Best Political Betting Sites Online

Best Political Betting Site for the 2024 Election

There are a lot of great political betting sites – which we’ll get to shortly – but chances are if you want to bet on politics, the US Presidential Election is at the top of your list.

We recommend BetOnline for betting on the 2024 US election, as they update their odds frequently and offer one of the best prices for Kamala Harris.

For up to date analysis on odds, read our 2024 US Presidential Election Odds post.

Best Sites to Bet On Politics in 2024

The top sites for betting on politics can be broken up into specific categories, which should help you decide the best site for you.

Whether you’re looking for the best coverage of the US Presidential elections or the best political odds, you will be able to find it here. Each of these sites stands out for a particular reason, with the first one – BetUS – being great for everything related to political betting.

• BetUS  – Best Overall Site for Political Betting
• XBet  – Best Bitcoin Political Betting Site
• BetOnline  – Best Election Betting Site
• Bovada  – Most Political Betting Markets
• MyBookie  – Best Site for US Election Bet Research
• EveryGame  – Best for Shopping Politics Betting Odds
• Bet365  – Best Betting Site for European Politics

How We Choose the Best Sites for Political Betting

All sites with our stamp of approval are legitimate betting platforms, each excelling in different areas. Every single one offers political odds. To distinguish the best from the rest, we use our B.E.S.T. Ranking system, focusing on the following factors:

• Safety and Reliability – We value security and privacy above everything else, which is why safe betting sites with TLS encryption, 2FA, and other features rank highly in our eyes. We also check their track record regarding user payouts to make sure they are to be trusted.
• Variety of Political Betting Markets – The more the merrier is the rule when it comes to political betting markets. The US Presidential Elections odds are a must, but sites get bonus points for every additional market covered – state elections, winning party, Senate and House odds, TV debates, and other fun props. 
• Competitive Odds – You need to have a chance of winning good money from your knowledge of politics, which is only possible if the site is offering lucrative odds. We check to ensure the odds are realistic and profitable.
• Payout Times – The best political betting sites are quick to pay out when election winners are confirmed. We monitor how quickly sportsbooks pay out on presidential elections. We don’t like sites that wait weeks for the Electoral College to pass their votes before paying out – so why should you?
• Poll Data and Election Research – The best betting sites offer news, poll data, and insights into politics, so you can make smarter choices. We love sites that give players something extra
• Mobile Compatibility and Apps – If you’re one of the 310 million smartphone users in the US, you’ll be pleased to learn that all our recommended political betting sites are mobile-responsive with great UX for such devices.

Comparing The Top Political Betting Sites

If you would like to compare different political betting sites to see which one is the best for you, here’s a table that you may find helpful. This is where you can see their top features, available betting markets, and more.

Once you find a match, click on the site link to go straight to the sportsbook. Or, hit the review link on the right to read our expert pros and cons for the site.

How to Bet on Politics Online

Want to try political betting online? Follow these steps to get started.

1

Join a Betting Site With Politics Markets

Find one or more betting sites that cover politics and create an account. Signing up is quick and free, which is why we recommend making accounts at multiple sites so that you would have access to different odds and markets. Be sure to click on the correct link from this page to be directed to an updated sign-up page.

Sign up for Bovada now

2

Get to Know the Betting Platform

Explore the site by navigating through its betting offers on the way to the politics section. Check out the various features to familiarize yourself with the options.

3

Add Money to Your Account

Go to the cashier, choose the banking option you wish to use, enter your deposit amount, and confirm your payment. After making your first deposit, the betting site will reward you with a welcome bonus.

4

Research the Events You Want to Bet On

Do your diligence before placing bets. Follow election campaigns, read news posts, and check polling data so that you can make an informed betting decision.

5

Create Your Bets

Select the political betting market and specific events you want to bet on. Before placing your bet, review your choice one last time to make sure you didn’t make a mistake.

6

Confirm Wagers and Place Your Bets

Enter your stake, choosing from as little as $1 to as much as $1,000 at some betting sites. Check that you’re happy with your potential profit and risk. All that’s left at this point is to place your bet.

7

Stand By for Election Day

This is when you’ll find out whether you win or not. With some betting sites, it’s possible to cash out even before the count is over.

Politics Betting Odds Explained

Politics betting odds reflect the probability of something happening based on the opinion of bettors. The odds get shorter (smaller) if people bet on an outcome, and longer (bigger) if no-one backs an outcome. It means politics odds don’t always match election polls. As a result, the betting underdog can easily end up living for four years in the White House.

