Everything You Need To Know About Betting On Political Elections Safely & Legally

1. How To Bet On Us Politics
2. How To Bet On Politics Online

Politics has always been a critical part of society, and political betting has been a natural byproduct of governance as the public speculates on who will lead their communities and what their chances of winning are. If you're interested in the election betting market, we're here to explain exactly how the industry works, who the key players are, where you can wager on their campaigns, and more.

From Presidential primary odds and debate props to Trump impeachment betting and how the coronavirus has upended the entire 2020 Presidential election, we'll show you how to bet - and who to bet on - at the best offshore sportsbooks taking election wagers. These sites are legal and safe to use, allowing bettors to line their pockets with cash while also celebrating the victory of their favorite candidate.

Betting on Politics at Your Online Sportsbook Many bettors outside the United States have the option of wagering directly on election outcomes and other political events at their sportsbook of choice. Political props at the sportsbook look much the same as other props you’ll see related to sports and entertainment. US Election Odds and Review: Projected result vindicates betting markets Join today For all the latest odds and betting tips on US politics, including regular election updates and analysis from.

Top Rated Sportsbooks To Legally Bet On Politics

Americans everywhere are on edge, with no clear presidential winner in sight. Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have realistic paths to victory, and too many variables are in play to decidedly know when a winner will be declared. Before we get into the presidential betting lines and hypothetical outcomes, let’s dive into what’s happening in the crucial Senate and House races. Democrats hoped to […]

Here are the latest updates on election day. Joe Biden started his day visiting the graves of his late son Beau, late wife, and baby daughter. Biden returned to his childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, writing on the wall, “From this house to the White House with the Grace of God, Joe Biden November 3rd, 2020.” Biden will spend election night at his home in […]

1. The only real betting option for political betting is the futures market. A futures bet is essentially a prediction of a certain outcome, and who will win. You can place a bet on the Odds to Win the 2024 Presidential Election and have a list of candidates to choose from with differing odds depending on how likely it is that they win.
2. Political Betting is the fastest segment of the gaming industry, fueled by elections in The United States and around the world. During the elections of 2016, for example online gaming houses lit up with wagers for and against not only Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but not only can you participate in wagers on who will win upcoming elections, you can also bet real money on whether a.
3. To maximize your political betting opportunities, you should join several offshore books and shop lines to find the most attractive odds, funniest wagers, and the best values possible. The most popular types of political bets provided by the best online politics and betting sites include the following.

In the political news world, the Trump and Biden teams are heading off in the Midwest for the last day of campaigning. President Donald Trump and Democratic hopeful Joe Biden tackle the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Unprecedented spikes in coronavirus cases, problems with mail-in and early voting, and voter suppression accounts coupled with election fraud conspiracy circulate the American media. Recent surges […]

The election is just a few short days away, and there is more confusion than ever among the American public and bettors alike on who will take the Presidency. Here at PAB, we break down what happened this week in the wild world of politics and take a look at the political betting lines that every bettor worth their marbles are keenly watching for movement. […]

There is so much to recap in the short time since our last article. Here at PoliticsandBetting.com, we breakdown the hot topics without the fluff. Sorting through the slew of biased news and picking out the fundamental morsels of truth feels like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer. Luckily, here at PAB, we’re ripped. Let’s go step by step and take a look at the […]

November 3rd approaches on the horizon, captivating the attention of a nation wishing to anchor the United States on greener pastures. The Joe Biden campaign rallies workers, students, Black voters, Latinx voters, and Trump turncoats under a unified message: bring normality back into the White House and stability back into our democratic institutions President Trump primarily markets to political and religious conservatives, non-educated white voters, […]

Former Vice President Joe Biden announced his 2020 presidential campaign in late April and now leads all Democratic candidates in the latest polling data and betting odds. According to the most recent polling data gathered on a national scale and averaged by RealClearPolitics, a whopping 41.4% of likely Democratic voters say they support Biden over all other Democrats running for president in next year’s primary […]

