The best political betting sites make it simple for bettors to profit from their knowledge of politics by offering competitive betting odds, multiple prop bet options, and various payment options.
Our gambling experts at SportsTalkPhilly are dedicated to helping you find your feet if you are new to politics betting. Looking for the best spots to place bets on U.S. and international politics? We have outlined the top 10 politics betting sites for 2024, their stand-out features, and tips and strategies to implement to maximize your earning potential.
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Best Political Betting Sites for 2024
These are the top 10 best betting sites to bet on election outcomes and political events.
- BetOnline – Best Overall Politics Betting Site
- Bovada – Most Prop Bet Options on Politics
- MyBookie – Increase Bankroll with High-Value Bonuses
- BetUS – Wager on International Politics’ Hot Betting Markets
- Sportsbetting.ag – Bet High with Zero Transaction Fees
- XBet – Parlay Multiple Politics Bet Picks
- BUSR – Get a Huge Welcome Bonus of $2,500 on Your First Deposit
- Jazzsports – Stack Politics Props with Bet Builder Tool
- TG Casino – Crypto-Specific Bonuses
- BetWhale – Credit Account with 12+ Cryptocurrencies
Reviews of the Top 5 Politics Betting Sites
Politics betting is an exciting, often untapped market. With numerous prop options available, it offers an excellent opportunity to hedge your bets and diversify your betting portfolio.
Here are detailed reviews of the top five online sportsbooks to wager on political betting markets.
1. BetOnline – Best Overall Politics Betting Site 2024
BetOnline is our top pick for betting on the U.S. presidential, senate, congressional, and primary elections. The Curacao and Panama-licensed politics betting site is one of the most reliable offshore sportsbooks, offering unique election betting options to U.S. residents for 25+ years.
We were immediately drawn to the site’s modern outlook and intuitive interface, which helped us navigate and find the politics betting markets with minimal hassle. On BetOnline, you can find moneyline and over/under betting odds on party nominations, referendums, governor races, the winning party, and the U.S. Senate, Vice President, and President elections.
The site also offers futures on international betting markets, with options such as the Next Canadian General Election, the Royal Family, U.K. Politics, and U.K. Election Odds.
Furthermore, BetOnline features special bets like Joe Biden to Pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, Joe Biden to Pardon Hunter Biden, and Celebrities to Publicly Endorse Trump. Finally, it is famous for its re-bet functionality, which allows you to place the same wager multiple times. In addition, BetOnline promo codes reveal a host of bonuses for new and existing players.
- Licensed by the Curacao and Panama eGaming Board and Commissions
- Has a user-friendly and intuitive interface
- International political betting markets
- Unique politics specials
- Supports up to 16 major cryptocurrencies
- Has no e-wallet option for deposits or withdrawals
2. Bovada – Most Prop Betting Options on Politics
Bovada, founded in 2011, is a top politics betting site licensed by the Curacao and Anjouan Gaming Boards. It has been primarily catering to the U.S. market for a decade and provides numerous wagers for politics outright betting and more politics props markets than alternatives like BetOnline and BetUS.
As with most competition, you can find moneyline odds on the Presidential Elections. However, it has a more diverse betting market (91 betting options on U.S. politics) than many alternatives, with Politicians Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Ron DeSantis specials. You can also find up to 54 betting options on the Electoral College Winner betting markets with moneyline odds on the Electoral College winner in each state.
Users more familiar with the political landscape abroad have multiple betting lines on Canadian, European, Irish, Russian, Scottish and U.K. politics to try their hands on. If you fancy other options, request a custom bet using #WhatsYaWager on X.com. For the promo hunters, there are also a host of promotions available for those holding this month’s set of Bovada bonus codes.
- Users can request custom political bets using #WhatsYaWager on X.com
- Has up to 87 betting options on U.S. politics alone
- Licensed by the Curacao and Anjouan Gaming Boards
- Unique props and specials
- Only accessible from some states using a VPN
3. MyBookie – Increase Bankroll with High-Value Bonuses
MyBookie, established in 2014 and licensed by the Curacao eGaming Board, is also one of the prime choices for politics betting, thanks in no small part to its user-friendliness. Its no-bells-and-whistles approach may not appeal to some, but we appreciate how easy it is to use and consider it a good start for beginners.
