TV and Movie Betting – Get the Latest Odds on TV Shows and Movies

Reality Shows and Movie Bets Explained 

The entertainment betting sector is dominated by reality television shows. It follows a format that isn't dissimilar to sports, as there are many contestants and a winner at the end of it all. The popular reality television show Love Island is a great example – it has got top female, top male, and winning couple markets right now.

Movie bets are a bit different as wagers are usually placed on what award a movie might win or how much it might gross. With the Academy Awards (a.k.a The Oscars) coming soon, the top entertainment sportsbooks will certainly have bets on movies and actors likely to win the big prizes. It's also important to highlight that reality tv betting and movie betting markets are dominated by futures and prop bets.

How To Place Bets on TV Specials? 

• Entertainment betting is available on the most recognized and reputed betting sites. However, it's best to search for betting sites with many markets specifically for entertainment betting when looking for a television special.
• Ensure that the sportsbook has a license, easy access, reliable customer service, and more if you're a first-time user.
• Television specials are one-time events, so they are only available for a limited period.
• Start placing bets on the television special by signing up for the sportsbook that will work best for you.

Best Betting Sites For Betting on TV Specials 

According to the research conducted by our experts, sportsbooks vary in their offering for betting odds on TV specials, reality TV, and the like. Almost all the best betting apps and betting sites offer some odds, with futures and outrights being the most widely available, but others do focus on more niche markets like TV show prop bets.

We recommend shopping around for the best value, and as always Oddspedia will compare the best on the market so you can make the most well-informed wager.

Types of TV Specials Bets

As stated earlier, the two most common types of bets in entertainment betting are outright bets and prop bets. The two types of bets will be explained below. 

Outright Bets 

An outright bet is a wager placed on the final outcome of a competition. This sort of bet is usually placed before the competition starts but can also be placed during the competition – the odds will change throughout the season, of course. The winning couple bet on Love Island is a great example of an outright or futures bet.

Outright bets are simple to comprehend. Even those who don't typically bet make predictions on who they think will win a certain competition – futures bets follow the same logic. 

Prop Bets 

A prop bet or proposition bet is a wager placed on single events within an episode or game – not related to a match's final outcome. 

In the case of reality television shows, prop bets are usually placed on events within an episode – this could have something to do with the elimination of a contestant, which contestant might win a challenge, and so on. 

TV Shows and Movie Categories – What Kind of Markets Can You Expect?

Some television shows and movie markets are ubiquitous. One such example in the Hollywood casting odds is concerning who will play the next James Bond. Other regular markets include box office numbers, Rotten Tomato ratings, cancellation of a television show, and deaths in an upcoming movie or television show. 

Most of these markets are fairly easy to understand because they form the bulk of pop culture conversation – betting sites simply create a market based on these everyday debates. There are other markets like winners and nominees of award shows as well, which are always highly anticipated. 

Which Are the Most Popular Reality TV Shows To Bet On?  

Reality television shows really picked up in the 2000s. Several popular reality shows from that period are still running and have got an extremely passionate fanbase – if there's such large-scale interest in these shows, there's almost certainly going to be betting interest too. Let's briefly look at the premise of these shows and what the common betting markets for these shows are. 

Survivor 

Survivor is an American reality television show that has been running since May 2000 and just completed its 43rd season. Hosted by Jeff Probst, it's often considered the top American reality television show. 

The show is a competition where strangers are taken to an exotic but isolated island, complete physical challenges and mental puzzles along with the other contestants, and avoid elimination. 

One of the most common betting markets concerns immunity. One contestant usually gets voted out at the end of an episode but can avoid this process entirely if they win immunity sometime earlier in the show. Placing a wager on who might win immunity is a pretty common bet.

American Idol 

American Idol is a broadcast TV singing competition. The show took off in 2002 and recently completed 20 seasons. Some of the winners of the show include pop icons like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks. 

The judges of these shows have changed over the years, but almost all of them have boosted their fame by being on the show. Of course, most reality television shows have elimination, and American Idol is no different. This is a betting market applicable to most reality shows but an alternative market is betting on the gender of the winner. 