 And yet, sometimes the odds predict the result better than the polls. Back in 2016 Donald Trump was a +122 underdog on election night but still beat Hillary Clinton. The polls gave Trump a 10% chance of winning, while the odds had him at 45%. Also in 2016, the UK voted for Brexit at odds of +200. The polls suggested a 25% likelihood but the odds were closer at 33.3%.  

When Do Betting Sites Payout for Elections?

Political betting websites tend to wait until election results are confirmed by most states before paying out. Once the TV networks call the election then that’s usually enough for sites to start approving winning bets. However, Donald Trump’s decision to challenge the 2020 US election meant some sites withheld payouts until the Electoral College cast its votes, weeks after election day.

Some sites offer an early cash-out option, but this depends on how close the presidential race is. They don’t want to risk losing money by paying out early, as the famous Irish bookmaker Paddy Power did in 2016.

The company lost over $4 million after paying out bets on Hillary Clinton before election day, believing she would become the first female president of the US. After she lost to Donald Trump, they had to pay out Trump bettors as well.

This has taught all betting sites a valuable lesson. They’re now more cautious and likely won’t rush with the payouts for the next elections. Therefore, if you win, you will probably have to wait at least a day before collecting your winnings.

Types of Politics Bets

You’d be forgiven for thinking the only politics bet worth making is to wager on the presidential election. Most bettors focus on this race and enjoy comparing the odds to the polls. Yet there are so many more types of politics bets you can make these days! A site like Bovada offers extensive bet options, including these core markets:

Election Winner

It’s the go-to choice for most bettors. Wagering on the presidential election winner is an ideal place to start if you’re new to politics betting. After all, this is the race that gets the most media attention and polling data, so you probably have more knowledge of the presidential race than any other politics bet.

The US presidential election is always a vote between Republican and Democrat. A third party occasionally runs but they never threaten the big guys. So, if you’re planning to bet on the election at a site like BetOnline then your choice is between the Elephant and the Donkey.

State Betting

State betting takes politics wagering to an exciting new level of detail. You can bet on which candidate each of America’s 50 states will back in an election. Some states are dead-certs. California will always vote Democrat; Kentucky will always vote Republican. But what about the swing states, such as Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania?

These swing states have mega influence in the election, so parties pump millions of dollars into their campaigns here. Betting on state election results requires a good amount of research. Track the polls and learn about the issues affecting voters.

Popular Vote

The Democrats won the popular vote in every election between 2008 and 2020. However, presidents aren’t elected based on the total number of people voting in America. Instead, it’s the Electoral College that casts state-by-state votes that determines the next president.

Yet you can still bet on who will win the popular vote. Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by three million votes in 2016 but still lost the election. Sportsbetting.ag carries popular vote odds heading into elections, and usually leans toward a Democrat win.

Electoral College Betting

Yes, we mentioned the Electoral College earlier. Did you know you can bet on the Electoral College votes during an election? Sites like Bovada offer odds ranges for each party to win and their margin of victory. For example, in 2024 the most likely outcome was Harris to win with a margin of 65-104 Electoral College votes.

If you’re betting on the Electoral College then we recommend using an election simulator to predict which states each candidate wins. From there you can do the math and calculate the likely winning margin.

Senate Betting

The US elects new senators every two years, either during the presidential election or the midterms. Betting on the Senate is intense. You can wager on the final numbers of GOP and Dem Senators in a chamber of 100 seats. Or you can bet on each individual race from across the United States.

House of Representatives Betting

Just like the Senate, you can bet on which candidates will win their place in the House of Representatives. This requires hyper-local knowledge of issues affecting districts across the country. House betting is perfect for those who know more than the sportsbooks about what’s happening in their town or county.

Political Props

Look out for weird and wonderful politics props throughout the year at Bovada and other top political betting sites. Props can be simple, such as betting on who will win a TV debate or who will earn their party nomination for president. Or they can be complex, like betting on the spread for the final count in Georgia, or predicting who will win the election four years from now.

Tips for Betting on Politics

There are two ways to do political betting. One is to go with your gut and back the candidate you would love to see win. The other method is to conduct thorough research to make an informed decision on whom to back.

Betting on politics is the same as betting on any sport. If you care about the result then you need to focus and ask yourself, are you betting with your head or your heart?

If this is your choice, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Betting Markets Available on Political Betting Sites

Top betting sites are creating new political bets all the time. From the presidential moneyline to props on what color tie Donald Trump will wear, there’s no limit to the types of politics bets available.