Beginners and new signups receive a welcome bonus of 50% up to $1,000 upon their first deposit. This bonus has a 10x requirement, which is reasonable, considering many competitors offer something in the neighborhood of 15x. Regarding political betting, it offers moneyline odds on the US Presidential Election, Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate, and US Senate Elections in different states. These odds are competitive but may be slightly lower than you get with BetOnline and Bovada.
MyBookie could be better with regard to props and specials, but we rate it highly for its bonuses, which include a 200% referral bonus and up to a 50% reload bonus. Just use MyBookie promo codes when promoted to claim your rewards. It also has a same-game parlay, so you can add bets on soccer, NFL, MLB, and NHL – where it has multiple prop options – to your politics bet slip for an even greater payout.
- User-friendly
- 10x rollover requirement for welcome bonus
- Reload bonuses available
- Wager on the US Senate Elections
- Blog featuring betting tips and guides
- Comparatively high bonus qualifying deposit ($50)
4. BetUS – Wager on International Politics’ Hot Betting Markets
BetUS, established in 1994 and licensed in Mwali, Comoros Union, is also great with bonuses. Its 300% up to $6,000 and 125% up to $2,625 on users’ first three deposits are some of the best bonuses you can get. But it is its extensive range of betting options on international politics that struck a chord with us.
This betting site offers futures on political events in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and world politics. Bettors can place bets in various markets, including primaries and parliamentary, state, federal, and presidential elections.
We also liked the specials on some of the markets. For instance, in the UK’s specials market, you can find moneyline odds on unique betting options like the Year Keir Starmer Leaves Post of Leader of the Labor Party and the UK to Hold Referendum on Whether to Retain the Monarchy Before 2030.
On the downside, while BetUS is well renowned for tips and predictions via BetUS-TV and The Locker Room, where experts discuss their picks on the NFL, MLB, UFC, NCAAF, etc., unfortunately, neither channel covers politics as of September, 2024.
- Numerous betting lines on international politics
- Industry-leading welcome package
- Crypto-exclusive welcome bonuses
- Lucrative VIP program
- Comparatively fewer betting options on U.S. politics
5. Sportsbetting.ag – Bet High with Zero Transaction Fees
Sportsbetting.ag has been around for a little over two decades now. This betting site, which was first established as a full-service online casino and poker room, has expanded and now covers 25+ sports and politics. The Panama-licensed sportsbook is one of the sharpest sportsbooks for politics, with early lines on the futures betting market.
This offshore sportsbook is our best pick for high rollers. It processes payments quickly, typically within a few minutes. You can get it even quicker and with zero transaction fees if you withdraw using crypto. Its re-bet functionality should be one to look forward to if you hedge-bet, and its high deposit limit should be acceptable if you place huge wagers.
As with its sister site, BetOnline, Sportsbetting.ag provides numerous political betting options. Some markets you expect to see here include House of Representatives Elections, Winning Party, President Hypothetical Matchups, U.S. Senate Elections, State Betting-President, and Referenda.
- Quick payouts
- Re-bet functionality
- Huge range of markets for US politics
- Props builder and odds boosters
- 25% sports and 35% crypto reload bonus
- High qualifying deposit for welcome bonus
Best Sportsbooks for Political Betting Compared
This comparison table shows the welcome bonuses and betting markets available at our top 10 election betting sites.
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Promo Code | U.S. Presidential Election Betting | Winning Party (Republican/Democrat) | Vice President | Popular Vote Winner | Electoral College Winner | Special Markets |
| BetOnline | Up to $250 free sports bet | FREE250 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bovada | 75% up to $750 | BTCSWB750 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| MyBookie | 100% up to $1,000 + $10 casino chip | MB100 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| BetUS | 100% up to $2,000 | JOIN125 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 100% up to $500 | DOUBLEUP | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| XBet | 50% up to $200 | XBWELCOME50 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| BUSR | 100% up to $2,500 | SPORTS100FP | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Jazzsports | 100% up to $1,000 | JAZZRFB | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| TG Casino | 200% rakeback up to 10 ETH | N/A | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| BetWhale | 125% up to $1,250 | WHALECOME | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
How We Select the Best Politics Betting Sites
Our gambling experts at SportsTalkPhilly considered the following base factors when evaluating political betting sites and their value to users.