America's Got Talent 

Like American Idol, America's Got Talent is also a show where Simon Cowell served as a judge. America's Got Talent premiered in 2006 and completed 17 seasons in 2022. 

This reality television show lets people from across America showcase their talent – it can range from something as common as singing to something as bizarre as swallowing a sword. 

One of the prevalent betting markets for America's Got Talent is regarding the type of performer who'll win the competition – be it a comedian, singer, dancer, etc.

The Bachelor 

The Bachelor is a reality television show that is concerned with dating and relationships. This show has been running for 20 years and has completed 27 seasons. 

The premise of the television show revolves around an eligible bachelor and female contestants, with the bachelor expected to undertake a proposal for marriage for the winning contestant. The bachelor doesn't always have to go ahead with a proposal and some of the other rules can also be tweaked. 

One of the popular betting markets for The Bachelor concerns how long a certain contestant might stay on the show. 

The Bachelorette

The Bachelorette is a spin-off of The Bachelor. It premiered in 2003, one year after the premiere of The Bachelor. The Bachelorette has completed 17 seasons and follows a very similar premise to The Bachelor, with the obvious difference being that the show revolves around an eligible bachelorette instead of a bachelor. 

The Bachelorette had completed fewer seasons than The Bachelor because the show went through a hiatus between 2005-2008. It has regained its popularity since and betting markets can range from something like elimination, to the color of the dress the bachelorette might wear. 

Big Brother

Big Brother is a reality television show that surveils the lives of its contestants who are isolated from the real world. George Orwell's seminal novel "1984" inspired the name of the show. The American version of the show premiered in 1997 and has completed 24 seasons since. 

The show has inspired many other reality television shows and is often considered one of the most influential television shows of all time. Contestants are eliminated from the show based on voting. Many contestants also voluntarily quit the show and predicting who might quit the show is a fairly popular betting market. 

Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Keeping Up With the Kardashians was a reality television show that ran from 2007 to 2021. It follows the lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family. The Kardashians and Jenners have transcended their socialite status and become successful models and business moguls thanks to the popularity of the show. 

The family members are now part of a different show called 'The Kardashians' on Hulu. Betting sites have been criticized in the past for opening markets on who a family member might date in the future. 

Eurovision 

Eurovision is an international singing competition that takes place annually. From its name, you can gather that it's a singing competition that mostly includes European nations. Legendary artists like ABBA and Celine Dion have participated in this event in the past.

There is no barrier as far as genres are considered, but contestants that usually win this competition are quite extravagant. Eurovision is a television special, which is why there's a limited period for betting sites. Besides betting on the winner, you can bet on countries that might make the top 10 or the top 5. 

The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer is one of the newer reality television shows. It premiered in the United States in 2019 but has quickly gained popularity. It's a singing competition where the identities of the contestants aren't revealed as they're covered head-to-toe in costumes and face masks. 

The people behind the masks are celebrities, and there are many betting markets revolving around who the person behind the mask might be. 

Dancing With the Stars 

Dancing With the Stars is a reality television show that has been around since 2005 and recently completed 31 seasons. In this show, American celebrities are paired with professional dancers. The contestants are judged by a panel before the public decides who stays and who goes. 

Betting on who might win or get eliminated is great fun with this show because there is always some information on the professional dancers on the internet.

The Voice 

The Voice is another popular singing competition. It is known for its blind auditions, where the judges have their seats turned towards the audience so that they aren't biased towards the contestant's appearance and judge them purely on their voice. 

The show has had some of the most popular singers in the world as judges from Adam Levine, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Alicia Keys, and more. The judges also mentor a contestant, which allows you to make an outright bet on the judge who you think might win before the show even starts.

Why Should You Bet on TV Shows?

If betting is permitted in your region, there are several reasons why taking part in betting can be so exciting. Betting is an enjoyable recreational activity – and even though it's mostly associated with sports, that shouldn't stop you from betting on other activities like entertainment. They all fall under the larger entertainment umbrella, after all. 

Engagement 

Betting on your favorite shows allows you to get involved with the happenings of it like never before. If you were starting to think that television entertainment was getting monotonous, there's no better way to make a spectacle of it than by entering wagers over what might happen.

