Full UK General Election Betting Guide: Odds, Tips and More
The UK general election is an event that shapes the entire country, and you can bet on it. But who will rise to power and lead Britain into the future? Our UK general election betting guide has you covered with the odds, rules and bet types for this popular novelty bet.
Discover the bookies with the best payouts
Types of bets available
The top offers to rely on
For betting on the UK Election
How the election works
Frequently asked questions
No matter your own political viewpoint, having a bet on general elections can enhance your interest and excitement when the nation goes to the polls. We’ll help you find the best value bookmakers to bet on the big vote. Make sure to read our general election betting guide before you place a wager.
Best Sites for UK General Election Betting
All UK bookmakers will provide general election odds, but some will offer a wider range of markets than others. Our top five sites offer a winning combination of an extensive range of markets, competitive odds and juicy sign-up bonuses. Look below to see what they have to offer.
| UK General Election Betting Site | Bonus | Highlights | Rating | Bonus Link | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 William Hill | Up to £30 In Free Bets | 100+ , 93.02% | Visit Site! | 18+. PlaySafe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum of £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding virtual markets). Full T&Cs Apply. https://www.begambleaware.org/. #ad | |
| 🥈 BetVictor | Bet £20 Get £40 | 50+ , 93.78% | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 (odds 2.00+) on any football market within 7 days of registration. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit Card/Apple Pay payments only. Click for T&Cs. Please Gamble Responsibly. | |
| 🥉 Betfred | Get £40 When You Stake £10 | 50+ , 92.86% | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. | |
| ⭐ Smarkets | Deposit £20 Get £10 On First Net Losses | 10+ , 94.87% | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% commission for 60 days. New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Instant Banking. |
Top 5 UK General Election Betting Sites
- 🥇 William Hill ✪ Trusted High Street Brand
- 🥈 BetVictor ✪ Great Customer Service
- 🥉 Betfred ✪ Value for Money Deposit Bonus
- ⭐ Smarkets ✪ Advanced Betting Exchange
Our table above shows the best aspects of each of our featured sites. As you can see, there are a wide variety of places to do your UK election betting. We recommend each of these bookies as an excellent place to make your political wagers.
It is important to choose the bookmaker that fits your individual needs. Each betting site has its strengths and unique selling points. Before you place a bet on the general election, look at our summary of top general election betting sites by category below and see what each of them have to offer.
| 🏆 Best UK General Election Betting Bonus 2024 | Smarkets |
| ✅ Best for Types of Bets | William Hill |
| 💶 Most UK General Election Markets | Smarkets |
| ⭐Dedicated Promotions | Betfred |
| 💰 Top Offer for New Players | BetVictor |
| 📈 Top UK General Election Odds | William Hill |
| 📺 Excellent Live Coverage | Betfred |
| 🎁 Biggest Sportsbook Welcome Bonus | Smarkets |
| ✨ Top Extra Features | BetVictor |
| ⏳ Ante-Post UK General Election Markets | William Hill |
Whether you want to back your own political views or try to gauge the mood of the nation, the recommended sites for the general election have you covered. And remember, when it’s election time, you need to prepare. You can do that by visiting our homepage and reading our extensive selection of bookmaker reviews.
The Latest UK General Election Odds
The UK general election betting market is a virtual two horse race between Labour and the Conservatives. Both parties will feel like they have a strong chance to win the most seats on election day and their general election odds reflect this. Meanwhile, the other parties will look to pick up as many seats as they can and increase their vote share.
| Party | Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 4/9 (1.44)* | Betway | Visit Site! |
| Labour | 2/1 (3.0)* | Betfred | Visit Site! |
| Liberal Democrats | 150/1 (151.0)* | William Hill | Visit Site! |
| Greens | 250/1 (251.0)* | BetVictor | Visit Site! |
| Reform UK | 250/1 (251.0)* | Betway | Visit Site! |
Nationalist parties the SNP and Plaid Cymru are popular in Scotland and Wales respectively, but these parties only stand for election in those nations. So even though they will never win the most seats in Westminster, they can still play a key role in deciding who forms the next British government.
Possible Bets
General election time offers a massive variety of markets to gamble on and the sheer number can be overwhelming at first. You can either stick to the main markets or specialise in your own area of knowledge for your UK election betting.
Betting on the Winner
Keep it simple and bet on who will be the overall election winner. The most straightforward way to do this is to bet on which party wins the most seats at Westminster. The UK uses the first past the post electoral system – so this means it will almost certainly be the Conservatives or Labour.
Betting on an Overall Majority
The setup of the UK political system means that elections often end in a hung parliament – meaning that no party has enough seats to govern. You can bet on whether a party will get enough MPs elected to achieve an outright majority. If they don’t manage to achieve this, then they will have to seek out a coalition with other parties.
Constituency Betting
The UK electoral map is split up into individual constituencies and you can bet on who wins each one. By betting on your local seat, you can gamble on who becomes your own MP. It is also possible to try and anticipate regional trends and bet on any seat across the country.
Betting on Vote Share
The overall vote share is another market to target when you bet on general election outcomes. Use the pre-election polls to predict what percent of the vote each party will receive on election night. Perhaps you think that a party will outperform pre-election forecasts. Or maybe you reckon a party is not as popular as it seems.
