Best Political Betting Sites: Election Betting Apps Dec. 2024

Top political betting sites in Ontario

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Ontario only

How to choose the right political betting site

Not all election betting sites are created equal. Some have more markets than others, and you'll find slightly varied odds at all the books on our list. When it comes to picking your favourite betting sites, here are the most important factors to consider:

Reputation and trustworthiness

You’re putting your hard-earned money and personal information on the line when using any betting site, so you need to have complete trust in the one you’ve chosen. The best political betting sites have built up and, more importantly, maintained a stellar reputation with their customers.

Licensing and regulation

We only use and recommend political betting sites that are fully licensed and regulated by a reputable regulatory body. Before depositing any money into a betting site, ensure they are properly licensed and regulated so you know they are safe, legitimate, and have some regulatory oversight.

Variety of betting options

Not all political betting sites offer the same markets. The betting options offered from site to site can vary considerably. The best political betting sites offer several betting options. Be sure to review what bets they have available when choosing your preferred betting site.

Competitive odds

Finding competitive odds can dramatically impact how much money ends up in your bankroll when you make winning bets. Creating accounts at multiple political betting sites can be advantageous, as it helps you shop around to find the best and most profitable odds for a wider range of markets.

User-friendly interface

Using a political betting site should be easy. It should take only a few minutes (at most) to make a deposit, place a bet, and request a withdrawal if it wins. A difficult-to-navigate interface or painfully slow withdrawal time can quickly ruin your betting experience.

Payment options and security

The best political betting sites offer several safe and quick deposit and withdrawal options. Those options should be quick whether you’re moving money in or out of your account. Security should also be a top priority for the best political betting sites. Your data and funds should be safe and protected by the top security measures available.

Obviously, fastest payout sportsbooks get our best ratings in this category. 

Customer support

If you run into any issues with your account or have a question about using a political betting site, customer support should be easy to access and provide timely assistance. The best election betting sites have several ways to access customer support, such as live chat, phone, and email. On top of that, some of these methods are available 24/7.

Bonuses and promotions

Generous welcome or sign-up bonuses from political betting sites can get you started with a nice bankroll boost. However, the total dollar amount isn’t the only thing to look at when grading bonuses. Playthrough requirements and other terms and conditions are also important to research. You should also look for ongoing bonuses and promotions for existing customers to see how well loyal players are rewarded.

How to sign up for a political betting site

After you’ve read through our list of the best political betting sites and narrowed down which is the right one for you, registering and making your first deposit is easy. Just follow this simple step-by-step guide to get started.

1. Choose a political betting site

Any of the sites we recommended above are great choices. If you want to go with a different site, just make sure you've carefully evaluated it using the same factors we do.

2. Register your account

To begin the registration process, you’ll need to provide some standard personal information such as full name, date of birth, mailing address, and email address. 

This personal information may need to be verified to authenticate your identity, your age and where you live. This verification process can usually be completed with a government-issued identification. 

3. Deposit

After your information has been verified, you can make your first deposit into your account. Choose your preferred deposit option and enter the necessary financial information. Most deposit methods take only a few seconds to complete. Once the money is in your account, you can place your first bet.

4. Collect your welcome bonus

When registering and making your first deposit, make sure you accept any welcome bonuses that you are eligible for. Some political betting sites make their bonuses available during registration (before you deposit). Make sure you watch for them throughout the process.

5. Make your first bet and cash out

Now that your account is created and properly funded, navigate to the political betting market section. Find the election race you want to wager on, confirm the odds, and add it to your bet slip. Then, confirm your bet to make it official.

If you're right, you'll be able to cash out your winnings immediately. Navigate back to the 'Banking' or 'Cashier' section of your betting site to find the 'Withdraw' option. Follow the steps to send your profits back to yourself. 

How we rate and review political betting sites

At SBR, we rate and rank political betting sites by reviewing many factors that are important to bettors. We only recommend political betting sites that live up to our high standards and offer a safe and enjoyable betting experience. Before assigning a political betting site a rating of any kind, we thoroughly review bonuses and promotions, banking options and payout speeds, security and trust, customer support, and website or app ease of use.

We put every political betting site to the test by experiencing first-hand what they have to offer by creating an account, making a deposit, placing bets, and requesting a withdrawal. We're not going to recommend any site to our readers unless we're willing to use it ourselves first so we can judge how good (or bad) the experience is.