Safety and Security
We selected sites licensed and regulated by reliable authorities like Malta, Curacao, Panama, and Anjouan gaming boards and commissions. Many users attest to the safety of these sites, as their regulatory bodies hold them to the best industry standards.
We confirmed that these sites have robust security features, such as HTTPS and SSL encryption protocols and two-factor authentication when depositing and withdrawing funds, to ensure the safety of users’ cash and personal and financial information.
Bonuses and Promotions
In addition, our recommended sites offer a wide range of bonuses and promotions, from welcome offers to promotions for returning players. These bonuses include refer-a-friend schemes, VIP programs, reload offers, free bets, and crypto-exclusive bonuses.
BetUS has one of the best welcome packages – a 100% bonus of up to $2,000 on your first, second, and third deposits. Unlike many other welcome offers, this bonus applies to your first three deposits instead of the first alone.
Range of Markets
Typically, your winning chances are higher when there are more markets and bet types available. Therefore, we ranked websites with a broad range of betting markets and options higher than others.
BetOnline, our topmost choice, offers moneyline, prop, and futures betting lines on a range of betting markets, including the President, the Democratic Nominee, Governors’ Races, Referenda, State Betting-President, Winning Party, Trump Specials, Congress Specials, and more.
Payment Methods
Another critical consideration is payment methods. How many payment methods does the betting site offer, and how convenient are they?
Our recommended election betting sites support various payment methods – from traditional bank cards to e-wallets and cryptocurrencies. They also provide instant payouts with little to no processing fees. T.G. Casino leads the way in zero processing fees, supporting up to 21 cryptocurrencies, including lesser-known coins like BONK.
Customer Support
Good customer support should be a given, but unfortunately, not every betting site delivers when issues arise. It can be frustrating when you have problems cashing out your profits and can’t get help. That’s why we handpicked websites with the most efficient customer support teams.
Our assessment revealed that the support agents at our featured websites were the most attentive, responsive, and helpful in addressing users’ pain points. They are also available 24/7 and can be contacted through phone, email, or live chat.
What is Politics Betting?
Politics betting involves bets on the outcomes of political elections and events. It is similar to sports betting in that it consists of picking the winner of a contest. In the U.S., the focus is usually on gubernatorial, congressional, and presidential elections. You can find moneyline, prop, and futures betting options on these betting markets at many offshore betting sites.
Records of structured betting on the U.S. presidential elections can be traced back to 1868. Since then, no clear favorite has lost the U.S. presidential elections, with the only exceptions being 1948 and 2016.
In 1948, sitting president Harry S. Truman, who had an 80% win probability, defeated his Republican rival, Thomas E. Dewey. In 2016, Hillary Clinton, with a win probability of up to 78%, lost in the Electoral College to her Republican rival, Donald Trump. 77 votes in the Electoral College gifted Trump his historic win despite losing by as many as 2.5 million+ popular votes.
Despite its long history, many betting critics and politically savvy individuals argue that political betting can influence the public’s opinion of a political candidate and, by extension, an election’s outcome. This group fears that it may amplify partisan biases and demotivate the underdog’s supporters from voting since their efforts at the polls may be futile.
Proponents argue otherwise, suggesting it is a better real-time reflection of public sentiments. In the 2020 election, many media outlets covered betting odds as part of their analysis, overshadowing organized polling data.
Legalities of Political Betting in the U.S.
The 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) played a significant role in prohibiting sports betting across different U.S. States, indirectly influencing political betting and other forms of betting outside regulated environments. These restrictions were compounded further by the Wire Act of 1961. But, the betting legislation has since changed. Regulation of all-betting-related matters is now left to individual states since PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018.
However, very few state regulators have shown interest in legalizing political betting outright, as it is assumed to potentially undermine the integrity of elections. Consequently, there are no betting sites licensed in the country offering political betting odds.
On the other hand, offshore sportsbooks outside U.S. legal jurisdictions offer these odds and are accessible from all states. Our recommended offshore sportsbooks, licensed by notable gaming boards, are trustworthy and have never seen any prosecution of U.S. residents for placing bets on their platform.
