Can I Bet On The Presidential Election

Posted By admin On 15/03/22

December 31 Update: Donald Trump has yet to concede to Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential election amid claims of widespread fraud (though most Vegas political sportsbooks have paid out Biden bettors already). However, the biggest event right now is the Georgia Senate runoff on January 5, and all the top online election betting sites are offering odds on the races between Kelly Loeffler (R) and Raphael Warnock (D), and David Perdue (R) and Jon Ossoff (D).

After a previous unprecedented election cycle that included one of the most jaw-dropping Presidential campaign seasons in history and that has unilaterally redefined politics in America, it would take a lot to shock us at this point. When we recognized the surge in popularity for bettors seeking Vegas election odds and betting lines, we weren’t surprised in the least.

In fact, this is one of the more sensible trends of the 2020 Presidential race that we’ve seen emerge. The American public and the International audiences have all been much more involved with this election than any other in US history. With endless coverage of every minuscule detail of the race, people are feeling more inclined to add some betting action to their politics this year.

Short for proposition, props are any bets made on the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain milestones that may not directly affect the outcome of an event. If you were picking a prop for the Super Bowl, you could bet on things like the length of the national anthem. For politics, you can bet on things like: Who will be the Democratic nominee? Nowadays, the best online betting sites in the industry take bets on the US presidential election. Most experts believe the 2020 presidential election will set all sorts of new records for political betting all over the world. The following US presidential election betting sites have you covered when it comes to wagering on the 2020 US election. Vegas Odds And Betting Lines For The 2020 Presidential Election. December 31 Update: Donald Trump has yet to concede to Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential election amid claims of widespread fraud (though most Vegas political sportsbooks have paid out Biden bettors already).However, the biggest event right now is the Georgia Senate runoff on January 5, and all the top online election betting.

This guide is designed to provide additional insight for those interested in accessing current Vegas election odds for the 2020 Presidential election, as well as information on legally licensed and regulated offshore sportsbooks that accept political bets placed by US residents. We will provide brief biographies on each relevant candidates running for President, potential VP candidates and their odds, and valuable information about political betting options for the 2020 election cycle and all future upcoming US elections.

Coronavirus Update: The Coronavirus has affected everything in the USA from sports to politics. Our guide to how the Coronavirus has affected Vegas election odds goes into further detail about primary postponements, President Trump's odds, candidate odds, and more.

Top Sportsbooks Offering Betting Odds
For The Presidential Election

SiteBonusRating/5USAVisit
150% Max $2504.5
250% Max $1,0004.4
3100% Max $1,0004.4
375% Max $1,0004.1

Vegas Election Odds - President

  • Kamala Harris +450
  • Joe Biden +600
  • Donald Trump Sr. +800
  • Nikki Haley +1200
  • Andrew Yang +1600
  • Mike Pence +1600
  • Michelle Obama +2000
  • Pete Buttigieg +2000
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez +2500
  • Bernie Sanders +2500
  • Beto O'Rourke +2500
  • Elizabeth Warren +2500
  • John Kasich +2500
  • Mark Cuban +2500
  • Stacey Abrams +2500
  • Andrew Cuomo +3000
  • Tim Scott +3000
  • Ted Cruz +3300
  • Kamala Harris +400
  • Joe Biden +500
  • Mike Pence +600
  • Nikki Haley +1400
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez +1600
  • Ron DeSantis +1800
  • Michelle Obama +2500
  • Donald Trump Sr. +3300
  • Andrew Yang +4000
  • Josh Hawley +4000
  • Pete Buttigieg +4000
  • Tom Cotton +4000
  • Bernie Sanders +5000
  • Candace Owens +5000
  • Charlie Baker +5000
  • Chris Christie +5000
  • Dan Crenshaw +5000
  • Deval Patrick +5000
  • Donald Trump Jr. +5000
  • Mike Pompeo +5000
  • Tulsi Gabbard +5000
  • Amy Klobuchar +6600
  • Beto O'Rourke +6600
  • Condoleezza Rice +6600
  • Cory Booker +6600
  • Elizabeth Warren +6600
  • Gavin Newsom +6600
  • Kamala Harris +400
  • Joe Biden +500
  • Mike Pence +600
  • Nikki Haley +1400
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez +1600
  • Ron DeSantis +1800
  • Michelle Obama +2500
  • Donald Trump Sr. +3300
  • Andrew Yang +4000
  • Josh Hawley +4000
  • Pete Buttigieg +4000
  • Tom Cotton +4000
  • Bernie Sanders +5000
  • Candace Owens +5000
  • Charlie Baker +5000
  • Chris Christie +5000
  • Dan Crenshaw +5000
  • Deval Patrick +5000
  • Donald Trump Jr. +5000
  • Mike Pompeo +5000
  • Tulsi Gabbard +5000
  • Amy Klobuchar +6600
  • Beto O'Rourke +6600
  • Condoleezza Rice +6600
  • Cory Booker +6600
  • Elizabeth Warren +6600
  • Gavin Newsom +6600