Legal aspects of political betting in the U.S. and Canada

The best political betting sites offer odds on elections and political events from around the world. However, is it actually legal to bet on politics and election results in the United States or Canada?

In the U.S., the answer is no. Under current laws in every state with a form of legalized betting, wagering on politics and election outcomes is prohibited. If you want to bet on who will be the next U.S. President, you will not be able to place that bet at legal sportsbooks anywhere in the U.S.

Things are a bit different North of the border. Political betting is perfectly legal in Canada.

We didn't see any markets on who might eventually replace Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister, but only because the next Canadian election is still more than a year away. We did, however, find lots of international political markets in Canada, including many options for the U.S. and U.K. political spheres.

U.S. political betting events

The 2024 U.S. Presidential election is now behind us, as Americans elected 45th President Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5, 2024, after being a slight favorite on Election Day.

Betting on who will be President is just one prop that bettors can take advantage of. Additionally, they can bet on the primaries leading up to the election, as well as elections in Congress and the Senate. 

2028 Election betting 

With the 2024 election behind us, odds are already available for the 2028 Presidential Election. Vice President-elect JD Vance is currently favored, and Republicans are favored (-150) over the Democrats (+120) to retain the presidency. Below is a list of odds via bet365 as of December 9, 2024:

2024 Primary Election betting 

Presidential primaries began on January 15 and ran into the summer before each party’s National Convention. Donald Trump won most of his primaries, as did Biden.

However, Biden later dropped out of the race, leaving the Democrats without an immediate replacement. Current VP Kamala Harris took over the ticket, adding Tim Walz as her running mate. 

2024 Presidential Election betting

The 2024 U.S. Presidential election took place on November 5. President Biden announced he would not be seeking re-election in July, leaving the door open for a replacement. 

Vice President Harris was the immediate favorite to replace Biden, and quickly took over the Democratic ticket. Other names were in the mix, including Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. However, neither announced any intentions to run. Further left politicians like Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also popped up on some sportsbooks, albeit with long odds.

Election odds never tell the whole story. The odds swung left and right in the build-up to election day, with Trump going off as a slight favorite. It was the first time Trump was favored to win on election day after Hillary Clinton was an overwhelming betting favorite in 2016 before Trump ended up in the Oval Office. 

In May, Trump was convicted in a New York court of 34 felony counts related to a hush-money scheme. Despite the legal loss, the betting odds did not immediately shift in any significant way.

The Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024, saw the odds swing again. It seemed both candidates spent more time slinging mud, trashing each other's golf games, and trying to stay awake than actually debating any potential policies. Nonetheless, Trump saw a slight boost in his betting odds in the aftermath. 

A few notable public speaking gaffes from President Biden briefly saw VP Kamala Harris jump in front of him in the odds, as many speculated he may drop out of the race altogether (which he eventually did).

Meanwhile, Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, which only seemed to boost his odds (according to the bookies). By mid-August, though, Harris had flipped the betting odds in her favour and was the front-runner. A few weeks later, Trump and Harris were dead even at -110 each. 

Harris and Trump faced off in their first presidential debate on Sept. 10. Who came out of top? That probably depends on which news channel you watch, but many comments on social media said Trump looked flustered and out of control trying to match wits with Harris. As for the bookmakers, the odds swung back in Harris' favor the morning after the debate. 

2024 Congressional Election betting

On November 5, Americans elected members of Congress. Four years ago, in 2020, the Republicans took control of the House, winning 222 seats for a slim majority. Not only can you vote on who will control Congress, but many political betting sites will also offer up odds on several high-profile congressional races. 

Canada political betting events

Oh, Canada! Canadian elections look much different than those in the U.S., both provincially and federally. However, they still receive plenty of attention from bettors and political betting sites. The last Canadian federal election was in 2021, so unless the Liberals lose a non-confidence vote or decide to head to the polls early, the next federal election will likely be in 2025. 

2025 Canada Election betting 

During the last Canadian election in 2021, the Liberals held onto power. Still, they failed to gain enough seats to claim a majority in Parliament, resulting in a somewhat-less-effective minority government. 

The latest the next Canadian election could be held is in the Fall of 2025. According to recent polls and sportsbook odds, Trudeau and the Liberal Party’s days of governing in Canada could be numbered if nothing changes before the next election. The most recent odds from bet365 favor the Conservatives to win the Canadian Federal Election at -900. The Liberal Party is listed at +500 to win.

Provincial Election betting

Provincial elections in Canada have begun drawing considerable interest from bettors and political betting sites in recent years. The most recent provincial election in Manitoba had a somewhat surprising outcome that could have been profitable for bettors picking the underdog. 