The Beto O’Clock is ticking, and the end of the month is just days away. At the beginning of February, Former Democratic Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke told Oprah in a televised interview that he’ll decide whether to enter the 2020 presidential race “by the end of this month.” And the oddsmakers certainly like his chances at winning the 2020 presidential election, placing him in either […]

Bernie Sanders ignited a base within the Democratic Party in 2016, and now he will officially look to carry that momentum toward winning the presidency in 2020. On Tuesday, Feb. 19, the independent senator from Vermont announced that he is running for President of the United States and will seek the 2020 Democratic nomination after several months of speculation from the public. “I’m running for […]

In an attempt to limit the widespread influence of voting-related fake news, one social media network introduced a new policy in hopes of combatting misinformation this upcoming election. On Monday, October 15, 2018, Facebook, the largest social network platform in the world with 1.5 billion users logging on daily, announced it will ban all false reports on requirements for voting, long wait times for voters, […]

Why Bet on Politics?

Political wagering is a great betting market option because it relies heavily on the attitude of the public toward current and potential political leaders and officials. Political polls, articles, and opinion pieces can often provide bettors with an indication of how the public is leaning in regards to a specific candidate or event. Political wagering can go beyond a single individual and is also a great method to secure sizable payouts based on proper research.

While the political betting market is at times predictable because historical trends often reveal future outcomes of various elections and political events, it can also be unpredictable in terms of scandals, crimes, and other world events which can turn a solid bet into instant pudding. Remember, Bernie was a sure thing until he wasn't, and Trump seemed unbeatable until everyone in America caught a cold and called in sick. Now? Well, that's where you make your money!

Types of Bets Available For Political Wagering

Most election bets are of the straight moneyline variety (bettors simply pick a winner), while prop bets and other specials are often over/under wagers or yes/no bets. As a general rule, each sportsbook will have different political lines posted, though there is usually some overlap.

To maximize your political betting opportunities, you should join several offshore books and shop lines to find the most attractive odds, funniest wagers, and the best values possible. The most popular types of political bets provided by the best online politics and betting sites include the following:

• Election Bets - These are wagers on which politicians will win particular contests. These encompass primary elections, state-by-state electoral vote counts, and general elections. Usually, most election wagers are on national contests, but you can also find certain state races featured (House, Senate, Gubernatorial). Election odds are almost always presented as straight bets.
• Futures Bets - These bets are placed far in advance of a future event, like an upcoming election. Such bets can have the smallest risks with the largest payouts if you win. The best example of an election futures wager is betting on the candidate to win the 2020 Presidential election months or even years before the November vote. For most of the Trump presidency, for example, 2020 futures have been a hot commodity on political betting sites.
• Proposition Bets - Also known as prop bets, these are usually presented as yes/no or over/under lines. Political prop bets cover just about everything that doesn't have to do with election outcomes themselves. Examples of these types of wagers include debate props, coronavirus props, Trump impeachment odds, Presidential resignation odds, and various wacky wagers on things like the next country to declare war on the US or the next terrorist to get killed or captured by the American military. You can even wager on things like how many times President Trump will tweet during a given political or sporting event!

Regional Politics Covered In This Guide

This site covers major political events from a variety of regions. We look at critical elections like congressional midterms, Presidential primaries, and general elections, as well as various party politics and the stances of individual candidates. Right now, globally, most sportsbooks are focused on US election odds, as America – particularly during the Trump years – has been the focus of bettors worldwide.

United States Election Betting

Betting on US politics is a growing area of the offshore gambling industry, though domestic US sportsbooks do not accept wagers on election outcomes. Thus, to wager on politics, you must do so with the reputable international sportsbooks listed here.

This section of our guide will provide in-depth information on the Presidential primaries and general election, Senate elections, House elections, and Gubernatorial elections. You'll also learn about the types of bets to place, handicapping factors to consider, current odds, tips for betting on each particular election, and analysis of select candidates.