Remaining Candidates Still Alive In The 2020 Presidential Race

Relatively early on, the Presidential candidates were finally narrowed down to just two, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The Democratic field started with 27 candidates, but the field has slowly eroded away to the remaining candidate. Other Third-Party candidates and Independents were expected to run (and did so), but there were only two real candidates for the 2020 Presidential election. You can find valuable information on those two nominees and other potential candidates in our political news section.

With the 2020 general election all but over, it appears that Biden has the edge on Trump to win the White House. The results are sure to be contested, and you can bet that there will be plenty of betting lines and props on all the intrigue that's headed our way in the aftermath of November 3.

Election
  • Eric Swalwell
  • Jay Inslee
  • John Hickenlooper
  • Kirsten Gillibrand
  • Richard Ojeda
  • Seth Moulton
  • Bill de Blasio
  • Tim Ryan
  • Beto O'Rourke
  • Mark Sanford
  • Wayne Messam
  • Joe Sestak
  • Steve Bullock
  • Kamala Harris
  • Julian Castro
  • Marianne Williamson
  • Cory Booker
  • John Delaney
  • Joe Walsh
  • Andrew Yang
  • Michael Bennet
  • Deval Patrick
  • Tom Steyer
  • Pete Buttigieg
  • Amy Klobuchar
  • Michael Bloomberg
  • Elizabeth Warren
  • Tulsi Gabbard
  • Bill Weld
  • Bernie Sanders

Other Political Betting Options

In addition to betting on the 2020 Presidential election, there were other political betting options available to US bettors during the latest cycle. The following types of election betting lines can't be found in Vegas, but online, the political betting options are endless.

FAQ's Related To The Presidential Race

Vegas odds on the Presidential election have been a highly sought after commodity this year, and as the November 3rd Election Day neared, gamblers were becoming even more active on political betting lines.

Political wagering involves unique nuances and distinctions that other betting markets do not touch on and taps into a very personal and emotional segment of the wagering experience for American gamblers. Never before has a United States Presidential election been so volatile or included such controversy, and this could be the new norm.

Record-breaking early voting statistics are both a result of the most dramatic Presidential election in American history and a big influencer on the odds boards. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning Vegas odds on the 2020 Presidential election and how bettors can participate in this popular trend that is taking the gambling entertainment industry by storm.

As long as your are placing your bets at a legally licensed and regulated online sportsbooks located outside of the United States, then yes, it is perfectly legal for US gamblers to bet on the 2020 Vegas election odds and all other election lines. The sportsbooks featured in this guide are all operating legally within the industry and offer legitimate wagering opportunities to American bettors. There are no US federal laws that prohibit Americans from enjoying online political betting at a legal online sports betting site that holds the proper credentials and operates overseas.

Unless you live in the state of Washington or Connecticut, state gambling laws do not make it illegal to participate in licensed online political betting from offshore destinations. However, the anti-online-betting laws in WA and CT are historically unenforced, though you proceed at your own risk.

Note: You will currently not find election odds at domestic Vegas sportsbooks or other physical or online venues based in the US. However, it usually isn't technically illegal for these books to offer political lines. Instead, state gaming regulators are simply reticent to offer such lines to the public. That's why offshore betting remains your best bet for political wagering.

You will find that the Vegas odds on the Presidential election do not always line up with the latest polls released by various media outlets. This is due to several reasons. First, the polls are often manipulated and manufactured in order to influence public perception and sway the masses. Secondly, political polls simply are not reliable due to the many variables involved in authentic polling and tracking.

When the oddsmakers are determining the relevant and current odds, they use a more effective and well-rounded series of data and research to reflect the actual pulse of the American voting public. It is in their best interest to achieve a clear and concise understanding of how the voters are leaning in order to ensure the integrity of the betting action and to minimize their risks. In many ways, the Vegas betting odds for who will win the Presidency are more reliable than any political poll.

While you will certainly find Vegas odds on who will become the next President of the United States, you will also find betting odds and lines that cover a host of other categories, including the following:

  • Which party will win the election
  • Which candidate and which party will win the popular vote
  • What percentage of the vote each candidate will receive
  • How many states each candidate will win
  • Which side individual states will fall on
  • Presidential impeachment and removal

These are just a few of the samples that you’ll find. Various political props bets have also emerged as the Presidential debates took place.

