Politics at Odds Shark
Like many bettors, you may be wondering, can you bet on the presidential elections? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”. The next US Presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with betting opportunities coming in strong like a D Triple C fundraiser.
How to find the Odds Shark Presidential Betting Odds For You?
In Las Vegas, bets on presidential elections are common. Luckily, you don’t have to go to Vegas to bet on the race to become president. Odds Shark's Politics guide to the Best Politics Betting Sites offers you a list of the top sportsbooks for all election wagering.
Below you’ll find a handy guide detailing how to bet on the upcoming United States elections and the types of wagers you can make. Odds Shark's political experts also cover betting news, election odds and free picks.
Politics: Odds Shark Betting Approach
Before attempting any US presidential election betting or even looking at betting odds, it’s important to gain a basic knowledge of how the American electoral system works.
There are two main political parties: Democrats and Republicans. The Dems are represented by the color blue, while the Reps are red. Each party presents one candidate whose name appears on the ballot for voters to select. The candidates run on what is called a “ticket” with their vice-presidential choice. A ticket would look like this:
| Republican | Democrat |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump (P) | Joe Biden (P) |
| Ron Desantis (VP) | Kamala Harris (VP) |
Another important factor in online betting for the election is the electoral college. This is a body of 538 electors that under the US Constitution are responsible for determining a Sportsbook. States are given a number of electors based on their population. The public does help in choosing a president in the form of the “popular vote” but the college cements the deal. In 2016 Hillary Clinton snagged the popular vote with 65,853,514 people choosing her to lead. But, Trump won the electoral college with 304 votes, making him president. For bettors, looking at the electoral college can be a great handicapping tool. Seeing how each state voted in the 2016 and 2020 race can help you determine how they may vote in 2024.
| State | Number of Votes |
|---|---|
| California (Blue) | 55 |
| Texas (Red) | 38 |
| Florida (Red), New York (Blue) | 29 each (58 total) |
| Illinois (Blue), Pennsylvania (Red) | 20 each (40 total) |
| Ohio (Red) | 18 |
| Georgia (Red), Michigan (Red) | 16 each (32 total) |
| North Carolina | 15 |
| New Jersey (Blue) | 14 |
| Virginia (Blue) | 13 |
| Washington (Blue) | 12 |
| Arizona (Red), Indiana (Red), Massachusetts (Blue), Tennessee (Red) | 11 each (44 total) |
| Maryland (Blue), Minnesota (Blue), Missouri (Red), Wisconsin (Red) | 10 each (40 total) |
| Alabama (Red), Colorado (Blue), South Carolina (Red) | 9 each (27 total) |
| Kentucky (Red), Louisiana (Red) | 8 each (16 total) |
| Connecticut (Blue), Oklahoma (Red), Oregon (Blue) | 7 each (21 total) |
| Arkansas (Red), Iowa (Red), Kansas (Red), Mississippi (Red), Nevada (Blue), Utah (Red) | 6 each (36 total) |
| Nebraska (Red), New Mexico (Blue), West Virginia (Red) | 5 each (15 total) |
| Hawaii (Blue), Idaho (Red), Maine (split), New Hampshire (Blue), Rhode Island (Blue) | 4 each (20 total) |
| Alaska (Red), Delaware (Blue), District of Columbia* (Blue), Montana (Red), North Dakota (Red), South Dakota (Red), Vermont (Blue), Wyoming (Red) |
3 each (24 total) |
*DC is considered a state for voting purposes
Odds Shark Political Betting Options
Betting on politics is very similar to betting on sports. Instead of making a bet on how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw, you’re betting on tax reform and universal healthcare.
Moneyline
Often called a “straight-up” bet, a moneyline bet involves you picking a Sportsbook. Let’s say you’re betting on which candidate will get the Democratic nomination. Betting odds will look something like this:
- Elizabeth Warren -130
- Bernie Sanders +200
- Joe Biden +250
- Pete Buttigieg +275
- Kamala Harris +300
- Cory Booker +600
- Beto O’Rourke +600
In this scenario, Warren is the frontrunner, aka favorite. If you believe that she will get the nomination and wagered $100, you would win $178.92 (your original $100 is returned along with your winnings of $76.92). On the other hand, if you think Harris has a clear shot, a winning $100 bet on her would give you $400 (your original $100 is returned along with your winnings of $300).
Our Odds Calculator can help you determine how much you’d win based on your bet amount.
Point Spread
Point spread election betting is different than what you’d do for a college football game. Instead of wagering on how many combined points two teams would score, you can bet on how many seats the democrats or republicans will win in the House or Senate.
Props
Prop bets are wagers that may not associate directly with the outcome of the election. These are bets like:
- Who will candidate X choose as their running mate?
- How long will the presidential debate be between the democrat and republican candidate?
- How many times will candidate Y take a sip of water during their speech?
- How many times will candidate Z bring up the Obamas or the Clintons during the debate?
Live Betting Odds for the Presidential Election
In-play betting is available at most sportsbooks during debates and on election night. Odds can generally be found for which candidate will win the popular vote and who will win the electoral college.
Odds are available for the 2024 election at our recommended sportsbooks. Now that you know where and how to bet, go make your picks today.