports Betting Compare to Politics Betting?
If you’re used to sports betting, transitioning to politics betting shouldn’t be a problem for you, as these two are quite similar.
Firstly, sports and politics betting have the same type of odds. This means that in the UK, you will usually see fractional odds. The types of bets are also the same, meaning that you’ll encounter totals, futures, prop bets, and Moneylines.
Secondly, you can usually use sports promotions in casinos to bet on politics. These are usually limited by time and not the category of bets, so you’ll be able to place your wagers with your bonus winnings most of the time.
Last but not least, the biggest difference between sports and politics betting is that most people know the winner of an election before they’re even announced. That’s why the potential profits on these bets might be low, but some prop bets can surely bring you big payouts.
Different Types of Politician Bets
To help you get familiarized with political betting, we’ll tell you more about the different types of bets you can make, namely:
- Prop bets. Prop bets are the smallest bets you can make, and they revolve around the occurrence or non-occurrence of a specific event. For example, in the previous US presidential elections, people placed bets on how many times Trump would wear the same tie.
- Handicap bets. Handicap bets, also known as the spread, belong to a specific type of bet that involves giving one selection a handicap with which they’ll win. If we take Trump for example again, and bet on him that he’ll win the vote for 3% extra, this would be called a handicap bet.
- Straight-up bets. Straight-up bets are the simplest bets you can make and involve betting on one or two outcomes of a certain situation. The simplest example of this would be betting on a certain candidate to become the next Prime Minister.
Top Tips for Betting on UK Politics
Now that you’re familiarized with political betting and know where to bet, we’ll give you some tips on how to be successful at it. Overall, you should:
- Start betting early. If you want to win big from political betting, the best thing you can do is to start betting early. Let’s take election betting as an example. If you wait until the last moment to place your wager, your winnings will be smaller compared to a bet that you could have placed earlier in the year. So, you should place your bet at the beginning of an election, when there are more candidates in the race, and the odds will be higher.
- Consider the value of the odds. When placing a political bet, you need to choose a market you think has the best odds for a successful bet and consider whether the odds provide a good value. This doesn’t mean that you should bet on favorites, as you won’t win much money, but you also shouldn’t bet on the underdogs, whom you think will lose. Find the golden mean and hope for the best!
- Focus on analysis and research. Before you even place a bet, you need to prepare thoroughly and do your research. Focus on analyzing the political state of the UK, research the candidates of the vote you’re betting on and read about them, their histories, etc., instead of trusting your gut and betting on your favorite candidate.
- Don’t rely on news for research. Following the previous tip, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to rely on the news when doing your research. Don’t think that the largest source of information you can find on TV or the internet is correct. Instead, find some independent papers, read forums, hear what people have to say, and you’ll get an unbiased view of the candidates and the elections you’re betting on.
- Don’t trust the polls. Even though polls can help you get a better grip on the odds, you still have to keep in mind that they’re flawed. They don’t provide you with the big picture, and there have been numerous instances in the past where they have been straight up wrong.
Biggest Politics Bets in the History of UK Betting
Don’t think political betting can win you big? Check out some of the most impressive political bets ever made in recent history:
- Scots referendum. A gambler from London bet that the Scots wouldn’t vote for independence at the Scottish referendum of 2014. The man placed a $900,000 bet on a “No Vote” and won an astonishing $1,093,333.
- Tony Blair. In 1983, Tony Blair entered a taxi and impressed the driver with his eloquence so much that the man went straight for the bookies after the ride. There, he placed a bet against 500/1 odds that Tony would become prime minister. The taxi driver waited for 14 years, but his patience paid off, as Tony Blair became PM in 1997.
- Jeremy Corbyn. In 2010, a man named Ethan Parker placed a bet against 200/1 odds on Jeremy Parker succeeding Ed Miliband as Labour Party leader. He won $2,000, as he wagered only $10, but at least he beat the odds.
UK Politics Betting Sites FAQ
#1. Which betting site gives the best odds?
Although there are many websites that give good betting odds for politics, our top picks would be Betway, Paddy Power, and William Hill.
#2. What is the best political betting type?
There isn’t a definite best politics betting type, as it mostly depends on your preference and choice. But, the betting type that could land you the biggest winning is the straight-up bet.
#3. Is betting on politics in the UK legal?
Yes, betting on politics in the UK is 100% legal. On top of that, as gambling is not taxed in the United Kingdom, your winnings from the bets you place will be completely tax-free.
#4. What are the most popular political bets you can make?
Some of the most popular political bets you can make include betting on who’s going to be the next Prime Minister, which gender they’ll be, when the next Scottish referendum is going to take place, and others.
Key Takeaways
In this article, hopefully, you have gotten familiarized with political betting and are prepared to place some winning bets. To sum it up:
- Politics betting enables you to place wagers on events concerning politics, such as who’s going to win a certain election.
- Some of the best websites where you can place political bets include 888 Casino, Betfred, Betway, Paddy Power, and William Hill.
- When choosing a political betting website, you need to consider its customer support, payment methods, customer support, bonuses and promotions, and mobile optimization.
- Political betting traces its roots back to 1553, when people wagered on who would succeed King Edward VI.
- When betting on politics, you need to focus on research, start betting early, and consider the value of the odds.
Harvey Dickenson
Safe Gambling Specialist
Harvey Dickenson is our safe gambling specialist. Harvey is a recreational poker player and an expert in online casino safety, cons, and scams.