Lower Limits - Stay Within a Budget 

TV and movie bets typically have much lower betting limits than the typical sportsbook wager. In sports, bet limits are often very high as it's where sportsbooks can make the most money. TV bet limits are often just a fraction of what you can wager on sports.

Suitable for Everyone

Sports are extremely popular, but they're not for everyone. A show that is broadcast on television doesn't have as many barriers to access. As long as a person owns a television set or some device that plays television shows, they'll find something to their liking. 

Winning Money by Enjoying Your Favorite Show

One of the best parts of sports betting is adding a new layer of interest to something you might already enjoy. The same idea can be applied to betting on your favorite show. For example, a show like Game of Thrones, which was notorious for its shocking deaths, could be even more fun if you can bet on which character might die in an episode or before a season ends. 

TV Shows Betting Strategies and Tips 

There are many things that you must keep in mind before placing a bet. You need to have a basic understanding of the television medium mostly, and we'll go through what these basics are below. 

Understand the Rules of TV Shows

Like sports betting, reality television shows also have some rules and formats. Before placing wagers, it's important to understand these rules and the format fully. Shows like Survivor can be a bit confusing at first because of concepts like immunity and how that changes hands – so it's important to have a decent understanding of the rules of a television show. 

Shows Are For Entertainment

While placing entertainment bets, it's important not to lose sight of why TV bets exist in the first place. Unlike sports, TV shows didn't evolve alongside the betting industry. Even if there are predictable and scripted elements to reality TV, there are high chances of unexpected twists taking place such as sudden eliminations or rule changes. Before you enter a wager, remember to bear this in mind. This is especially true when past seasons or past shows by the same producers have produced noteworthy twists. Unlike sports, TV shows are made more purely for entertainment and are made without betting in mind. 

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Television shows are meant to grab the attention of the viewer over a long period of time. To do this, the creators have to throw in a few surprises every now and then to get viewers to talk about the show. It's important to think like the creator if you're placing wagers on the outcome of a television show. 

Pay Attention to Rumours and Gossip  

Whether it's a reality television show or just a typical serialized show, the show is usually broadcasted a month or two after everything's been recorded. There's always some information through leaks, rumors, and gossip that can help you when betting on outcomes in the television show. Don't depend entirely on these rumors, but keep them in mind. 

Pay Attention to Writer's Past Shows  

In case you're betting on a show that is known to be scripted, looking into the writer's past work can be revealing. Pay attention to the sorts of twists and unexpected events that they have included in previous shows. How much do these twists favor underdogs? If you can accurately predict the direction the show's writers will take, you can gain a betting edge.

It's a Must-See!

Television shows that gain widespread popularity and become "must-see TV" can be even more exciting to bet on since so many different people will be anticipating the next airing and discussing it afterward. Betting on these shows might make for an even more engaging experience. 

Be Successful When Betting on TV Specials With Oddspedia

Grab the Best Odds 

Oddspedia sets itself apart from the others by allowing you to compare odds across bookmakers and evaluate the best available sportsbook promos and offers. We have currently detailed more than 200 bookmakers that you can choose from.

See Full Odds History and Movement 

On Oddspedia, you can view and track the movement of odds since they open. This allows you to see how odds have evolved over time as various factors affect the outcomes of a certain betting market. 

Get the Latest News 

Forget about searching for information in multiple browser tabs. Our website collects the latest information from news agencies. Everything you need to know to place a solid bet can be found on our website. 

Read Betting Tips and Analysis 

Check out our betting tips and analyses to get information on all the unique bets that you can participate in. 

Check Statistics and Public Opinion 

Finally, you can get all the hard data that you need in the form of statistics and insight into public opinion. These will come in handy when you need to make some hard decisions. 

Specifics of TV Show Betting in the United States

The US is home to some of the most popular television shows on the planet. After all, America is the home of many lucrative production studios, and television in particular has only become more and more popular and in demand over the years. These shows aren't just broadcasted in the US either. They're broadcasted all around the world. 

Betting is also a very popular recreational activity. It makes all the sense in the world to then bet on the outcome of these popular television shows. Bets can be placed online now, so there's no need to head to a casino or visit a retail sportsbook to place a wager. You can bet as you watch. 

TV Betting FAQ