Novelty Betting - Get the Best Novelty Odds

Most modern-day betting websites deal with sports betting. Sports, however, are not the only events dependent on an outcome – and as long as there's an outcome, there's something to bet on. This is when novelty betting comes into the picture, and this piece will go into all the details you need to know before you get started.

Novelty Bets Explained

A novelty bet is a bet on a non-sport-related outcome– this could vary from the next President of the Unites States to the best picture winner at the Academy Awards.  

Novelty betting is considered a niche among bettors, but it can be just as exciting as sports betting. It can also be a gateway for people who are excited by the prospect of betting but not particularly interested in sports. Novelty bets cover a wide range of current and popular events, so there's almost certainly going to be something that will pique the interest of a potential bettor, no matter if they're a sports fan or not.

Here are some popular novelty betting markets: 

• Most political events around the world
• Reality television shows with a competitive angle
• Awards shows like the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, and the Grammys
• The gender of a baby born into the Royal Family
• Other pop culture events: how long will a celebrity couple stay together, when will the following music album from a famous artist come out, and who will die in a season of a popular television show?

The list goes on...

How To Place Novelty Bets

It is important to remember that although most sportsbooks provide novelty bets markets, not all do, and the markets on offer are likely to be different from sportsbook to sportsbook. So, what should you look out for? 

• First, find a sportsbook that offers a good range of novelty or special bets, and check if they have a good sign-up bonus. At Oddspedia we can help you compare the best sportsbook where you are here.
• Sign up by entering all your information, completing the registration process, and depositing your money to start playing. Don't forget to opt-in or use a promo code to get your welcome offer.
• Search for Novelty or Special bets, normally listed like a specific sport, and select the betting market.
• Have a look at the types of bets on offer, they'll usually be limited to futures or outright bets, but occasionnaly there is more choice depending on the event.
• Place your bet.

Best Sportsbooks for Novelty Bets

Oddspedia has detailed, expert reviews of all the best sportsbooks, as well as reviews from real bettors. Our experts have thoroughly tested and analyzed each site to determine that they are definitely a top novelty betting site and, of course, offer a good selection of markets with competitive odds.  

Types of Novelty Bets

Novelty bets are much like sports bets, but can be typically be divided into five types: outright, place, each-way, parlay, and forecast bets. 
Let's briefly take a look at them and how they differ from one another:

Outright Win

Outright markets relate to the final outcome, like the winner of an Academy Award. It is a pretty simple bet and is the sort of prediction that is commonplace in popular culture. If you place the correct wager, you could stand to win big rewards – this is, of course, dependent on when you placed the bet. Outrights are the most popular form of novelty betting and make an excellent place for beginners to start.

Place 

Place bets are similar to outright bets but much wider in scope. You can bet on which place an individual or team will finish from first, second, third, fourth, and so on.

This is quite common for reality television shows with very clear standings. Singing competitions like American Idol and The Voice have very clear first, second, and third-place winners.  

Each-Way 

An each-way bet is a mix of a win and a place bet, and is quite popular in the novelty betting market. It is also a bet that reduces risk without compromising on a big payout.  

If you place an each-way bet on a contestant in a reality television show to win and the person goes on to win the competition, you can win big for predicting the win and the place. Equally, if they come second (or place lower depending on the sportsbook's market), you will still win at the lesser each-way odds.

Parlays 

Most sports bettors will be familiar with parlays. A parlay is an accumulation of bets – these wagers are usually based on the same event, but some sportsbooks offer parlays for multiple events. The risk with this form of betting is that if you place one inaccurate wager in the parlay, you'll stand to win nothing. 

Forecast 

This is another type of bet that isn't dissimilar to outright betting – the only difference is you also get to choose the runner-up. There's also something called a reverse forecast, where the risk isn't as significant because the order of the winner and runner-up doesn't matter – as long as your bet on the final two comes true, you will win. This type of betting works best for competitions featuring multiple contestants, like American Idol and Eurovision. 

