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The Top Novelty Betting Sites for 2024

Every now and then you want to place a so-called novelty bet. This light-hearted way to play still requires novelty betting sites to provide you the ultimate service. That is why we have created an in-depth review and guide for you. We look at bonuses, types of bet, criteria, and how to wager.

The Top 5 Novelty Betting Sportsbooks
Novelty Betting Site Bonus Offer Features Rating Secure Link T&C’s
Up to £50 15+ 94.34% 5/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! Open Account Offer. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required
Up to £30 15+ 94.15% 4.5/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • To withdraw any winnings from the Casino Bonus, wager the Bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.
Up to x2 ODDS 14+ 93.99% 4.5/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! Exclusive to new members. Offer applies to Sport bets only. Maximum total stake is £10. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total stake). Valid for 60 days after registration. 18+
Up to £30 12+ 93.76% 4.5/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New online customers only, min £10/€10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 X £10/€10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.
Up to £20 13+ 93.58% 4/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ New UK+IRE customers. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min €5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x €5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Top Novelty betting sites

Top 5 Novelty Betting Sites

  • 🥇 bet365 ✪ Our Top Novelty Betting Site
  • 🥈 888sport Widest Novelty Bet Selection
  • 🥉 Grosvenor Superb Selection of Markets
  • William Hill ✪ Great Novelty Betting Odds
  • Ladbrokes ✪ Best for TV Show Betting

When it comes to playing online novelty betting, you want to be able to bet in confidence, and with the best bookies. Our team of hard-working experts have put together the ultimate list for you to use. The five operators shown above are the result of fastidious studies that means you don’t have to waste time and can go straight to the fun stuff.

Best Novelty Betting Sites by Category:
🏆 Best Novelty Betting Site bet365
⬆️ Top Novelty Bets 888sport
💰 Best Novelty Bet Odds Grosvenor
🔄 Best Site for Beginners William Hill
📺 Top for TV Show Betting Ladbrokes
🔎 Great for Politics Betting William Hill
🎁 Best Novelty Betting Bonus bet365
♟️ Top Chess Betting Bookie 888sport
🔝 Top Gossip Bookmaker Ladbrokes
🆕 New Novelty Betting Site Grosvenor

As you can see, there are some well-respected names on that list. You are probably wanting to go straight ahead and play, and we don’t blame you! You may already be familiar with golf bets that have some novelty bet aspects, yet what we will introduce in the coming paragraphs of this review will go a lot deeper.

Betting on Entertainment and TV Shows

One of the primary ways to enter the novelty betting world is through betting on entertainment, or tv shows. Many of you will be familiar with shows like the X Factor, and often times, gambling bets will be associated with the show. They provide you with the opportunity to have wager whilst you watch, all types of showbiz events are usually covered.

The Best Bookmakers for Showbiz Betting
Showbiz Markets 9+
Betting Types 8+
Lots of Markets 12+

Which is the best novelty bet bookmaker for entertainment? Well, we have provided the top three operators for you to the right.

Usually, when placing a bet on a show you will place an ante-post wager, where you predict the eventual winner. This is very much similar to Formula 1 betting when you predict the winner of a race or the outcome of the season.

Unlike many other sports, however, it is unlikely that there will be the opportunity to bet on an event live. Even so, you can still have fun playing this type of wager.

The Four most Famous Shows to Bet On

So which shows are the best to bet on? Well, obviously the shows which have the most interest on your television screen, are the ones that will also have excellent odds. In the boxes below, you can see the shows which have the most extensive coverage.

  • X Factor

    When it comes to novelty betting markets, this is the primary one. Every year audiences tune in to see who will be the winner, and there is always a surprise or two in tow. It has been broadcast since 2004, and is will be in its sixteenth series this season. The brainchild of Simon Cowell, it has been exported to numerous countries around the world, yet it is our version that remains the best.

    The main bet is to predict the winner, yet there remains other smaller bets, such as predicting a finalist. Overall, millions of viewers tune in to watch this show, and as a result it is a very popular market.