Saskatchewan is the next province expected to have an election sometime later in 2024. Watch for odds when the writ is officially dropped. Typical betting markets are about which party will form the provincial government or who will take over as Premier (if party leadership is unclear or in a state of transition).

U.K. political betting events

Not long ago, it seemed like there was a new Prime Minister every few minutes in the U.K. Betting on British general elections remains popular at political betting sites, as do referendum votes, like the Brexit and Scottish independence votes, for example.

The British Royal Family may not exactly fall into the political realm anymore, but they do enter the betting sphere from time to time. 

Types of political bets

The most popular type of political bet is simply wagering on the outcome of an election. However, there are several different types of bets offered by political betting sites. Here is a rundown of the most popular and how they work.

Moneyline

Once the candidates in an election are determined, political betting sites will often set moneyline odds for who will win. These odds could be for something as lofty as the White House or lesser (but still important) positions like Congress, the Senate, or a mayoral race. For example, current Vice President Kamala Harris has roughly +130 moneyline odds of winning in November.

Over/under (totals)

Total bets allow a bettor to wager on the over/under of a number set by a political betting site. For example, you may see odds on the number of seats a party gets in Parliament or Congress for example. A political betting site could set the Republican total at 221, and you decide whether to bet on the outcome being over or under that number. 

Prop bets

There are often several prop bets that are connected to an election result, or they could even be unrelated to the actual election. A few prop bet examples include the Vice President running mate, the next leader of a party, or how much the stock market will rise or fall on election day.

Futures bets

If you’re betting on who will win the next presidential election, you’re making a futures bet. As the name suggests, a futures bet is when you wager on a future outcome. Typically, the more choices that are available, the better the odds listed for the futures bet. These bets could take weeks, months, or even years to settle. 

Exotic bets

Exotic bets often focus on a candidate’s behaviour during an election. There have been many exotic bets offered by political betting sites on Donald Trump, due to his reputation for erratic behaviour. For example, you may find over/under odds on how many times Trump will use the phrase “fake news” at a specific campaign rally or debate. 

Political betting tips

Unlike sports betting, political betting doesn't usually have a long list of trends or analytical data to study. There's certainly no such thing as an injury report or weather scouting. 

However, there are a few things you can study and pay attention to that can improve your chances of making successful political bets.

Know the numbers

First, before you place any bets, make sure you have a good understanding of how odds work. If you’re a sports bettor, you’re likely already familiar with how odds are written out and what they mean. If you’re more of a beginner bettor, here’s how decimal and American odds work at political betting sites:

Decimal odds

High decimal odds mean the outcome of that bet is less likely to happen. Lower decimal odds indicate a greater chance of it happening. To calculate decimal odds, simply multiply your wager by the decimal odds. For example, if you were to wager $100 on 1.50 odds the potential payout is $150.

American odds

American odds follow roughly the same rules. Positive odds (i.e., +200) are considered underdogs, while negative odds (i.e., -175) are considered favourites. The number you see equates to $100 bet amounts, so if you bet $100 at +200 and win, you get back $300 total (your original stake plus your winnings).

For favourites, you need to bet the odds number to win $100, so if you wagered $175 at -175, you'd see a total return of $275. These numbers scale up and down based on the amount of your bet, so even a $5 bet returns the same ratio of winnings. 

Shop around for the best price

It’s often more lucrative to use multiple political betting sites. That’s why we’ve listed our top five choices. By having accounts at multiple sites, you can shop around for the best odds on your preferred bet. 

Different sites may also give you access to more betting markets. One political betting site may only post odds on presidential elections, for example, while others may offer odds on additional elections or a larger selection of props and futures.

Stay current

If you’re making frequent political bets, it pays to keep up on the news. Keep an eye on what’s happening in Washington D.C., Ottawa, or London, England, if you’re betting on Presidential and Prime Minister elections. 

How will the economy factor into an election? What are the most recent polls saying? Also, don’t get all your political news from one source. Reading or watching the news from different media outlets will give you a better view of what’s happening on both sides of the political spectrum.

Don’t forget about political biases, and don’t let them impact your betting habits. You shouldn't let your sporting allegiances affect your sports betting picks, so don't let your political biases sway your election picks, either. 

Bet with your head and not your political heart. The squares you check at the ballot box don't always have to match the box you check on your bet slip.

Latest odds on election betting

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election attracted significant betting attention, even though American bettors were restricted from accessing it.

