Top 10 Political Betting Websites in the UK

The Ultimate Guide to Political Betting Sites in the UK

These are the ten best bookmakers in the country regarding politics betting. Who offers what, and where are the angles to be found is laid out below.

We’ve analysed hundreds of data points across 64 different betting sites to establish which offers the best service when it comes to betting on politics. It’s not uncommon for bookmakers to offer odds on UK politics, particularly general elections and leadership contests, but what about the US? Or other parts of the world? Are stake limits involved? All of this, and more, has been factored in so we can show you the best in the field.

Top 10 Politics Betting Sites and Why

These are the ten best bookmakers in the country regarding political betting. Who offers what, and where are the angles to be found is laid out below.

1. Smarkets

Top of the pile, and one of only two bookmakers to record a perfect score, Smarket’s betting exchange allows punters to bet on a myriad of political markets. In short, its offering is exceptional. All the expected stuff – general elections, next US president etc – are there, but they also cover markets across Europe, Argentina, New Zealand and more. On top of that, there is a Current Affairs section, which includes when football clubs might be bought, for example, and their odds are consistently better than most, if not all others.

2. SBK

Smarkets may have pipped them to the post, but the difference between their and SBK’s offering is minimal. The latter is as good when it comes to its variety of markets, odds offered, and sheer level of effort that’s gone into its offering. SBK, however, is app only, so the fact that Smarkets’ user experience is as good within a web browser, as its app, sets it apart. But make no mistake, SBK offers fantastic UK political betting opportunities. 

3. Paddy Power

While Paddy Power’s offering in its number of markets available is brilliant, it does have slightly different stake limits to our top two. That said, it’s still an excellent option for political punters. UK, US and Irish politics all have their own sections, with its Rest of the World tab covering upcoming events in places such as Spain, New Zealand and Canada.

4. Betfair

Offering markets across their sportsbook and their exchange Betfair’s political output is impressive. Existing customers can expect exactly what they’re used to from other sports, while newcomers will find the section easy to navigate. As well as the big markets that you’d expect to find, Betfair also offers specials, such as wagering on the reunification of North and South Korea.

5. Sky Bet

While Sky Bet’s UK politics markets are varied and extensive enough, it can’t match the bookmakers above it on this list when it comes to world politics. There is a smattering on offer, but not the breadth of some of its rivals. That said, the design is slick and they do offer boosts on selected markets on a regular basis.

6. William Hill

Unsurprisingly, William Hill’s UK politics section is its real strength. Regional by-elections taking top billing on its politics page only emphasises the effort put into UK political betting markets. Newcomers will love the additional information provided on the same page, with a “jargon buster”, as well as political betting tips, what to look out for, and links to political betting promotions.

7. Bet365

Bet365 is undeniably a brilliant bookmaker, evidenced by its placing across so many “best of” lists, and while it may not be no.1 for its political output, it’s still a brilliant service on offer. Both their site and app impress, and in political markets, their odds are extremely competitive. 

8. BetMGM

BetMGM – a big name in the United States – only entered the UK market in 2023, but have made a huge effort in disrupting the market somewhat. Their odds aren't incredible, but there is normally a tonne of promotions to take advantage of, and they're great at rewarding existing customers. BetMGM is a good all-rounder, but it's main strength is event coverage and world politics. There are markets in the UK and US, but also Australia, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark. This will be just be a snapshot of world affairs and it changes accordingly. 

9. Ladbrokes

In addition to its general UK and rest of the world offering, Ladbrokes’s specials are interesting, quirky and intriguing to punters looking for something a little different. UK and Irish markets are extensive, although you won’t find as many international options as some of the other bookmakers on this list. That shouldn’t detract from what is still a great option for betting on politics.

10. Coral

Coral’s political betting section successfully flits between the serious and the playful. The variety in UK political markets is generous, but if you want to bet on Piers Morgan or Gary Neville becoming the next Prime Minister then there are fun wagers to be had in their Specials section. It’s not all of that ilk, however, with markets on the unification of Ireland, the UK rejoining the EU and US election specials.

How We Chose the Best Political Betting Sites

First, we put our Political betting expert Nigel Skinner on analysing 64 different online bookmakers, all listed here on OLBG, to see if they offered betting on Politics.

Our reasearch into political betting yielded surprising results - a remarkable 57 bookmakers of the 64 analysed offered political betting in some form. With an acute focus, we explored the options available in UK politics such as Bi-Elections and of course who will be the next Prime Minister, followed by major US events like the Presidential elections. We also cast our eye over European and international politics. One of our key considerations was stake limitations in these niche markets, given the potential hesitations from operators about taking on enormous liabilities. Our aim? To identify those bookmakers where you could place a 'good' bet, subsequently gauging them higher.

We adopted a straightforward scoring system, assigning a maximum of 5 points per category. Nigel's informed perspective, derived from his valuable experience, helped assess the number of markets available and their respective odds.

Best for US Politics

While wagering on local politics is readily available with 57 bookmakers offering various markets, we're aware of the substantial interest in US political events too - the Trump/Biden rivalry being a prime example. With this in mind, we are pleased to present our scores for the best bookmakers for betting on US politics.