Visit our USA Political Betting Odds for more information.

Factors To Consider When Placing Political Bets

First, bettors must understand the type of government on which they are betting. In all betting, especially when it comes to political wagers, it is important to research the current social climate and how the provided betting odds were formed. Although political odds are not the only guideline for making political bets, they can aid in gauging public opinion along, and many pundits consider them to be more truthful or representative than traditional polling.

In straight bets on election outcomes, it is best to start by evaluating the social climate and popularity of the candidates in any given race. Also, consider their power to influence the public and their constituents, as well as any negative news or unpopular policies they either agree with or are involved with.

For futures bets, consider the likelihood of different factors occurring before a given election or debate takes place and what other influences are likely to sway the outcome of these events. This includes scandals, administrative changes, foreign relations and alliances, and more.

Regarding proposition bets, it is best to research the history of behaviors and actions of any individual the political prop bet is targeting before wagering real money on a result. Prop bet results can be unpredictable, such as an outcome not mentioned on the betting line. For example, a wager like 'What color tie a candidate will wear during the debate?' may be derailed by that candidate bucking expectations and opting not to wear a tie at all.

Tips for Political Gambling

There are several tips and tricks when it comes to how to bet on politics. Sports bettors will of course be familiar with some of these political betting strategies, but the market has some peculiarities that must also be taken into account. Politics, unlike sports, is ultimately only loosely empirical. Most election results are predicated on trends, fads, and emotions affecting the population at large. Remember, fans have little say in the outcome of the Super Bowl, but they have tremendous say in the outcomes of elections.

The biggest tip we can provide is to not chase losing bets. Staying level-headed and maintaining detachment is vital when gambling on politics. Rather than wagering with emotions, using unbiased logic and researched information when placing a wager on an event will result in a higher chance for success. However, it is also crucial to utilize intuition when necessary, and it's a delicate balance (unlike the national budget).

Another tip we can provide is to not bet on every election or race available. Instead, only bet on the ones you feel you are most likely to win. This seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people bet 'straight ticket.' Specialize as much as possible in various areas, whether that be on certain types of elections or on certain political regions, as this specialization will improve your chances of success far more than placing bets on a whim in hopes of a yuge payout. Underdogs are underdogs for a reason, but 2016 Trump bettors made a mint by being tuned into the people instead of the mainstream media.

No matter where in the world bets are placed, the information and tips provided here will aid your political betting endeavors. Be sure to check the sportsbook table above for reliable, safe, and secure platforms to bet on politics no matter where you are in the world.

Odds are fixed by bookmakers to ensure an equal amount is wagered on each side. This is why you see the odds change over time. When too much money is being bet on one side of a wager, the oddsmakers will change the odds to entice more action on the other side. In general, however, when betting on the favored choice, a low risk yields a low payout. On the other hand, betting on the underdog is a high-risk, high-reward proposition.

Political betting odds are based on the American moneyline system. This means that each side of a wager will have an associated moneyline, or risk-to-reward number. You can view the moneyline as a bet's price tag. An example follows:

2020 General Election Winner

• Donald Trump -140
• Joe Biden +130

A negative moneyline in a straight bet is the favorite, while a positive moneyline is the underdog. For negative lines, this shows you how much money you must risk to win $100. Above, that means you'd have to bet $140 on Trump to win in order to make $100 in profit. Meanwhile, a positive line shows how much you stand to win on a $100 bet. In the case of Biden, you'd win $130 on a risk of $100.

Remember, these are not betting minimums, they simply show the ratio of risk-to-reward. Most election betting sites will allow you to place wagers of as little as $0.50 to $1.00.

For political props, you will often see both sides of an over/under or yes/no bet with the same moneyline. Consider the following hypothetical prop:

Will Donald Trump tweet during the Super Bowl?