The table below summarizes the betting landscape in the US, and it’s bleak…
| State | Online Politics Betting | Retail Politics Betting | Restrictions on Political Betting | Legal gambling age in the state |
| Alabama | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Alaska | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Arizona | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Arkansas | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| California | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Colorado | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Connecticut | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Delaware | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Florida | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Georgia | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Hawaii | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Idaho | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Illinois | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Indiana | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Iowa | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Kansas | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Kentucky | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 18 |
| Louisiana | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Maine | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Maryland | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Massachusetts | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Michigan | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Minnesota | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Mississippi | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Missouri | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Montana | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 18 |
| Nevada | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Nebraska | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| New Hampshire | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 18 |
| New Jersey | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| New Mexico | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| New York | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| North Carolina | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| North Dakota | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Ohio | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Oklahoma | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Oregon | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Rhode Island | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 18 |
| South Carolina | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| South Dakota | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Tennessee | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Texas | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Utah | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Vermont | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Virginia | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Washington, D.C. | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 18 |
| West Virginia | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 21 |
| Wisconsin | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| Wyoming | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | 18 |
Why You Might Bet on Political Events
Betting on political events has garnered popularity among everyday gamblers, casual bettors, and political enthusiasts. These are some of the reasons why you might want to join in on the action:
- It is an excellent way to diversify your betting portfolio.
- You can find value here since the markets, usually based on polling data, aren’t typically accurate.
- Election betting has unique betting options.
- They may be more predictable if you follow political events closely.
- Some political betting markets, especially on major elections often have higher betting limits compared to many sports events.
How to Sign Up for Political Betting Sites
Signing up on political betting sites is straightforward. We will show you how to get through this process using BetOnline as an example.
Go to BetOnline
Enter betonline.ag in your browser’s address bar. This can be done on mobile or PC.Create a Betting Account
Select ‘Join’ at the top-right corner of the webpage and fill out the registration form with your first and last names, email address, password, country, postal code, phone number and date of birth. Then click/select ‘Create Account’
Credit Account and Claim Welcome Bonus
Login to your newly created betting account and select ‘Deposit Now’ to credit your account. Deposit options include bank wire transfers, cashier’s checks, debit/credit cards, and crypto coins. BetOnline rewards its new sign-ups with a welcome offer of 50% up to $250 in free bets when you make a minimum deposit of $50. This welcome bonus may be claimed using the promo code ‘FREE250’.
Start Betting on Politics
Click on the ‘Sports’ section and navigate to the politics betting suite. Select from the available betting markets – President, Governors Races, Congress Specials, Democratic Nominee, Referenda, etc., select bets, add selections to your bet slip and select ‘Place Bet’.
How to Read Politics Betting Odds
Let’s get to the basics before placing your first bet, one of which is knowing how betting odds work in political betting. Betting odds are a mathematical probability of an event happening within a period and are typically negative or positive.
In US political betting, most of the odds work on the moneyline. Negative numbers represent the favorite, and positive numbers represent the underdog. The higher these values are, the less the betting site fancies the chances of that outcome. Also, positive odds yield a higher payout if the bet is successful.
BetOnline’s moneyline odds on the presidential election have Donald Trump priced at -160 and Kamala Harris at +140 to come out victors at the polls. Evidently, Trump is the bookie’s favorite, and a $160 wager on him will return $100 if the bet wins. On the other hand, you earn up to $140 for a $100 wager on Harris.
US Presidential Betting Odds Compared
Want to bet on the US presidential elections? Check out the real clear political betting odds for the upcoming US Presidential Election at some of our top-ranked sportsbooks.
| Candidate | BetOnline | Bovada | MyBookie | Sportsbetting.ag |
| Donald Trump Sr. | -120 | -130 | -175 | -120 |
| Kamala Harris | +105 | +110 | +135 | +105 |
| Michelle Obama | +10000 | +5000 | +6500 | +10000 |
| Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | +10000 | +10000 | +8000 | +10000 |
| Andy Beshear | +15000 | +25000 | N/A | +15000 |
| Hillary Clinton | +15000 | +10000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Nikki Haley | +15000 | +20000 | +20000 | +15000 |
| Josh Shapiro | +17500 | +20000 | +10000 | +17500 |
| Mark Kelly | +17500 | +20000 | N/A | +17500 |
| Gavin Newsom | +20000 | +10000 | +8000 | +20000 |
| Gretchen Whitmer | +20000 | +20000 | N/A | +20000 |
| Pete Buttigieg | +25000 | +20000 | +20000 | +25000 |
| George Clooney | +25000 | N/A | N/A | +25000 |
| J.B Pritzker | +30000 | +20000 | +20000 | +30000 |
| Wes Moore | +50000 | +50000 | +20000 | +50000 |
Types of Political Bets
There are several types of bets to place when it comes to betting on elections. Each betting option offers a unique way to engage with the polls and other political events. These are some of the most common types of political bets you expect to see at any top US election betting site:
Moneyline Bets
A moneyline bet in politics is a straightforward wager on which candidate will win a specific category. In moneyline betting, the odds are presented as either negative or positive numbers. The positive number indicates the underdog, while the negative number signifies the favorite.