Odds for 2024 Presidential candidates

In the early morning hours of November 6, 2024, AP News and other major news sources called the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election for Donald Trump. Trump will become the 47th President in January of 2025.

Political betting recent news

Here's the latest news and notes from the political betting scene:

Nov. 26, 2024: France gaming regulators reportedly ban crypto betting platform Polymarket in response to a gambler winning $80 million on the platform after betting on the U.S. Presidential Election.

Nov. 13, 2024: In an interview with Sportsbook Review, former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal claims he foresaw a "massive landslide" win for Donald Trump and suggests UFC CEO Dana White should join the re-elected president's team. 

Nov. 8, 2024: On a conference call with analysts and investors, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins says the company is looking into prediction market opportunities ahead of the 2028 U.S. Presidential Election. 

Nov. 7, 2024: The identity of the "French Trump Whale" who bet more than $30 million on the Republican candidate to win the Electoral College and popular vote is revealed as Theo, a trader and investor who made nearly $50 million off his massive political wager.

Nov. 6, 2024: Donald Trump wins the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election becoming the 47th President of the United States, a result that was foreseen by many prediction platforms prior to Election Day.

Nov. 1, 2024: Polymarket, Kalshi, and other platforms reveal the 20 biggest US Presidential Election bets placed so far. The top wager? $45 million(!) on Trump to win at Polymarket.

Oct. 30, 2024: A new study from the American Gaming Association found that the majority of Trump and Harris voters support legal gambling and sports betting.

Oct. 29, 2024: Robinhood, the stock trading app, rolls out U.S. Election predictions, allowing users to "make trades" based on their election predictions. 

Oct. 28, 2024: ChatGPT predicts that Kamala Harris will win the election by a razor thin margin, after some brief hesitation.

Oct. 25, 2024: BetMGM reports that Trump is holding over 75% of the betting handle in markets where political betting is allowed, even though the number of bets on each candidate is almost exactly 50/50.

Oct. 21, 2024: Trump stages a photo-up at a McDonald's restaurant in a weird attempt to call out Harris for not actually having worked there during college, as she claims. The betting odds do not shift much at all. 

Oct. 15, 2024: With just three weeks left in the race, Trump now sits as a -163 favorite to win the Presidency, while Harris sits at +130.

Sept. 11, 2024: Harris surged to a slight lead after debating Trump on national TV for the first time, now posted as a -125 favorite compared to Trump's +100 even money.

Sept. 10, 2024: With Harris and Trump's first debate scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on ABC, Trump now leads with -125 odds. Harris remains even money at +100. 

Sept. 5, 2024: The odds continue to shuffle around. Both Trump and Harris are sit tied at slightly less than even money, each with -110 odds. 

August 19, 2024: Kamala Harris increases her lead in the betting odds, shifting to a -125 favorite. Donald Trump remains even money at +100.

August 8, 2024: Odds shift for Harris after the post VP reveal, as Harris and Trump move to -110.

August 6, 2024: Democratic nominee Kamala Harris sees odds stay at +110 after selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz as her Vice-President on Tuesday.

August 5, 2024: Donald Trump now a -138 favorite at bet365 while Kamala Harris is a +110.

July 21, 2024: Joe Biden announces he will no longer accept the Democratic nomination and will instead endorse current Vice President Kamala Harris.

May 29, 2024: Donald Trump is now a -138 betting favorite at bet365 to win the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Biden moves to +137. 

May 4, 2024: Donald Trump is the -120 favorite to become president. Joe Biden is a slight underdog at +110.

Political betting sites summary

Here's a quick breakdown of the important details you need to know when it comes to the best political betting sites:

Odds courtesy of bet365 as of Nov. 1, 2024.

Political betting sites and responsible gambling

No matter what you’re betting on, whether it’s sports, politics, or casino games, it’s important to play responsibly. Risk is always present in all forms of gambling. Even something that looks like a guaranteed win could turn out to be a loss. 

Some of the signs of problem gambling include being unable to stop gambling, chasing wins to overcome past losses, neglecting your responsibilities in favour of gambling, mood swings, and constantly claiming you can stop anytime. 

If you (or a loved one) are showing signs of problem gambling, there are many resources available to you that can help. Speak to your doctor or health care provider, or check out any of these free resources:

• ResponsibleGambling.Org - A resource to connect you with various counsellors and tools to help.
• CAMH - The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is Canada's largest mental health and addiction organization.