• Yes -115
• No -115

Here, both bets cost the same amount. That is, bettors would need to shell out $115 to win $100. Sportsbooks do this commonly with football and basketball spread bets, as it guarantees a built-in profit no matter which way the outcome goes. That bit of profit is called 'vigorish,' or 'vig' for short. You might also hear it referred to as 'juice' or the 'house take.'

Any political gambling site we recommend must have a valid license in good standing from a regulatory oversight committee in its country of origin. The site must have firewall protection, antivirus protection, and anti-fraud protection. The sportsbook must also have SSL or TLS encrypted security to ensure that all members' personal and financial information is safe. Additionally, a dedicated technical team must monitor the security of the site 24/7. We ensure that the sites listed in our table of political betting sites meet these requirements.

Every election that is included at offshore sportsbooks can be legally wagered on. These include Presidential odds, Senate odds, House odds, and Gubernatorial odds, to name a few. Betting on political elections will be more readily available as each particular election draws near, though some races – especially at the local and state levels – may not attract enough action for books to offer compelling lines.

The United States is the oldest democracy on earth. In fact, the US is the only country in the world that has had an active democracy for at least 200 years. Having the ability to choose your leaders is a core tenet of democracy, which is why the US has some sort of election every single year.

Nowadays, the best online betting sites in the industry take bets on the US presidential election. Most experts believe the 2020 presidential election will set all sorts of new records for political betting all over the world. The following US presidential election betting sites have you covered when it comes to wagering on the 2020 US election.

How To Bet On Us Politics

George Washington won a second term in 1792 after being elected as the country’s first president in 1789. A presidential election has taken place every four years, without exception, since Washington’s second victory in 1792.

Betting on politics certainly hasn’t been around for quite as long, but betting interest has exploded over the past handful of years. You can attribute the advent of the internet and the US Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to strike down the federal ban on sports betting to the surge in gambling interest among Americans.

However, US politics betting has grown in popularity since Donald Trump’s unforeseen triumph in the 2016 presidential election over the heavily-favored Hillary Clinton. Political betting markets have existed in the United Kingdom for years, but offshore providers are now giving Americans the chance to get in on the action, too.

US Presidential Election Basics

When Is the United States Presidential Election?

The American presidential election takes place on the first Tuesday in November every four years. The aforementioned 2016 election, in which Trump toppled Clinton, went down on November 6th of that year. The 2020 edition is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd.

Events Leading up to the Election

Before the election actually takes place, the political parties have to select their respective candidates. The United States doesn’t explicitly run with a two-party system, but the vast majority of governmental power is currently shared between two parties. Those would be the Republican and Democratic parties.

The vast majority of presidents in the modern era have run for a second term in office. Barring an unforeseen event like an untimely death or a resignation, the sitting president will almost always run for a second term. If a president wishes to run for another term, their political party will almost always unite around them. Each of the last three presidents before Trump—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama—were successfully re-elected after their first terms.

The nomination process involves states holding primaries or caucuses in order to determine which candidates will be awarded a certain number of delegates. On the Democratic side, candidates vying for the 2020 nomination had to reach a threshold of at least 1,991 delegates in order to clinch the nomination. Former vice president Joe Biden officially hit that benchmark in June. These nominations processes provide excellent betting opportunities for those looking to bet real money on politics.

Each party will hold its convention in the summer leading up to Election Day. That is the event at which party delegates officially congregate to formally nominate their presidential and vice-presidential nominees. The conventions are essentially huge rallies designed to drum up support for the candidates ahead of the election in the fall.

Electoral College

While some have said that a simple popular vote should determine the outcome of an election, that isn’t the case when it comes to who wins the presidency. While congressional, gubernatorial, and mayoral elections are determined by popular vote, the presidency uses the Electoral College system, which has been in place since the late 1700s.