Most Popular Novelty Betting Markets 

Online novelty betting has become extremely popular. Sports and pop culture are part of the entertainment sector in many ways, and they're almost always heavily discussed in person or on the internet. Novelty betting is a sure-shot way to rake in some rewards on these discussions. 

Next Pope 

The pope is the head of the global Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has around 1.3 billion followers, which is why the person at the very top of this institution has great influence. Pope Francis, who currently sits in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Vatican City, has been praised for modernizing the Catholic Church. This position is usually held until death, but the his predecessor resigned, and Pope Francis has often hinted at having a short term, making this a very popular novelty betting market. 

The End of the World 

This might seem like a joke at first, but it is a popular novelty betting market. Every decade, there are warnings of the world coming to an end, and those who bet against this often end up winning a few rewards. In recent years, the COVID pandemic played its part in advancing the popularity of this market. 

Before that, the year 2012 and the start of the new millennium were also associated with the end of the world – the former was, supposedly, foretold according to Mayan legend.

Leonardo DiCaprio's Next Girlfriend 

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of Hollywood's surviving superstars – his storied acting career has made him one of the most recognizable celebrities on the planet. He was nominated for an Academy Award as a teenager for his performance in What's Eating Gilbert Grape; went on to become a world star for his role in the iconic blockbuster Titanic; starred in movies helmed by legendary directors like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino; and has won an Oscar for The Revenant. 

He's also a philanthropist and environmental activist. Of course, none of that makes the headlines like his dating life. He has dated some of the most popular models worldwide and has become infamous for dating women under 25  – so much so that his dating life has become a market for novelty betting. 

First Woman on the Moon

As of today, only 12 people have landed on the moon, and all of them have been men. Many women have explored space, but women account for only 10% of space explorers. There is a larger societal issue at play here, but it looks like the next decade will see a woman land on the moon. What's open to predicting is who that woman will be, and it is one of the most popular novelty betting markets. 

Mascot of the Olympic Games in Brisbane 2032 

Mascots of the Olympic games are a big deal because hosting the Olympic games is a big deal. Brisbane, Australia, has been honored to host the famous competition in 2032, and there has been a lot of talk regarding who the mascot might be. 

Australia has hosted the Olympics in the past in Sydney, and the games had some memorable mascots in Syd, Olly, and Millie. There have been a lot of rumors suggesting that a palm cockatoo might be the mascot, and if you believe that to be true, there's a novelty betting market that could help you make some money on the prediction. 

Mark Zuckerberg's First MMA Opponent 

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of the social media website Facebook, has been taking MMA lessons since last year. Zuckerberg is one of the most polarizing figures in the world, and there have been a lot of rumors suggesting that he might participate in a celebrity MMA match. 

Celebrity and YouTube boxing has taken over the combat sports world in the last couple of years, and it wouldn't be a complete surprise if Zuckerberg dabbles in this. Figuring out his opponent is a bit harder, but you can now bet on The Zuck's first professional fight. 

Alien Existence 

Not unlike predictions regarding the end of the world, the existence of extraterrestrial beings or aliens has long been the domain of conspiracy theorists. Of course, scientists from NASA and other such organizations have also spent years trying to find out if aliens exist, but there's no evidence of that as of today. 

There have been many unconfirmed UFO sightings and rumors surrounding facilities like Area 51, but they remain unfounded. That, of course, hasn't stopped this subject from being discussed for decades and these debates have spawned a market for novelty betting. 

Henry Cavill Odds to Get Married 

Henry Cavill is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood. He has also become a bit of a sex symbol, leading to a market on his marital status. Cavill, 39 years old, has never married but is currently dating Natalie Viscuso. However, the odds of the two getting married are low. 

Of course, there'll be a lot of broken hearts if Cavill were to tie the knot. One way to cope would be to make some money on his marital status. 

Others 

Did you know that you can also bet on future events in your own life? You can bet on your child becoming the President, your wife becoming an actor, and all sorts of bizarre things.

In the past, there were markets for who Luis Suarez will bite next – this goes to show that there aren't any limits when it comes to novelty betting markets.

Donald Trump used to dominate many of the betting markets in the last decade because of his antics. If someone famous is getting into trouble, there's usually a novelty betting market revolving around the individual. 

