Special Bets - get the latest non-sports novelty, TV & political bets online
The betting industry has seen a remarkable expansion in the past two decades, partly attributed to the rise of online sportsbooks. This development has come with a diverse array of betting options, known as special or exotic bets, to choose from. These bets often provide an exciting supplement to real-life events, allowing players to increase their thrills with each stake.
We have all the best non-sport novelty bets, television bets, and political bets online. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about them before you start betting.
What are special bets?
Put simply, special bets can cover almost anything outside of the realms of sport. Want to stake on who you think will win the next celebrity reality television series? Or how about predicting who the next president of the United States will be? Special bets cover these options and so much more.
In this section, we’ll explain all the different types of special bets you might come across. Maybe you didn’t even realize you could place bets on these things. After reading this guide, you’ll be able to wager on almost anything.
Novelty
Novelty bets encompass markets that you can wager on outside of the realms of sport. These can include almost anything, and sometimes you’ll find them offered on the site, or other times, you may be able to request odds on certain events.
Some examples of novelty bets include guessing the gender of a royal baby, whether a famous band will get back together, when the next snowfall will be in certain areas, what the next career move of a famous person could be, and many more. If you can think of a future event in which there are various possible outcomes, you may be able to get odds for it from a bookmaker.
Politics
Political betting refers to placing bets on the outcome of political events, such as general or local elections, or referendums. This can include wagers on the winner of a presidential or parliamentary election, the outcome of a referendum, or even on individual races for political office. You’ll also find markets on how long current members of office are expected to stay in power.
Political betting operates similarly to traditional sports betting in that it involves placing a wager on the outcome of an event, with odds established by the bookmakers. In political betting, the sportsbooks set odds for each candidate or outcome based on a variety of factors such as polls, past election results, and current events.
TV shows
We’ve been living in the era of reality television. No matter what topic you can think of, there’s probably a series featuring people competing over it. Baking, dancing, singing, and talent shows make up the bulk of these competitive television shows, and people love betting on who they think will win.
Along with reality betting, you can even find special bets on the outcomes of storylines in much-loved soap operas. In the UK, bookmakers have famously offered markets on Coronation Street and Eastenders in the past, helping to elevate the storylines to become almost newsworthy. You can expect something similar with US soap operas with specials betting on storylines in the likes of General Hospital or The Bold and the Beautiful.
Awards
There are various awards ceremonies that take place annually, with many held in incredibly high esteem. The Academy Awards, for instance, always attracts a lot of interest, especially from bettors.
If you think you can predict who will win in the various categories from Best Director to Best Picture, you can wager on it with a variety of bookmakers. The organizers of these events are good at keeping the results secret, so they make for excellent betting opportunities.
Betting on celebrities
If you love following the antics of celebrities who can’t seem to keep themselves out of the public eye, you can stake on what you think they’re going to get up to next. For example, you might want to wager on how long you think a celebrity couple will stay together, or who Ariana Grande’s next love interest will be.
You could also place bets on career moves for your favorite celebrities. Perhaps you think that someone is ideally suited to host a new game show. One of the most popular celebrity bets right now, for example, is wagering on who the next actor to play James Bond will be.
National events
There are various national events that occur throughout the year in every country, and you will sometimes be able to find betting markets for these as well. These could range from predicting when the new king’s coronation will take place, when a royal baby will be born, or which city will be voted the best place to live in the country.
Current events
Finally, some other special bets that you may want to bet on cover current events. These could include betting on gas prices going up or down or staking on where major weather events will strike. A common bet that people like to place every year is whether it will be a white Christmas or not. For that special bet to win, there needs to be a certain amount of snowfall on Christmas Day that year.
Best betting sites for special bets
You’ll find all the best sites for special bets right here at our site. Before making a recommendation, our experts conduct a thorough and honest analysis of the sportsbook. You’ll even find real reviews from bettors who have used the site to great effect in the past.
There are various key things that our experts look for when assessing whether a site should be regarded as one of the best betting sites for special or exotic bets. These include:
- Betting Variety – Does the site have a wide range of specials?
- Attractive Betting Lines – Does it offer great odds on a variety of lines?
- Sportsbook Promos – Are there bonuses for certain events?
- Banking Options – Does the site have a wide range of payment methods?
- User Interface – Does the site have a user-friendly interface?
- Mobile Compatibility – Can the site be accessed from a mobile?
- Reliability – How reliable is the site with payouts and customer service?
- Reputation – What do past bettors say about the site?
Betting sites for special bets to avoid
Here at Oddspedia, we consider it our duty to protect our users from falling victim to fake betting sites and fraud online. Such sites can not only steal your money but also your personal data, which can be used for a variety of illegitimate purposes.
To safeguard our users, Oddspedia conducts a thorough analysis of sportsbooks before recommending them. This includes checking for the proper licenses from official regulatory bodies.
On our website, you will only find the best sportsbooks that are licensed and regulated. We look for brands that take their responsibility to protect users' information and money seriously.
You should be aware, though, that it is just as important for you to do your due diligence when it comes to online betting. We strongly encourage you to check for licenses and read reviews yourself before signing up for an account or depositing money.
How to place special bets?
In this section, we’ll give you a rundown of how to place special bets online. Soon, you’ll be ready to wager on almost anything.
