Novelty betting

Although novelty betting can’t compare to sports betting in market share, it offers some excellent betting opportunities. Also, because novelty bets are often placed on current events, they’re of potential interest to a greater variety of people than sports events.

Events commonly targeted for novelty betting markets include:

• political events like elections
• high-profile talent contests like the X Factor and Idols
• awards ceremonies like the Oscars and Grammys
• the gender of a baby born to a royal or celebrity couple
• events in popular culture, like how long a band will stay together or how many seasons a television series will remain on air.

Bookmakers can offer markets on literally anything. Some have even got themselves into hot water by setting up politically incorrect markets – for example, offering odds on whether Barack Obama would be assassinated in office.

Where to place novelty bets

Novelty bets aren’t offered by all bookies, and some offer a greater variety of novelty betting markets than others. Here are a few of the best bookmakers to use if you’re interested in placing novelty bets:

William Hill

William Hill emphasises television shows and politics in its novelty betting markets. Odds are offered on the outcomes of the most popular reality TV and talent shows, and on the results of major election campaigns in the United States and United Kingdom.  

bet365

bet365 primarily offers novelty betting on television shows and politics. You can find the novelty betting markets listed under bet365 Sports under the ‘specials’ heading.

Boylesports

Boylesports offers novelty betting markets for politics and entertainment. You can find the novelty betting markets listed in Boylesports ‘sports’ section.