  • Strictly Come Dancing

    Much like the previous show we mention, Stricly Come Dancing has become a mainstay on the television for British audiences.

    Since its introduction in 2004 it has had 17 series and has been exported to 40 countries worldwide. It is an incredibly popular dance show, where celebrities can showcase their talent.

    The main bets revolve around predicting the winner, but you can also wager on who will be knocked out, and if to what stage they will progress. It is a great show, and one that has numerous fans throughout the country and the world!

  • I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

    Another show beloved by hundreds of thousands of people, is I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The premise of the show is a number of celebs live together in a jungle and have to partake in a number of different challenges, from eating insects, to climbing trees.

    The eventual winner will be crowned ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ of the jungle. It’s been running since 2002 and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

    Gambling on the show tend to focus on predicting the winner, or who will be eliminated in the next round.

    It is loved by the general public and is one of the top markets.

  • Dancing on Ice

    This is the next show that is favoured by the punters is Dancing on Ice. Originally released in 2006, it is very much a competitor of Strictly. As a result, the bets are very much the same. Revolving around the main winner, next stage, and when they will get knocked out. It’s not the biggest of the shows, but it still has a dedicated following and many people tune in.

    Once more, celebrities compete and a judged on their ice skating performance.

    It was cancelled, but luckily, ITV brought it back, to the joy of thousands of fans across the land. It’ll be on the screens again this year!

Betting on Politics

Another option for online novelty betting is when you place a wager on politics and events concerned with it. It’s very popular as all the top gambling operators cover elections and key votes extensively. It’s hard to tell sometimes which way something is going to go and is the reason why you get to bet on it.

The Best Bookmakers for Politics Betting
Weekly Markets 10+
Top for UK 8+
EU Markets 5+

All novelty betting sites will have some form of political betting opportunities. Naturally, some are better at providing this kind of market than others.

Basically, this kind of wager will centre around predicting the outcome of an event, such as an election or even a referendum like football. Your bet will only be settled at the end when the result is known.

This is very similar to ante-post soccer betting, so if you have ever done that, then you know what to do here too. You will also know the odds aren’t the best.

The Four most Famous Politics Events to Bet On

So, what are the most favours things to bet on? Well, that depends as things like Brexit can pop up and throw a spanner in the works, but in general the American Presidential election and the UK general election are the most popular. Check out the boxes below for more info.

  • United Kingdom General Election

    One of the most popular ways of betting on politics is generally predicting the result of the election. There are also other bets, such as an over/under on the number of seats a party will get or predicting which party with receive the most votes.

    As we are in the UK, this election, which happens at least every five years is or less, this isn’t necessarily a market you’d be involved with all the time. Nevertheless, it is the most interesting one for many of you out there.

  • US Presidential Election

    Much like in the UK, the US have an election every four years. In it the country decides who will be president for the next four years.

    At the beginning of the race to be president, each side has many candidates, and the face off against each other, before then running head-to-head.

    Of course, when the are just two nominees left the odds will be very short, so it is best to get involved at the beginning stages so you have the chance to win more money.

  • EU Elections

    Another event covered is the EU elections. Much like other elections cover, the the bets will be very similar.

    You can wager on whether certain people or countries can will get more votes than others. You can also choose who will be the next president of the EU. Overall these elections are much more frequent and as a result more bets will be available. For many this type of novelty betting adds to an already intriguing campaign.

  • Political Events

    The fourth type of event is any political event such as a referendum. Most recently Brexit has been the prominent one, thus there have been numerous bets surrounding this.

    Bets from when the UK will leave, to if they ever will, or even if there would be another referendum have all been made available. Naturally, any such event will be popular with punters, and it remains to be seen which ones will arise in the coming future.

Betting on Gossip and Newspaper Talk

One of the other major categories that novelty betting sites have is placing a wager on so-called gossip. These are heavily influenced by newspapers and gossip magazines. Often you bet on who will be in the next relationship and so on. Below are the best bookies for this.

The Best Bookmakers for Gossip Betting
Gossip Markets 5+
Betting Types 5+
Weekly Markets 5+

This kind of bet is very rarely used and indeed is pretty hard to find at any normal bookie. Of course, every now and then bets do pop up, and as a result the bookies we have chosen here do the best job.

