Election Betting: How to Bet on Politics in the US

Election betting is one of the fastest-growing markets in the US, and the 2028 race is already on the board. You can bet on who wins the White House, who wins each party’s nomination, and dozens of political specials, from impeachment to Cabinet appointments.

There’s one catch: you can’t do any of it at DraftKings, FanDuel or any other state-licensed sportsbook. This guide shows you where you can bet on politics, how to place your first political bet step by step, and where to find the latest odds on every major market.

Can You Bet on the Presidential Election?

Yes, but not at state-licensed sportsbooks. US state regulators don’t allow domestic sportsbooks to offer betting on elections, so you won’t find a Politics tab on any of the big domestic apps.

Offshore sportsbooks are a different story. Books like BetOnline, BetUS and Bovada are licensed outside the US, accept American players, and offer full political boards. That includes the presidential election winner, both party nominations, control of Congress, and a long list of specials.

How to Bet on Politics: Step by Step

1. Choose a Sportsbook That Offers Politics

Not every offshore book has a deep political board, so check before you sign up. The three sportsbooks covered below all carry presidential futures and political specials.

2. Create Your Account

Sign-up takes a few minutes. You’ll need your name, email, date of birth and address. Make sure the book accepts players from your state before you start, because restricted lists change.

3. Make Your First Deposit

Most offshore books take credit and debit cards, and crypto is usually the fastest option for both deposits and withdrawals. Your first deposit is what triggers the welcome bonus, so check the minimum deposit and the bonus terms before you pay.

4. Find the Politics Section

Open the sports menu and look for Politics, or sometimes Entertainment or Specials. The US markets are usually listed under US Election or US Politics, split into the presidential race, nominations, Congress and specials.

5. Choose Your Market and Place Your Bet

Click the price you want to add it to your bet slip, enter your stake, and confirm. Your potential payout shows on the slip before you commit.

6. Check How the Market Settles

Political bets can take months or years to settle, and the rules matter more than they do in sports. A presidential winner market might settle on the certified result, not on what TV networks call on election night. Read the rules on each market before you bet.

How to Bet on the Presidential Election

The presidential election is the biggest market in political betting, and it runs for years, not one night.

The winner market is open now, more than two years out, and it moves with every news story. Nominee markets for each party heat up through 2027, as candidates declare. The early primaries start in 2028, with South Carolina going first on the Democratic side. Each party then confirms its nominee at the summer conventions, and the general election is on Tuesday, November 7, 2028.

Betting early gets you the biggest prices, because most of the field won’t make it to the convention. Betting late gets you certainty, but at much shorter odds. A lot of political bettors split the difference: they take a longshot early and add to it if the candidate starts winning primaries.

Best Political Betting Sites

BetOnline Politics

BetOnline has the deepest political board of any sportsbook we use. Along with the 2028 presidential winner, it prices both the Democratic and Republican nominations, a full set of Trump specials including impeachment and his exit date, nominee identity props, and novelty markets such as the Natalie Harp specials. Most of the political odds on Vegas Odds come from BetOnline, because nobody else covers as many markets.

New players get up to a $250 free bet with no rollover.

Bet on Politics at BetOnline

BetUS Politics

BetUS is one of the best-known offshore books in the US, and its political section goes well beyond the main markets. Along with 2028 presidential futures, it offers congressional and party props, such as party affiliations, field sizes and leadership outcomes, plus novelty markets like vote-share spreads. Prices are refreshed several times a day when news breaks.

The welcome offer is a 125% bonus up to $2,500 across your first three deposits, split between sports and casino.

Bet on Politics at BetUS

Bovada Politics

Bovada politics is one of the most searched-for political betting sections in the US, and for good reason. Bovada has offered US election odds for years, and its politics section carries the 2028 presidential futures along with party markets and specials. The layout is clean and simple, which makes it a good first stop if you’ve never placed a political bet.

The catch is availability. Bovada doesn’t accept players from more than 20 states, including New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Nevada and Maryland, so check its restricted list before you sign up. If Bovada isn’t available where you live, BetOnline and BetUS both carry deeper political boards.

New players who deposit with crypto can claim a 75% sports bonus up to $750.

Bet on Politics at Bovada

Where to Find Political Odds

We track the biggest political markets on their own pages, with updated odds and analysis on each one:

• 2028 Presidential Election Odds: the full race for the White House, with every contender’s price.
• 2028 Democratic Nominee Odds: the whole Democratic field, plus the nominee identity specials.
• Trump Impeachment Odds: impeachment, whether Trump finishes his term, his exit date, and the rest of his specials.
• Natalie Harp Odds: the specials on Trump’s executive assistant, from a Melania mention to a Cabinet job.

Political Betting Tips

• Compare prices. Political odds vary more between sportsbooks than NFL lines do, because fewer people bet them. Having an account at more than one book means you always get the best number.
• Think about how long your money is tied up. A bet on the 2028 winner doesn’t pay out until late 2028 at the earliest. A small stake on a longshot often makes more sense than a big one on a favorite.
• Bet on the rules, not just the news. Many political specials hinge on exact wording: what counts as a “Cabinet position”, whether impeachment means the House vote or removal, and which date a market closes. Two bets that sound the same can settle differently.
• Don’t bet with your heart. Political betting rewards being cold-blooded. The question is who will win, not who you want to win.

Where to Bet on Politics

All of these sportsbooks accept US players and offer political betting markets, plus a welcome bonus for new players.