UK Election Betting Bonuses
Before the election, you will almost certainly find some bookies offering election bonuses and bet boosts. Political betting is big business and firms compete for your custom by running promotions and specials around the event. Make sure to shop around to find the best offers and deals.
If you are a new customer with any of our top general election betting sites, you can use the sign-up bonus for your UK election betting. Using a bonus will give you extra value when you bet on the outcome of the election.
UK Election Betting Tips
Before you bet on the election, read our advice to make smarter betting choices. You may have your own opinion on who is the best party to govern the country, but in political betting you should put your personal views aside. Only by predicting the voting intentions of the British public will you be able to be a successful election bettor.
- Follow the opinion polls to see who is predicted to win.
- Watch the election debates to see how the leaders perform.
- Keep an eye on the press as big stories can change public opinion.
- Look for value in the many markets on offer.
- Take note of the latest odds before you bet.
- Consider live betting as markets stay open after polls close.
- Bet with your head and not with your heart!
The election is the most important political event of the year, so there is a lot of information to work with and consider when you bet. The key to smart general election betting is deciding whose opinion matters and if you trust the opinion polls to be accurate.
The Format and Rules of the UK General Election
The general election takes place every five years but sometimes the prime minister can call an election earlier. At election time, every seat in the Houses of Parliament is up for grabs as the whole country goes the polls. Candidates compete to represent each local constituency around the UK.
Whoever gets the most electoral seats is invited to form a government. If a party doesn’t have enough seats to govern alone then it will seek partners to form a coalition. When it is clear who is victorious, the new prime minister is sworn into office and a fresh session of parliament begins at Westminster.
Familiar Faces of British Politics
Politicians come and go but some of their legacies live on long after they have left office. We take a look below at some of the most famous leaders in British political history. Often hated as much as they are loved, these politicians are firmly in the history books as some of the most well-known British prime ministers of all time.
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Winston ChruchillOne of the 20th century’s most significant figures, Sir Winston Churchill served as British prime minister during the Second World War. After losing the 1945 and 1950 elections, Churchill returned to power from 1951 to 1955.
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Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher was the first female British prime minister. She was first elected as PM in 1979 and won further general elections in 1983 and 1987. The Iron Lady was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century.
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Tony Blair
Blair became Labour leader in 1994 and won general elections in 1997, 2001 and 2005. He remains Labour’s longest-serving prime minister and one of only two Labour leaders in history to form three majority governments.
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William Pitt the Younger
Assuming office in 1783 at the age of 24, Pitt is still the youngest ever prime minster. His time as leader was marked with the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. He also served as chancellor of the exchequer for his entire time as PM.
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Boris Johnson
After serving as Mayor of London for eight years and Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson became British prime minister in 2019. Johnson led the Leave Movement in the EU referendum before unseating Theresa May to become Tory leader. He then went on to defeat Jeremy Corbyn at the ballot box.
Weird Candidates
The unique thing about the UK general election are the strange election candidates that get on the ballot paper. It is unlikely that any of these candidates will get their deposit back by achieving a 5% vote share, but that doesn’t stop them being a fixture on election night.
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Lord Buckethead
This self-proclaimed intergalactic space villain has been standing in elections since the 1980s. Usually challenging the prime minister’s seat, Lord Buckethead’s electoral success has been limited but his TV appearances on election night are always highly memorable. Just don’t confuse him with his arch-rival, Count Binface.
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Monster Raving Loony Party
This joke political party has stood in UK general elections since the early 1980s. Most famously led by Screaming Lord Sutch, the main aim of the party is to satarise British politics and offer a way of people registering a protest vote. Their highest vote share was a respectable 4.2% in 1994.
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Mr Fishfinger
A 2017 online poll indicated that more members of the public would vote for a fishfinger than then Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron. Mr Fishfinger decided to stand against Farron to test that theory. With a policy of offering free fish, he received 309 votes to Farron’s 23,686 .
Conclusions
The UK general election is a fantastic event to gamble on. When election fever grips the country, you can put your political opinions to the test by betting on the outcome of the vote.
Political betting is an exciting way to mix politics and gambling. Make sure you visit our novelty betting section to see other types of non-sporting wagering available. You can get involved in US Presidential election betting or have a punt on who will be the next UK prime minister.
FAQ
We hope you’ve found our guide to election betting as informative as possible. Below are some of the most frequent general election betting questions. Many of the most common queries from our users are covered here.
🥇 What are the best UK general election betting sites?
We’ve identified our top five UK general election betting sites for you to use. These sites are out top choices for general election betting. We believe th y have the ideal mix of great software, generous bonuses and the widest variety of markets. We hope you’ll find one that fits your needs when you bet on the vote.
🔍 Can you bet on the UK general election?
General election betting is popular form of political gambling. Take a look at our dedicated section to see some of the types of UK general election betting available. You can bet on the election several years in advance or just before the results come in. You can even bet on when the election itself will take place.
🤔 What are the odds on the winner of UK general election?
Have a glance at the latest UK general election odds and see which party is favoured to win. Will you bet on Labour or the Tories to win or do you see a shock on the cards?
🏆 Are there any bonuses for betting on the UK General Election?
Yes, many bookmakers offer specific election related bonuses in the direct run up to the event. Earlier than that, you can use any of the sign up bonuses that are available for new customers with our selected bookmakers.