Of course, if you are an ardent bettor than this type of wager is not for you. Yet, for those looking for a more casual way of doing things, then this is the perfect way to have a punt.

Once again, many of the wagers available are ante-post or round betting. There is very little in-play stuff available, so it is best that you get the bets in early if you want to be successful.

Two Examples of Gossip Betting and Newspaper talk

Now, you may still be wondering what gossip betting could entail. Luckily, in the boxes below we have provided you with two examples. Now, these are purely theoretical but could ultimately happen in the near future.

  • Name the Baby

    One of the best examples of gossip betting is when it comes to naming a Royal baby (or even that of a celebrity). It doesn’t happen too often, but when it does, you basically have to choose one of the names from the list the bookie has provided you and back that one.

    Obviously, this kind of wager is so irregular that it’s truly only a fun kind of bet and isn’t one you should count on happening regularly.

  • Will there be a white christmas?

    Ok, this may be stretching the gossip part, but this is still a regular bet that is offered every year by the bookies.

    Essentially, you have a number of options (usually landmarks), and you have to back them if you think it will snow there on Christmas day. Somme offer airports as landmarks, from Winnipeg to Aberdeen. So, will it snow in the UK this year? It’s your call!

On its Own Chess Betting

A stand-alone novelty bet is chess betting. A sport for the mind, you may not thing a market would be available for this intriguing sport, but that is where you are wrong. Most bookies cover the events and you can wager on the eventual winner, or from contest to contest. It is a popular market for those who love playing the game.

Best for chess betting Great markets available, up-to-date stats
Lots of Markets 12+

The operator which we have listed above, is in our opinion the best bookie for chess. Nevertheless, there is ample opportunity for you to play, so don’t wait around!

The Criteria for Choosing the Best Novelty Betting Sites

When it comes to novelty betting sites, there are a number of factors that come into it when we do our ranking. Naturally, some bookies perform better in certain categories than others. Yet a good overall performance is integral in scoring high with us. Below are the criteria we look at.

Novelty Betting Criteria

As you can see, there are numerous different things we look into. You can either read the whole section, or simply click to go to your preferred topic. We’ll give you more detailed information in each of the dedicated parts.

The Different Types of Novelty Betting Markets Available

Below, you can find all of the novelty betting reviews, for each of the special markets. We have covered everything from X-Factor to Strictly, so take a look at each one for some more invaluable info!

One of the main priorities is establishing how many novelty betting markets a bookie provides. Of course, there won’t be as many as football bets, but there still should be a few different selections, as we have highlighted below.

Reality Show Winner

A reality show contestant holding money One of the more popular bets is predicting the winner of a reality show. In essence, all you are doing is choosing the overall winner. It sounds easier than it is! A lot of times surprises can happen. Nevertheless, this is one of the more popular types of wager and one you are likely to find at your bookie. If you are watching a show, this is probably the bet you will use.

Election Winner

A politician This is very similar to choosing the winner of a reality show, instead here you have to choose the winner of an election. In the last US election, Trump won causing an upset that hadn’t been prediction. It’s an easy to understand market, yet it is not so simple to be correct.

Birth Name

Letters and a notepad This kind of bet is pretty unique as the bookmaker provides you a list of names with varying odds, and then you back the one you think will be chosen. If the name you want is not there, then you probably won’t be able to bet on it. Even so, an e-mail to customer service could easily resolve such a problem. This bet is usually reserved for Royal births, or that of a celebrity such as David Beckham. It doesn’t happen very often.

The News Section of the Bookmaker

Another thing our experts look at when assessing a bookies is their news section. It is important that they update it regularly and also have a good live betting arena. In many markets you need information quickly, and if a bookie provides that for you, then you don’t have to spend hours trawling the internet to find it. The top ones provide the content you need directly.

The Payout of the Bookmaker

As with any type of market the payout is essential to your satisfaction. This is no different with novelty betting sites. Working out the payout can be a long an arduous process. Luckily, our experts did the hard work for you. See their results below.