While a simple Google search will yield various odds results, we recommend that you only consider the input of industry professionals. We strongly urge you to limit your betting action to only those online sportsbook destinations that have been vetted and approved by experienced analysts, such as the team that created this guide. In addition to verifying the legitimacy and quality of each sportsbook brand, we also analyze the betting odds, lines and paylines to ensure they are comparable with the Vegas bookmakers' consensus.

You will notice that if you compare the lines at the sportsbooks we recommend, you'll see different odds for the same categories and races. Most legitimate participants in the industry will usually all be pretty close to each other in terms of the odds, though you can sometimes find major outliers that can carry a nice 'presidential' profit. That's why we always recommend signing up at multiple books and shopping lines to find the best prices on every wager.

Just be careful of odds that look too good to be true, like a yuge payout on Donald Trump to win in 2020. Any book offering large positive moneylines on a Trump win are to be avoided. Remember: Questionable sportsbooks will offer unrealistic odds and betting lines to attract players in an effort to defraud or steal from them. Betting on politics online is very safe, as long as you are diligent and selective in where you place your bets.

Yes, you can vote for any candidate, regardless of your political affiliation or leanings. In fact, we encourage you not to limit your betting action to only those candidates that you would vote for. You may hate the front runner or love the underdog, and in both cases you would ‘feel’ in opposition to the odds. The odds are mathematically calculated predictions that may very well not line up with your personal preferences, but they show where the public is betting, and elections are public events.

The point of gambling is to win money, not to take a political stance. Using your voice to make a difference is what the voting booth is for, not the betting lines. Apply the odds logically to your specific strategy, whether you love going with long shots or playing it safe.

Yesterday morning, I was having a conversation with a dear friend of mine in another state. She asked me if there was a lot of betting on coronavirus situations. I replied that I thought the upcoming elections were probably generating more action.

She replied, “Isn’t it illegal to gamble on political elections in the United States?”

I’m not sure I knew, so I thought I’d do some research.

Here’s what I learned about whether you can gamble on elections in the United States:

There are quite a few safe online betting sites offering US Presidential Odds, but we’ve found MyBookie to be the best. Follow this link to visit MyBookie or check out our other top-rated online sportsbooks for the 2020 presidential election.

  • MyBookie – 100% welcome bonus up to $1,000
  • BetNow – 100% welcome bonus up to $1,000
  • Bovada – 100% welcome bonus up to $250
  • BetUS – 100% welcome bonus up to $2,500

Want a little more info? Jump ahead and learn more about the latest election betting odds and lines.

Betting on United States Elections Isn’t a New Thing

Betting on presidential elections has a long and notorious history in the United States.

And just like the sports betting scene, the action on Presidential elections can be thought of as a marketplace.

From shortly after the Civil War until shortly after World War II, markets for betting on the presidential election were big and efficient. Not only that, but the favorites in betting markets also tended to win elections.

Why has betting on presidential elections become less prominent over the last few decades?

I’d contend that it probably hasn’t, really. It’s now more of an underground betting activity conducted with offshore sportsbooks. Previously, betting on presidential elections was an organized activity – even when it was illegal.

But we do have access to more betting opportunities than ever before. Also, modern scientific polling has replaced some of the interest in betting markets and their predictions for who’s going to be the next President of the United States.

Historically, so-called betting commissioners managed these betting markets and used standard contracts for that purpose. Sometimes you’d see more money betting on elections than were being put into action on stocks and bonds.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, you could get daily odds from various newspapers for at least a month before the election.

The most significant election, in terms of dollars wagered, was the election of 1916. Bettors wagered over $165 million on that contest. (Those dollars have been adjusted for inflation.)

Betting Markets Have Historically Been Good at Predicting Winners

The betting markets on elections in New York City almost always predicted an election’s winner. In fact, the market was also a good predictor of whether a vote was going to be close.

The favorite in these betting markets won almost three out of four times over 50 years. That’s even more impressive when you consider that the practice of conducting scientific polls didn’t begin until the 1930s.

Much of the historical information related to election betting markets between the end of the Civil War and the first half of the 20th century can be found in more detail in a paper on historical prediction markets written by Paul W. Rhode and Koleman S. Strumpf.

The conclusion so far, though, is that regardless of the legalities involved, people have been able to bet on presidential elections in the United States for a long time.

And, before polling became standard, betting markets were the de facto means of predicting election outcomes and were remarkably accurate.

Betting Political Elections Is Illegal Throughout the United States

Betting on sports used to be illegal almost everywhere, but over the last couple of years, legislation has loosened up regarding betting on sports.

People also bet on entertainment events like who’s going to win the Oscars, although that kind of betting isn’t as prevalent and isn’t legal in as many states.