In the presidential election betting moneyline odds shown above, Donald Trump (the favorite) is priced at -160, while Kamala Harris (the underdog) is at +140 to win. This means a $100 bet on Kamala Harris would fetch you $140 in profit if she wins, whereas you would need to wager $160 on Donald Trump to earn a $100 profit.
Futures Bets
Futures bets provide betting odds on future events, usually before we know what candidates will be taking part.
A typical example is a bet on who the presidential nominee for the Democrats will be ahead of the primaries. Multiple candidates are in the running, including Kamala Harris (-10000), Michelle Obama (+3000), Hillary Clinton (+3300), and Gavin Newsom (+25000).
Prop Bets
You can place bets on events unrelated to the outcome of an election. These bets, known as prop bets, include secondary politics betting markets like the vice-presidential nominee, celebrities’ public endorsement of Trump, and whether Biden will complete a full First Term.
Bovada scores well in this department as it has many proposition bets that allow you to focus on specific aspects of the election rather than just who will ultimately win.
Live Betting
As election night progresses, it is possible to place bets on the likeliest candidate to win a particular state, a seat at the Senate, or the presidency based on incoming results. This is known as live betting.
You may choose to adjust your bet as vote counts update or a candidate suddenly gains momentum. Live betting is also a grand opportunity to hedge bets, which means placing a bet to counter another that you may have already made and fear might lose.
Exotic Bets
Exotic bets, also known as specialty or novelty bets, are bets placed on less conventional outcomes. Some exotic bet options you can find on Bovada include:
Hush Money: What Community Service Will Donald Trump be Sentenced To?
Donald Trump To Be A Guest on the Joe Rogan Experience
Will Joe Biden Pardon Hunter Biden
Popular Political Betting Markets
Some of the most popular political betting markets include:
US Presidential Election
The presidential betting market is one of the most heavily bet on election betting markets in the US. Some of the most patronized presidential betting markets include predicting the number of electoral votes a candidate may secure, wins by state, especially key swing states, and a bet on what candidate gets the most overall votes, regardless of the electoral college voting results.
Although the Democratic and Republican candidates are the front runners, a number of others will also be contesting the presidential elections.
US Presidential Primaries
Betting on the US presidential primaries involves correctly predicting which candidate will secure their party nomination. These election betting markets may also feature specials, such as who will have the best performance at the primaries.
On August 7, Democrats rallied to determine the party’s presidential nominee after Biden, their primaries winner, pulled out of the race.
State Elections
State elections offer many betting opportunities, including who wins the gubernatorial elections in each state, predicting what party controls the state legislatures, and outcomes of referendums and state-level initiatives.
Congressional Races
This primarily involves betting on the outcomes of the House and Senate elections. On BetOnline, you can find betting lines on who will win the most seats in the House of Representatives between Republicans and Democrats.
International Political Events
Bettors in the US via offshore sportsbooks can also bet on politics outside the US. BetOnline users can find election betting lines on markets like Next World Leader to Leave, Vladimir Putin’s Exit Date, and betting odds for political outcomes in the UK and Canada.
Some of the betting markets most explored by US bettors interested in politics outside the US are:
UK
Many top offshore politics betting sites have UK betting markets bettors can tap into to diversify their betting portfolio. On BetOnline, you can find UK betting submarkets like the UK to Hold Referendum on Monarchy, Scottish Independence Before 2026, and Next Conservative Party Leader.
Canada
You may also find Canada betting lines like Party of Next Prime Minister and Sworn in Government After Election.
US Presidential Election Betting Updates
Looking to know when the primaries, debates, and elections are happening? We have provided you with a summary here:
- November 5, 2024: General Elections
- October 9, 2024: Presidential Debate at the University of Utah.
