Why Bet on US Politics?
Betting on politics is a pastime with a long history, and its popularity is growing faster than ever before thanks to online betting agents and the current political climate around the world. While political betting is illegal in most US states, it is perfectly legal for punters in the UK to cast a wager on American elections and more.
Since Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 took the world by surprise, his presidency has been watched closely by people all over as they speculate on how the Republicans and Democrats will fare in 2020. The decisive moment is fast approaching with no guarantees for either party, and now is a great time to branch into political betting with one of our expertly ranked operators.
What Separates the Best US Politics Betting Sites?
Welcome Bonuses
Every operator is keen for new players to sign up and start playing, and their respective welcome bonuses mean you always have an array of great offers to select from when choosing a fresh place to cast a wager. Free bets, matched deposits, no deposit bonuses, and risk-free bets are all common bonuses for comparison between operators, and those bonuses are included in our extensive reviews and rankings of the best sites around.
However, it’s important to read the terms and conditions to make sure the offer is right for you before settling on a new site. Wagering requirements are attached to the majority of welcome bonuses, meaning that new players must stake a certain amount with the site before they can make withdrawals. Depending on the terms and conditions of the individual site, wagering requirements can be tricky and time-consuming to clear, so be sure to read the fine print to make sure your selection is right for you.
Other restrictions may also apply. A welcome bonus offering risk-free bets, for example, will generally mean a lost wager is returned as non-withdrawable funds in the player’s wallet — you essentially get a free go rather than a cash refund.
Market Availability
Top betting sites offer the most variety for your betslip, and this is as true for politics as it is for sports. Because political betting opportunities are usually less plentiful than sporting ones, owing to the infrequency of elections and the like when compared with fixtures, finding a site with more adventurous bets can be rewarding for political bettors.
While most major sites offer politics alongside their sportsbooks, oftentimes the odds on offer are quite limited. The good news is that plenty of operators offer odds that go beyond election winners, and Paddy Power is a great example for this. Along with the overall presidential winner and a selection of odds on swing states for the 2020 election, Paddy Power has a Trump dedicated market with a fine array of unusual bets to choose from.
For the so-called ‘Trump Specials’ market you can bet on the following and dozens more:
- Trump to open Area 51 to the public during his first term in office at 2/1
- France to ask for the Statue of Liberty to be returned at 100/1
- Trump to win the Nobel Peace Prize during his first term at 12/1
Plenty of operators, including but not limited to Coral, Ladbrokes, and Betfred, offer similarly playful betting options on politics. If you’re keen to dive into varied politics markets, it’s well worth your time to check out what’s out there.
Promotions
Welcome bonuses and enticing market options are just the beginning, as sites are keen for new players to keep playing with them. These promotional offers can include:
- Accumulator insurance, offering part refunds if your acca is a leg short of winning
- Free bets for players who cross a wagering threshold each week
- Better odds over non-members for accumulators
- Price boosts
- Allowing players to requests odds on bets that aren’t already available
Banking
Top ranking operators offer fast withdrawals, as well as a wide range of banking options for withdrawing and depositing your funds.
Debit cards and e-wallets are the most common payment options offered, with e-wallets generally being the fastest way to get your winnings processed and returned. Operators offering the likes of PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are often the most secure, enabling players to withdraw and deposit money without entering their bank details. Some operators even offer instant withdrawals on your winnings, and this feature will be detailed in each site’s terms and conditions.
As of April 2020, credit cards can no longer be used as a payment method in the UK gambling industry.
PayPal is a widely available and easy to use payment option that comes with additional security layers for your peace of mind.
Paysafecard's pre-paid card solution is a great way to manage and keep tabs on your spending.
If you're looking for an e-wallet and pre-paid card blend, Neteller is a fantastic banking option.
Skrill is one of the fastest payment options available, making deposits and withdrawals as painless as possible.
Which Markets and Bets are Available?
Betting on US politics in the UK usually involves a small selection of markets, although this can vary depending on current affairs. UK bookies typically offer US Politics as a singular market, with some offering additional Trump-specific markets at present. International markets may also contain bets for American politics.