Of course, some political odds are more popular than others. Betting on who will be president, for example, will always be the big draw. Yet that doesn’t mean you can’t find value in smaller, more unique props.

Placing bets on the 2024 US election is becoming more popular as we move toward November 5th. Below are five of the most active betting markets available on political sportsbooks right now:

Presidential Election Winner

Let’s start with the big one. Politics betting sites like Bovada and BetUS have offered US presidential odds ever since the last election was over. The odds trend alongside the polls but are also affected by speculative bettors throwing money at the underdogs.

That’s why Donald Trump was the favorite to win the 2024 US election only a few months after losing the 2020 vote to Joe Biden. Bettors backed Trump to rise again at very high odds.

If you’re looking for an edge, then see if there’s a difference between the polls and the percentage probability of a candidate winning based on their odds. In 2016, the polls gave Trump a 10% chance of winning, but some sportsbooks priced him at 45% (+122 odds). Guess who was closer to the right call?

Electoral College Betting

Betting on the electoral college is a great political prop bet. Bovada has a range of props, including the total number of electoral college votes a candidate will receive.

The numerical betting market is particularly valuable for those who like to play with data. You can build your own predictions of who will win which state, and calculate exactly how many electoral college votes each candidate will receive.

Remember, the magic line is 270, but usually the winning candidate goes much higher. Biden earned 306 votes in 2020, and Trump got 304 four years earlier. Barack Obama managed 365 and 332 votes in 2008 and 2012, respectively.

Swing State Betting

There are six core swing states in the 2024 US election: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan. North Carolina is another that could be a toss-up this fall, while Democrats are hopeful of bringing Florida into contention.

Bovada is the go-to site for swing state bets. You can back the Dems or the GOP to claim victory in any battleground. These odds become more responsive the closer we get to elections, so be sure to keep an eye on the polls when swing state betting.

BetUS, meanwhile, offers swing state sweeps across the Blue Wall and the Sun Belt. It’s highly unlikely that the Dems would win the six southern states of AZ, FL, GA, NC, NV, and TX… but a Republican candidate might!

Popular Vote Betting

US presidents don’t always win a majority of the popular vote when they’re elected to power. The electoral college vote system means state delegates give their votes over to whomever earned the most ballots in the election.

In 2000, George W. Bush won all of Florida’s electoral college votes after beating Al Gore by just 537 ballots from a state-wide total of six million.

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by around three million, but still lost to Trump because the numbers in the electoral college went against her. Betting on the popular vote therefore requires you to think about a different type of math.

House / Senate Majority Bets

A president holds some power without a party majority in the House or Senate. If their party also wins both chambers in Congress, then the president can basically do whatever they like.

Bovada offers House and Senate betting options for new players this fall. The House could go either way in 2024, with so many seats up for grabs. The Senate is likely to produce a Republican majority, which would be a nightmare for Harris if she is elected.

Betting on Congress focuses on who will win majorities in each chamber, and what the numbers will look like. The 2022-2024 Senate was split 50/50 with Harris, as vice president, casting any deciding votes. Betting on the numbers is difficult and requires a lot of research into the race for each seat.

Always Gamble Responsibly

As any other betting type, political betting is also meant to be fun. If you’re betting more than you can afford or if your hobby is causing problems for you, your family, or your friends, it’s time to stop. You can learn more about what constitutes problem betting on our responsible gambling page.

If you can’t stop yourself from betting, the best thing you can do is ask for help. You can do it by calling the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. 

Start Betting on Politics Online

Who’s going to win the elections? If you think you know the answer, now is the right time to put that knowledge to good use by placing some bets. You can do it at political betting sites like BetUS, which we think is your top choice overall. 

If, on the other hand, you wish to bet on politics outside the US, the best alternative is Bovada, where you can bet on elections and other political events in all corners of the planet. The best thing is that if you can’t find the political bet you’re looking for, you can request it from Bovada’s oddsmakers. If they like it, they’ll price it up. 

In general, you’ll want to stay on top of the latest news and monitor historical trends before placing your bets. However, if you use any of the political betting websites from this guide, you’re on the right track in terms of wagers offered and competitive odds.

Zarko Naric

Zarko Naric – the World’s Greatest Sportswriter, according to his grandma.

Zarko started writing for GamblingSites.com in 2019, covering sports like soccer, tennis, and basketball, as well as some more niche sports like cycling.

In addition to writing news, picks, and blog pieces focused on sports, Zarko’s also been covering politics, TV/music contests, and more.

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