Advantages to Placing Novelty Bets 

Let's take a look at some of the advantages novelty bets offer to players, in comparison to sports bets.

Equal Conditions With the Sportsbook

Current affairs are harder to predict because they aren't as regular as sports events. Bookmakers have an extensive data set with sports events, but the same can't be said for novelty betting markets. You might have more knowledge of the subject in many instances than the bookmaker, which could be used to your advantage.  

Suitable For Everyone 

As popular as sports are, many people worldwide don't enjoy sports. Novelty betting offers an alternative for bettors who have a passion for politics, reality TV, film and television, popular culture, and more. 

Winning Money While Enjoying the Event 

Similar to sports betting, novelty betting helps add another layer of excitement to an event that interests you. Having some skin in the game might make you feel much closer to the event.

Novelty betting Strategies and Tips 

Like sports bets, strategies have evolved over the years that can help players find success in the long run. Let's take a look at some of the top novelty betting strategies employed by expert players today.

Do An Analysis of the Event 

It's always best to do some of your own research on the event before checking up online. If it's a reality show, it's best to learn the format. You should learn what the voters or the Academy prioritize if it's an awards ceremony. If it's something like an election, follow the news and clearly understand systems that are in place, like the electoral college. 

Bet on Things You Know Well 

Always start by betting on events you already have a strong grasp on. If you're betting on novelty markets, there's a strong likelihood that you see it as an alternative to sports betting, but just like sports, the more you know, the more informed your bets will be, increasing your likelihood of success.

Follow the Latest Trends 

Follow pop culture trends. Just a few hours on social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram will do the job – of course, follow the right pages on these social media platforms. Sites like Buzzfeed or other entertainment and pop culture aggregators can be helpful. 

Choose a Sportsbook Carefully

This goes without saying – the sportsbook should be reliable. You can't go wrong with some of the sportsbooks that we review and recommend. All of them are highly reliable for sports betting as well. 

Make Bets at Different Sportsbooks 

Don't depend on any one sportsbook. By betting with different sportsbooks, you can compare and pick the best odds, and get access to a bigger selection of markets and offers. Choice in online betting is only ever a good thing, and the more choice you have, the more value you can get from your betting experience.

Be Successful When Betting on Novelty Specials with Oddspedia 

Oddspedia is great for finding your novelty specials – it offers great lines, aggregates most of the news concerning novelty betting, and provides tips and statistical analysis.

Always Bringing You the Best Betting Lines

Oddspedia always lists out the odds of a huge range of novelty betting sites. This way, you'll know which sportsbook to go to. 

See Full Odds History and Movement 

We also offer a history of odds and graphs of the movement since the opening of the market. If you don't have the time to research the subject, a little look at this graph can give you the direction in which the odds are moving and the likelihood of an event happening. 

Get the Latest News 

Instead of looking up other websites or news channels, you can get important information concerning the novelty markets you're betting on all in one place. 

Read Betting Tips and Analysis

There are betting guides and tips for the different novelty markets, all discussed in detail on our site. 

Check Statistics and Public Opinion

Just like any event, it's important to consume as much information as possible. Oddspedia compiles all the necessary statistics and public opinions on the topics dealing with the novelty betting markets, and you can get opinion from fellow bettors, all in one place.  

What Are the Most Popular Novelty Bets in the US? 

There are an endless number of novelty betting markets. It doesn't have to be limited to presidential elections. You can place novelty bets on winners of reality television shows, the weather, celebrity gossip, and other segments from the entertainment world as well as everyday life. 

Some of the most popular novelty bets in the US have been covered in the earlier sections of this article. The winners of award shows like the Oscars, GRAMMYs, and Emmys are some of the other popular novelty bets. 

Legality of Novelty Betting in the US 

Novelty betting is not illegal in the US. However, certain markets are prohibited, for example, federal law prohibits gambling on local or national elections. Having said that, the majority of other markets are becoming more popular and widely available, but it's always best to check the laws regarding betting in your state first.

Novelty Betting FAQ