- October 1, 2024: Presidential Debate in Virginia State University, Petersburg.
- September 25, 2024: Vice Presidential Debate in Lafayette College, PA.
- September 16, 2024: Presidential Debate at the Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
- August 7, 2024: Democrat candidate must pick a running mate
- August 5, 2024: Democrats will decide the party’s presidential nominee
- July 21, 2024: Joe Biden announces he is refusing the Democratic nomination and backs VP instead.
- July 15, 2024: J.D. Vance is appointed Trump’s new Vice President.
Tips for Political Betting – How to Make Money Betting on the US Presidential Election
The election season is here again, and it’s not just about passionate debates and loud campaigns. It’s also a prime time to predict election outcomes and potentially profit from this pastime pursuit. Here are some of our top tips for those looking to make money betting on the US presidential election.
1. Avoid Party or Candidate Bias
Just like in sports betting, it is essential to set aside biases and personal preferences when betting on politics. Bias can cloud your sense of judgment and cause you to miss out on valuable betting opportunities.
Consume information from different sources to minimize the influence of your political convictions on betting decisions. Take to articles, podcasts, and news stations that engage counterarguments and challenge your beliefs to give you a more holistic view of the political landscape.
For best results, focus on data-driven insights like polls and historical trends rather than emotional narratives written by people who align with your political bias.
2. Tap into Markets Early
Jumping into betting markets early can yield significant value, especially when done in response to breaking news and market shifts. Experience shows that press conferences, major announcements, upcoming primaries, and potential scandals can potentially shift betting lines. By anticipating these changes, you can position yourself advantageously.
The shock announcement of Biden stepping down is an excellent case in point. Initially, a clear underdog, the presumptive Democratic candidate, Harris, has had her odds improve significantly since her campaign gained momentum.
Staying on top of happenings can help you capitalize on favorable odds before betting markets adjust.
3. Stay on Top of Political News
It is essential to stay informed on happenings in the political circle if you want to be successful at betting on politics. What does the news say about the candidates? Have any political strongholds become a swing state?
For instance, Virginia was a well-known Republican state from the late 20th century into the early 2000s. However, demographic changes in its Northern suburbs led to a shift toward the Democratic party, which they supported in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections.
Taking time to check out the news and previous polling data can help you see this shift in party sentiments.
4. Manage your bankroll
Managing your bankroll is as essential with political betting as it is with NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, or any other form of betting.
Set aside a budget and stick to it. Refrain from giving in to the temptation to chase losses and spend more than your budget. Also, never overdraw your account to place bets and only bet what you can afford to lose to soften the blow when the bet loses.
Many pro bettors recommend betting 5% or less of your bankroll at any given time. This is reasonable.
5. Shop for the best odds across multiple betting sites
One of the most underrated betting tips is shopping around for the best odds possible on the betting market you fancy the most. Seemingly, little differences in betting odds can significantly impact your payout, especially with large wagers.
That said, going from site to site to compare odds might be a hassle. We have done the work for you by identifying the top odds for the presidential elections and the best sites for betting on political events.
Betting Strategies for Political Betting
Now, let’s discuss strategies for maximizing betting opportunities. Implementing these practical betting approaches can keep you in green in the long term.
Pay attention to swing states
This applies more to presidential elections than any other, and the trick here is to focus on battleground states. These states often have the most competitive races and offer valuable betting opportunities since there are no clear favorites or underdogs.
By keeping track of local news, the level of campaign activity of each party in the state, early voting data, and voter turnout trends, it may be easier to tell what direction the state may sway and bet accordingly.
Analyze historical voting patterns
This involves studying past election results to predict future outcomes. A comprehensive study consists of identifying voting patterns, analyzing demographic changes and economic indices, and reviewing the broader political climate.
The 2020 North Carolina congressional elections are a solid example to study. NC had been a Republican stronghold for years, and even though the district was seeing a demographic shift with an increasing population, it wasn’t enough to sway the state the other way. Madison Cawthorn still won the seat, aligning with the state’s historical voting pattern.
Follow endorsements
Endorsements from influential personalities and organizations can sway public opinion and impact election outcomes. These endorsements lend credibility to a candidate and can encourage undecided voters to turn out at the polls.