Create a sportsbook account
First, you’ll need to create an account at the sportsbook you want to bet with. It will require you to upload some personal information, including your address and a form of identification.
It may also take some time for these things to be verified. Don’t forget to claim a welcome bonus if there is one available. Also, always remember to read the terms and conditions first so you know what you’re getting. Here are our picks for best sportsbooks promos:
Deposit money
To start betting, you need to deposit some money in your account. Choose your desired payment method and transfer the amount that you feel comfortable with.
Some welcome offers will give you a deposit match on the first deposit, meaning that it can be beneficial to transfer a larger amount the first time. Make sure you are aware of how these bonuses work before you deposit your funds.
Browse through the available betting options
The best betting apps and sites will have handy tabs at the side with all the different sports that they offer. Navigate to the tab that says specials or something similar, and you’ll be able to see all the markets that you can wager on outside of the world of sports.
Create your bet slip and wager some money
Once you’ve found something you want to bet on, such as the winner of America’s Got Talent, you can click on their name, and it will create a bet slip. You then choose your stake, and it will show you how much you stand to win if it comes to fruition. All you have to do is hit confirm to place the bet.
Wait for the events to unfold
Special bets can occur across a range of timelines, and some options may not have a specific date. For example, if you place a bet on when the first humans will go to Mars, it could happen at any point in the future. You must wait for the bet to come to pass before you can collect your winnings.
The most popular specials betting markets
As we mentioned before, there’s a vast range of things that you can bet on outside of sports. Indeed, typically anything that isn’t included in the realms of the NFL, NHL, NBA, and others would be considered a special bet. Some special bets are more common and popular than others, though. Check out the list below for the most popular special bets that people make each year:
- Politics – There’s an election somewhere every year, and people love to try to predict the outcome via betting.
- Awards – Award ceremonies are a great time to place bets on who you think will win the various categories.
- TV & Movies – One of the most popular specials markets ever is on who will be the next actor to play James Bond. Another market that attracts a lot of interest is the next Doctor Who star.
- The Royal Family – The royal family in the UK is never far from the public eye. People love betting on their lives, such as what gender the next royal baby will be.
- Novelty bets – Some other popular special bets include staking on Miss Universe, the weather, and the next Nobel Prize winner.
Available bet types
There are various bet types in the betting industry that you need to know of when you place your wagers. In sports, that range is broader, as there are so many different outcomes. Special betting, on the other hand, can be much simpler. See the list below for the different bets you may be able to take advantage of on specials markets:
- Win – This is when you stake on an outright winner of an event. An example could be the winner of Dancing on Ice.
- Place – This is when you bet on someone finishing in the top three of an event.
- Each-Way – An each-way bet is when you bet on someone to win. However, you also get a return if they finish in second or third.
- Parlay – This is when you tie two bets or more into the same slip. For example, you could wager the month you think a royal baby will be born and its gender. These two separate bets would combine for better odds. Both outcomes need to come to fruition for you to win the bet.
- Forecast – This is when you bet on who you think will come first and second in an event. You have to get it in the right order to win.
Why should you bet on specials?
Betting on specials can be a great way to add some extra thrills to events that are going on in the world. If you think that you have a good idea about who might win an award or who the next president will be, you can put your money where your mouth is. If you’re right, it gives you a chance to gloat to your friends as well.
Advantages associated with special bets
There are a few advantages associated with special bets, and these make them even more appealing. See the list below for some of the main reasons why people make special bets:
- They're usually fun or more interesting
- They can offer amazing value
- They push bookmakers out of their comfort zones
- It may be possible to get inside information about some events
Risks
As with any betting market, you should be aware that there are some risks involved with special bets as well. Here are some of the downsides that you need to know about:
- Sometimes there’s a cap on winnings
- Bookmakers may air on the side of caution with odds
- Events may never come to fruition or be canceled
- Bookmakers may have insider information
Be successful when betting on specials with Oddspedia
When betting on Oddspedia, there are a few essential rules to follow that give you the best chance to be successful. Here are some vital recommendations to keep in mind:
Grab the best odds
The unique functionality of our site allows you to compare the odds of multiple sportsbooks and offers you the best options for betting. We have more than 200 betting sites to compare odds with. This means that you will always be able to find the best price for the market you want to stake on. We strongly advise shopping around before you wager.
See full odds history and movement
The history of odds and graphs of their movement since the opening of the market is available on our site. It can be helpful to consult these to try to determine when the best time to bet is. An example of a market that fluctuates a lot is betting on who will be the next James Bond actor. As news and rumors are released, the odds on the various favorites change.
Get the latest news
All the current and latest news from leading agencies are collected on our website. You no longer need to look for information in different places. We have gathered everything you need for you to make successful betting decisions. That means you’re likely to find some great insight on our site before you start betting.
Read betting tips and analysis
We have separate betting guides for different types of special bets, where all the specifics of these types of bets are discussed in detail, as well as tips and strategies that apply specifically to them.
Before you place your bets, it’s a great idea to see what our experts are saying. It’s their job to keep up to date with the latest news and provide you with picks on how to wager.
Check statistics and public opinion
Our site has all the necessary statistics for special bets, and the communication in our community will help you learn the opinion of most bettors. We’d highly recommend staying active in the forums so you can get a good idea about how other bettors are feeling. If everyone is saying the same thing about an event, it could mean that it will be a winner. This is the hive mind approach and one that can be successful in betting.