Minimum and Maximum Payouts on Novelty Betting
Bookmaker X Factor Strictly Come Dancing UK Elections US Elections
93.22% 93.01% 92.85% 91.05%
93.05% 92.56% 91.15% 91.05%
92.89% 93.20% 91.76% 91.05%
92.58% 91.88% 93.13% 91.05%
91.96% 92.03% 92.45% 91.05%

As you can see, the levels are all pretty similar. What’s more they can and do fluctuate, so use these as a guidance rather than something set in stone. Anything below 91% and you should really consider avoiding them.

The Best Bonuses and Promotions for Novelty Betting Sites

When playing with novelty bet bookmakers it is essential you have access to the best betting bonuses. Our experts have picked the operator below for you.

A microphone and bet365 logo
  • Best Novelty Betting Bonus
  • A Wonder Welcome Offer
  • Many Special Bets Available
Top Novelty Markets11+

Mobile Novelty Betting – Playing on an App

It is possible that when you bet on a novelty market then you will do so using an app. Some of you may be new to mobile betting, so we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to place a wager below. Take a look now.

These three steps are simple and easy to follow. All you need to do are the simple steps. Once you’ve done it once, you will be able to do it again. It’s just like riding a bike!

In-Play Novelty Betting: Doesn’t Exist

If you are wanting to bet on a novelty market in the live betting arena, then you are in for a shock. Unfortunately, as of yet, this form of wager does not exist. This is probably due to the irregular nature of the markets. It’s not like sports, where things happen constantly. If this is the type of wager you are looking for, then it is perhaps best to go elsewhere to satisfy your needs.

Tips and Strategies for Online Novelty Betting

So, are there any things you should consider when it comes to this type of market? Much like a horse racing betting, there are certain things you need to look out for. Our experts have collected the top four tips in the boxes below.

  • Check the News

    For this kind of market, it is integral to keep an eye on the news and be informed for all possibilities. When it comes to elections, this is paramount. The more you know, the better it is for you. Things change quickly, did a candidate say the wrong thing? If you can know before anyone else, then you can profit from this.

  • Follow Social Media Accounts

    If you are into gossip bets, then it makes sense to follow all kinds of accounts on social media. You could be the first to get the scoop on the next Royal Baby’s name.

    Obviously, don’t believe everything that you read, even so it is important to have an eye on any potential chat that gets out into the public domain.

  • Timing is Important

    What you may have noticed about these kinds of bets is that they are seasonal. That means that you must plan and keep on top of things in order to excel.

    When is the next election? Which referendum is happening and when? All of these things should be on your radar, ready for you to pounce and get your wager set.

  • Listen to Friends

    If you are unsure which way an election is going, or some other event such as who will win a reality show, it is important to listen to your friends.

    Often voices you hear close by reflect the wider feeling in society. Although not always right, they could be a good indicator for you to bet the right way.

Betting on the Novelty Market: A Fun Option

Now we are coming to the end of our review on the best novelty betting sites, it is perhaps pertinent to point you to our list of countries that give you an overall view of what the top bookies should entail. We hope you have all the information you need on novelty markets and go ahead and have fun with this wager.

Joseph Conrad headshot

Gossip is what no one claims to like, but everybody enjoys.

FAQ

Now we are at the end of the review page, let us look at some of the most frequently asked questions. If you can find what you are looking for then hit us up at info@bestbettingsites.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

1️⃣ How can you evaluate the best novelty betting sites?

There are a certain number of criteria  that a bookmaker needs to fulfil in order to be truly successful. We have list them further up, click the link to find out more and to get in-depth descriptions.

2️⃣ What are the most popular novelty bets in the United Kingdom?

When it comes to novelty betting the wagers placed on  TV shows are probably some of the most popular ones. Obviously, there are many other little bets that can be place, these are just some of the most common ones.

3️⃣ What are the best online novelty betting sites?

On this page we have listed the best novelty betting sites  for you to use. As you have read through, you will know they have fulfilled a certain set of requirements to be found here.