Although Trump, ahead of the 2020 presidential elections, got endorsements from key Republican figures like Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy, it is highly believed that support from Democrats like Obama, Bernie Sanders and even Republicans like John Kasich and Gov. Whitman (showing bipartisan support) may have won Biden undecided voters.
Do not gloss over economic indicators
Economic indicators are an important factor to consider when placing bets on an incumbent candidate. These indicators include unemployment rates, human development indices, and GDP growth. The majority of voters are open to reelecting a candidate if the economy improves over their term or may fancy another candidate if the economy has struggled since they came into office.
At the end of his first term, Trump became the first President since Herbert Hoover to leave office with fewer jobs than were available when he got in. Economists argue this is because of his poor leadership decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For some voters, this was enough to vote Biden in.
Analyze debate and campaign event performances
Debates and campaigns may provide real-time insights into a candidate’s public reception and policy positions. Assess how effectively the candidates are able to articulate their policies and respond to questions and identify shits in voter momentum following major campaign events or dates.
The 2018 Texas Senate race between incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz and lesser-known Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke shows how debates can shift support. Although Cruz eventually won with 50.9% of the votes, O’Rourke, with his campaign efforts including live interactions on social media, managed to garner as much as 48.3% votes, a big deal for a traditionally Republican state.
Important Dates on the US & Global Political Calendars Calendar
These are some dates to look forward to if you are serious about making decent money from betting on politics.
| Dates | Events |
| May 12 | Catalonia regional parliament (Spain) |
| June 1 | Presidential election (Iceland) |
| June 6-9 | European Parliament |
| June 9 | National Parliament (Belgium) |
| June 30 | National Parliament (France) |
| July 4 | National Parliament (UK) |
| July 7 | National Parliament second round (France) |
| August 1 | Tennessee: nonpresidential primary election |
| August 06 | Nonpresidential primaries |
| August 10 | Hawaii: nonpresidential primary election |
| August 13 | Nonpresidential primaries |
| August 19-22 | Democratic National Convention |
| August 20 | Nonpresidential primaries |
| September 03 | Massachusetts nonpresidential primary |
| September 10 | ABC presidential debate |
| September 10 | Nonpresidential primaries |
| September 18 | New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District special general election |
| September 29 | National Parliament (Austria) |
| October 13 | National Parliament (Lithuania) |
| November 05 | Election Day |
| December 03 | Georgia runoff election |
| December 07 | Louisiana runoff election |
US Election Betting Terminology
New to election betting? You should get acquainted with a few terms before placing bets on the elections and other political events. These are some of the most important ones:
- Ballot: Paper or electronic media used to cast votes in an election.
- Turnout: Usually found in prop bets, it is the percentage of voters who cast a ballot in the election.
- Prop bet: It is a type of bet on specific or non-occurrences in an election, such as voter turnout.
- Candidate: An individual representing a political party on the ballot and running for political office on whom you might place bets regarding their winning chances.
- Debate: A formal discussion between candidates in which they express their stance on different subjects; their performances typically influence betting odds.
- Concession speech: Speech given by a candidate to acknowledge their defeat at the elections.
- Electoral College: The body of electors formally electing the US president and vice president.
- Electoral vote: Votes cast by a member of the Electoral College.
- Popular vote: Total number of votes cast in an election instead of electoral college votes.
- Primary election: A local election organized to choose a candidate to represent a political party at the election.
- General election: This is the main election in which voters choose from the electoral candidates who they want to fill a political post.
- Incumbent: Current holder of a political office.
- Running mate: Candidate in a secondary office to the primary candidate, such as the lieutenant Governor, in a joint ticket with the Gubernatorial candidate.
- Swing state: A state where the major political parties have strong support and could reasonably win.
- Split ticket: This is when a voter votes for candidates from different parties for different offices in the same election.
The Best Politics Betting Site Overall for 2024
With this detailed round-up on the ins and outs of politics betting, along with effective tips and strategies for making money betting on the elections, making smart betting decisions should be easier. But have you figured out the right platform to put your knowledge to the test yet?
Our top pick for political betting is BetOnline. This Panama-licensed site adheres to strict security and privacy standards set by its regulatory body, ensuring a safe betting experience. BetOnline also offers efficient customer support and unique political betting options, making it an excellent choice for both seasoned bettors and newcomers.