Each state has a distinct number of electoral votes, based on the size of that state’s population. For example, California, the nation’s most populous state, will have 55 electoral votes in the 2020 election. The least populous states, including Alaska, Montana, both Dakotas, and Vermont, have just three electoral votes. Washington DC has three as well.

Each state will count its popular vote totals on Election Day. In 48 states, the candidate that receives the majority of the votes will receive all of the state’s electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska are the only exceptions.

There are a total of 538 Electoral College votes, which means one candidate has to accrue at least 270 to clinch the presidential election. In 2016, Trump won 306 electoral votes compared to 227 for Clinton. This is despite the fact that Clinton garnered 65.8 million votes nationwide, while Trump received 62.9 million. Trump managed to eke out a majority in a number of important swing states, including Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, which ultimately paved his path to victory via the Electoral College.

In all, five candidates have won the popular vote and lost the election. Clinton joined Andrew Jackson (1824), Samuel Tilden (1876), Grover Cleveland (1888), and Al Gore (2000) on that list four years ago.

What Is the Democratic Party?

The modern Democratic Party was founded in the late 1820s, which makes it the world’s oldest active political party. The party initially supported things like limited government and slavery, but it has since embraced a much more progressive, liberal platform. The party essentially changed when Franklin D. Roosevelt formed the New Deal coalition in the late 1930 to early 1940s.

The modern Democratic Party advocates for social and economic equality for United States of America citizens. Support for environmental protection, universal healthcare, more affordable college tuition, LGBT rights, stricter gun law enforcement, and the legalization of marijuana have become mainstream tenets of the Democratic party’s ideology in recent years.

As of the summer of 2020, the Democratic Party holds a majority in the US House of Representatives, though the Republican Party holds the White House and the US Senate. Democrats have won seven of the last 15 presidential elections dating back to John F. Kennedy’s victory in 1960. The most recent Democratic president was Barack Obama, who served from 2008 until 2016.

What Is the Republican Party?

The Republican Party, sometimes referred to as the Grand Old Party (GOP), was founded in 1854. The first iteration of the Republican Party staunchly opposed slavery and operated on a classically liberal platform. Needless to say, the two parties have changed their ideologies considerably over the years.

The Republican Party’s shift to the right started around 1913, and the core base moved to the southern parts of the US, following the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The party currently embraces conservatism and advocates for lower taxes, expanded gun rights, restrictions on abortion and immigration, and increased military spending.

There have been 19 Republican presidents in all, including Donald Trump. That is the most presidents to ever come from a single United States political party. As mentioned, Republicans currently control the executive branch as well as the US Senate. Republicans also account for a majority of state governorships, as well as five of the nine sitting justices of the United States Supreme Court.

Types of US Presidential Election Bets

Futures Bets

The most common type of political bet is a futures bet on the eventual outcome. Trump’s win over Clinton in 2016 showed that there is still a potential edge to be found in the US presidential election betting odds, which is a big reason why popularity in political betting has surged in the years since. On Election Day of 2016, some UK oddsmakers had Trump as a +400 underdog to win the presidency.

Presidential betting odds are constantly shifting. The political news cycle has never been more unpredictable than it is today, and certain events can cause the odds to change considerably in a short period of time.

Some sites that offer US presidential election odds had Trump as high as around a -180 favorite to win re-election as recently as March.

Now, the betting sites with odds on the US presidential election updated their odds quite a bit. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has since emerged as a minus-money favorite at betting sites all over the UK. Those that placed a futures bet at Trump when he was at -180 will likely be jumping all over each other to place bets on the new +110 odds.

While the election will almost surely come down to Trump or Biden, US political betting sites don’t want to take any chances. Anything can happen in politics, so some candidates that have already ended their campaigns may still be listed with betting odds, just in case something unforeseen arises between now and November. Here is an example of how presidential election futures odds look at US election betting sites.