Intrepid political betters are sure to find a varying selection across operators despite the relative infrequency of major political events, and the depth of each site’s political markets is a key draw for new and returning players.
New Operators Often Have Great Offers
Established operators generally offer the best welcome bonuses and promos, but new sites regularly lay out their own enticing offers to draw players in. New operators and sites are also more likely to offer bonuses without wagering requirements (the minimum wager value that must be played before making withdrawals) and other player-positive incentives. Check out our guide on the best new sites around, check out the best fit for you, and try something new!
Keep Tabs on Your Betslip Wherever You Are
Every betting site listed on Compare.bet offers bets through mobile-optimised web pages and native smartphone apps. Once you’ve selected an operator from our rankings, you can enjoy the ease of access and enhanced visual presentation of mobile-dedicated platforms regardless of your pick, as well as mobile payment options and streamlined betting experiences. Mobile sites and dedicated apps mean that keeping tabs on how each leg of your accumulator is faring couldn’t be easier.
Legal Status of Political Betting
Political betting in the UK is perfectly legal, and you can be confident that every operator reviewed and ranked here meets the regulatory requirements of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC is considered as one of the leading gambling regulation bodies in the world, and it ensures that licensed operators run fair bets and games, encrypt all customer transactions against hackers, and uphold other strict regulatory requirements.
If you’re ever in doubt about a UK operator’s licence, you can look operators up in UKGC’s public register of licensed operators.
Recent Odds and Results
The US Presidential Election is the biggest event in world politics, with Democrats and Republicans duking it out to take the reins of the world’s largest economy and the immense influence it exerts globally.
In 2016, following two terms of Barack Obama’s administration, Donald Trump was a surprising pick for the Republican nominee. Having beaten the likes of Ted Cruz, John Kasich, and Marco Rubio to the spot, a man famed for big business and reality TV faced a decades-long mainstay and heavyweight of US politics: Hillary Clinton. Throughout the campaign, it was widely believed that Trump didn’t stand a chance.
In the final days of the election, the Independent noted that both Ladbrokes and William Hill offered the following odds on the next US President:
- Hillary Clinton to win at 2/9
- Donald Trump to win at 10/3
Compared to odds just over a year earlier, with Business Insider reporting Paddy Power’s odds of 18/1 for a Trump victory in August 2015, views of the future President’s victory had certainly improved. Nonetheless, Donald Trump claimed victory in 2016, and commentators in 2020 are doubly cautious of writing off the President’s chances in the upcoming election.
Sign Up and Bet on Politics
Betting on politics can be every bit as exciting and fun as adding sports fixtures to your betslip, and the US Presidential Election offers the biggest stage of them all. Now that you’re clued up on the ins and outs of betting on US politics, check out our extensive reviews and rankings of the very best betting operators, sign up for your free welcome bonus, and cast your wager!
Frequently Asked Questions
Political betting is perfectly legal in the UK, and that extends to betting on international politics. In the US, however, it is illegal in the vast majority of states to cast a wager on political outcomes, but these laws do not apply to anyone betting from outside US jurisdiction.
Yes, you can. It’s always best to check that an operator hasn’t set specific restrictions on how bonuses are used, but generally speaking, a betting bonus will be eligible for political markets as well as sports.
Politics is a volatile sphere and, combined with bookies’ competitive streaks, odds on political outcomes shift around on a daily basis. To be sure you’re getting the best odds on your preferred wager, be sure to check the latest odds offered that day, shop around for the best deal, and place your bets!
They are indeed. You have less scope for regular accas in politics than sports, simply because fixtures are much more regular than political moves, but there are definitely options out there for you. Betting on multiple candidates to win their seat during a general election, racking up the smaller victories that a candidate or party will need in order to win outright, and more are options for political accas.
Politics is a legal betting option in the UK, and all licensed operators come with the assurances of the UKGC that bets will be fair, that transactions will be secure, and that players are protected from bad practice. All of the operators reviewed and ranked by Compare.bet are licensed by the UKGC, meaning you can be confident that all sites listed here are above board. If you’re ever unsure about an operator’s licensing status, you can check the UKGC’s public register to clear things up.