Best for Stake Limitation

It's understandable for specific betting sites to impose stake restrictions, especially on niche markets with limited interest. In scenarios where bookies are challenged to balance the books, there's a stark possibility of them incurring losses rather than making profits from bets. Naturally, their aim isn't to distribute money but to make it. Thus, there are restrictions on the amount you can bet on certain markets. Given this setup, we took the initiative to investigate the bookies offering the most advantageous staking options.

What is Politics Betting?

Quite simply, bets made on politics and political events. Large parts of it don’t differ too much from betting on sporting events given that punters are often picking the winner in a contest, only they’re picking up votes rather than points or goals.

Betting on politics is becoming increasingly popular, and while huge events like general elections or the US Presidential race are prominent markets to bet on, it’s possible to bet on smaller, more local events such as by-elections and the like.

Why do People Bet on Politics?

For some, it’s an added show of faith to a particular political persuasion. Voting for party A in an election is one thing, but betting on them to win and it coming in only adds to that excitement. Another primary reason is that it doesn’t require heaps of built-up knowledge acquired over years and years of watching. A basic understanding of what the market is enough.

UK Political Betting Markets

It depends on the bookmaker in question and how many markets they offer, but in terms of UK political markets below is a list of the markets you will be able to find, among others:

📍Next general election 🗳️

📍Next Prime Minister 👑

📍Party leaders 👥

📍By-elections 👋

📍Mayoral election 🏙️

📍Brexit reversal 🔄

Types of political bets?

There is a vast range of bets you can make on the various political scenarios set up by the bookmakers; they include Outright bets, also known as 'future bets' by some bookmakers, which involve predicting the outcome of an event like an election. The Over/Under approach is a numerical bet that depends on whether a particular number will be more or less than a line the bookmaker sets. The head-to-head method is an exciting contest between two or more candidates competing for the same position. And finally, prop bets offer a novelty betting option, where you can bet on specific or whimsical aspects like the duration of a winner's acceptance speech or tenure in office. 

1️⃣ Outright bets - Pick the event outcome 🏆🗳️. Will candidate A be the next US President 🇺🇸? 

2️⃣ Over/under - Choose if a number will be more/less than a line set by the bookmaker 📈. Will Labour win over/under 250 seats in the next election 🪑??

3️⃣ Head-to-head - Two candidates duke it out for a position 💼💥. Ex: Biden Vs Trump 🥊 for the Presidential title!

4️⃣ Prop bets  - Novelty bets, e.g., length of the winner’s acceptance speech 🎤 or if they'll still be in office in 12 months 📆.

How to Place Politics Bets?

Depending on the bookmaker that you’re betting with, this will alter ever so slightly, but generally it’s the same for most. It works much in the same way as sports betting, and if you’re familiar with that process, then this will come as no surprise.

• Sign up to a bookmaker, creating an account in the process (assuming you haven’t done so already).

• Deposit your funds

• Find the markets to bet on, choosing which that you like.

• Add to your betslip

• Enter the amount that you wish to bet

Pros and Cons of Politics Betting

Like sports betting, politics betting is a way of adding extra entertainment and value, especially if you already find politics of interest. It’s also possible to bet on outrights that are years in the future if you think you have a hunch that you want to follow.

However, although it is a growing part of the betting industry, there is still a limitation on potential political markets to bet on. That makes it harder to line shop and options can are down to the bookmaker that you choose to bet with.

Pros

•  🎯 Markets not always accurate (because polling data isn't either) means there's value to be found.

• 📺 Adding entertainment and intrigue to watching.

• 🌱 Niche in the industry that is on the rise.

Cons

• 🔍 Harder to line shop and find best odds.

• 📉 Less markets available than sports betting.

• ❌ Less promotions, bonuses, and offers.

Methodology

To determine the best bookmakers for betting on politics we analysed over 70 different betting sites available to users in the UK, to assess event coverage, betting Odds, market depth and availability. We looked at what political betting promotions were available to bettors including sign-up offers, price boosts and loyalty bonuses. We also looked at global coverage. Considering these are the best UK bookmakers, do they offer odds on political events in the US, across Europe, or other parts of the wider world. All of these factors were taken into account.

Who Created this Article?

Our team of betting experts who have collectively contributed to bringing you the most comprehensive and reliable information on the best political betting websites. First, we have Nigel Skinner, with over 30 years of experience in the industry, who sourced and analysed all the data for our betting site comparison. Next, we have Luke Bradshaw Lee, who expertly crafted the content on our page and curated the final shortlist of recommended betting sites. Finally, we have Steve Madgwick, OLBG's Editor-in-Chief, who fact-checked and ensured the accuracy and credibility of our content before publication. With their combined knowledge and expertise, we can guarantee you'll find the best politics betting sites with our team's recommendations.

Related Reading

Our collection of articles caters to various specific political betting markets, serving as a comprehensive guide that advises on the most effective approach and key factors to consider. We delve into the depths of each market, highlighting trends and analyzing market movements to provide valuable insights for bettors.

Our aim is to empower bettors with the information they need to make well-informed choices in the realm of political betting. With our comprehensive coverage and ongoing analysis, you can enhance your understanding of these markets and increase your chances of making successful political bets. Whether you are a seasoned political bettor or just starting out, our articles offer valuable guidance and insights to help you navigate the exciting world of political betting.

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