Moneyline US Presidential Election Bets

Political bets are essentially moneyline bets. If you’re familiar with sports betting, you’re familiar with the moneyline. A moneyline bet is essentially a wager on one outcome vs. another. An example of how a political moneyline wager at United States presidential election betting sites will look is as follows.

United States Election Prop Bets

When most Americans think of prop bets, they probably think of the Super Bowl. A prop bet is a wager placed on a random occurrence during a game or an event that isn’t necessarily directly tied to the outcome. Most football betting sites offer odds on a variety of things that have nothing to do with the actual football game for the Super Bowl every year.

Prop bets have since made their way into the world of political betting. The increased popularity of US presidential election prop betting is yet another thing we can attribute to Trump’s shocking win in 2016. The 45th president has had quite the eventful first term. US election betting sites have been happy to keep tabs on the latest happenings and offer bettors the chance to cash in on his antics.

Trump likes to voice his various opinions on Twitter, regardless of how controversial they may be. While a normal person may get booted from the platform for saying some of the things POTUS has said over the years, Twitter has resisted the urge to kick the sitting president out. Some sites have even put odds on Trump’s chances of getting banned from his favorite social media platform.

Other Trump-specific props include whether he’ll be removed from office before the end of his first term, whether he will appoint a new vice president before the 2020 election, or whether he will tweet about NFL players kneeling during the pregame national anthem.

Mistakes to Avoid When Betting on the US Presidential Election

Eliminate Personal Bias Before Political Betting

Fandom is something that can limit a sports bettor’s chances of turning a profit. The same can be said for political betting. Almost everyone has their own political opinions, and many choose to let other people know about them. While that’s all fine and dandy, you’re not likely to become a successful political bettor if you’re going to let your personal feelings stand in the way of making the right bet.

You shouldn’t bail on your personal political beliefs just to bet, of course. Just know that whatever cause you support isn’t necessarily going to be the right bet to place. Betting on your favorite sports team to win every game likely won’t pan out the way you’d like it to.

Don’t Overlook Population Trends

Each of the three most recent presidents winning a second term doesn’t mean that Trump will do the same in 2020. While that’s a trend that doesn’t mean much, this isn’t to say that some trends can’t help you make educated guesses with regard to your presidential election bets. The way state populations are shifting can give you a glimpse into how things may play out in the future.

Big cities with large populations tend to vote Democrat these days, while voters in more rural areas tend to lean Republican. Republicans also tend to attract a majority of white voters, while non-white voters have inched toward the Democratic side.

With the way populations are changing, some believe states like Georgia and Texas that have long track records of voting Republican in presidential elections may swing toward the Democrats. Keeping an eye on trends like these can help you evaluate political betting odds.

US Presidential Election Betting FAQ

Is It Legal to Bet on US Politics Online?

How To Bet On Politics Online

While more and more states are always voting to legalize online betting, it is still illegal for American betting operators to take bets on US politics. However, there is no restriction in place that applies to betting sites that operate overseas or offshore. American political betting has been a big industry in the UK for years, and offshore operators have expanded their political coverage considerably, as well.

While Americans can’t place political bets at land-based sportsbooks in the US, it is not difficult for them to find where to bet on the US presidential election online.

Is It Safe to Bet on the USA Presidential Election Online?

Some US politics betting sites are safer than others. There are some seedy operators out there that don’t have your best interests in mind. Considering you’re risking your own money to bet on the US presidential election online, it’s of the utmost importance that you have the confidence that you’re doing so at a safe site.

All of the political betting sites we recommend check all necessary boxes when it comes to safety and security. Read our rankings of the safest sites on the web for more info about how you can bet online safely.

When Can I Bet on the Presidential Election?

While the presidential election takes place every four years, you don’t have to wait four years between placing bets. As mentioned, the best US political betting sites in the industry are always keeping tabs on the latest developments in the world of politics and updating their betting odds accordingly. While you may have to wait a while for your futures bets to pay out, you can pass the time by taking a shot on certain politics-related prop bets.