But betting on political elections is illegal throughout the United States.

This doesn’t mean it’s illegal everywhere. The United Kingdom has always been more open-minded about gambling than the United States, and bets on political events are still common there.

And some bookmakers in other countries are happy to take action from U.S. citizens regardless of the legality in the bettor’s jurisdiction.

Can I Bet On The Presidential Election

Why Is It Illegal to Bet on Elections in the United States?

One of the concerns related to betting on sports is that it might corrupt the integrity of the sport. The Black Sox Scandal in 1919 is a classic example, although it seems to me that outlawing sports betting has done little to prevent such activity.

Everyone I know bets on sports, either with a local bookmaker, an online sportsbook, or both.

There’s a big difference, though.

With sports, the big concern is that bettors will bribe athletes to lose on purpose. In fact, countless movies have been made about boxers who were bribed to throw a match.

With political betting, though, the concern relates more to the effect that betting on elections might have on voter turnout.

Think about it.

If your candidate is a massive longshot, according to the bookmakers, you might be less likely to show up and vote – ensuring that your candidate will lose.

I think this is a lousy argument for making election betting illegal, though.

Polls might easily have the same effect, but, as far as I know, no one has suggested we ban polling.

And, even though you can’t legally bet on an election in the United States, the bookmakers in other countries are still taking action. It’s easy to find out what the odds are for your favorite candidate.

I’m not optimistic that the legal restrictions on political betting in the United States are going to change anytime soon.

I’ve been watching the gambling industry in the United States for a couple of decades now, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s this:

Changes in gambling laws happen SLOWLY.

Presidential

How to Bet on the Presidential Election Anyway

First, I’m no lawyer. I don’t even play one on television. I have no idea what the legal risks are when it comes to betting on presidential elections.

But if you’re determined to bet on the presidential election anyway, I can offer some suggestions.

  1. Your first option is to find a likeminded individual who’s willing to bet with you. This should be someone you know and trust who won’t stiff you. Betting with such a person eliminates the vig, which is the amount that the sportsbook charges you to place a bet.
  2. Your second option is to find an online sportsbook operating from another country that’s willing to take action from a United States citizen on the election. Many such businesses exist.

As far as choosing the best political betting site is concerned, pay close attention to the bookmaker’s reputation. You’re talking about transferring money to and from a company that’s operating in an at-best grey legal area.

Such sportsbooks claim that the action they’re taking is governed by the jurisdiction where they operate. Presumably, it’s legal there to bet on such activities. United States prosecutors have a different attitude, which is why people like Calvin Ayre are hard to find.

The point is that you need to be comfortable that the book is going to pay you off if and when you win your bets. Some offshore sportsbooks are notorious for stiffing their customers.

Once you find such a sportsbook, you’ll need to find a way to get money to and from the company.

In today’s gambling environment, probably the best way to accomplish that is via cryptocurrency like bitcoin.

Once you’ve established an account at such a company and funded it, actually placing the bet is just a matter of finding the wager you want to make, inputting the amount you wish to wager, and pointing and clicking.

Odds on the 2020 US Presidential Election

Odds at MyBookie

  • Joe Biden (-155)
  • Donald Trump (+115)
  • Kamala Harris (+1500)
  • Mike Pence (+10000)
  • Anyone Else (+35000)

Visit MyBookie

Odds at Bovada

  • Joe Biden (-165)
  • Donald Trump (+125)
  • Kamala Harris (+7500)
  • Mike Pence (+7500)

Visit Bovada

Odds at BetOnline

  • Joe Biden (-180)
  • Donald Trump (+160)
  • Kamala Harris (+10000)
  • Mike Pence (+10000)
  • Jo Jorgensen (+50000)

Visit BetOnline

It’s no secret that offshore sportsbooks take action on presidential elections. I see the odds being published and updated regularly on various news sites.

So let’s look at recent odds for the presidential election at BetOnline.ag has Joe Biden at -180 and Donald Trump at +160. You could also bet on Hillary Clinton at +6000.

The -180 odds on Joe Biden mean that if you bet $180 on Biden winning, you win $100 if he wins the election.

The +160 odds on Donald Trump mean that if you bet $100 on Trump winning, you win $160 if he wins the election.

The minus sign indicates that he’s the favorite, so that’s the amount you must risk to win $100.

Hillary Clinton is clearly a longshot, so if you wager $100 on her winning, and she somehow pulls it off, you’d win $600.

Even with 60 to 1 odds, though, I think betting on Hillary is a sucker bet.

Conclusion

Can you gamble on elections in the United States?

Can I Bet On The Presidential Election In Vegas

Sure, people have been doing so for decades.

Where Can I Bet On The Presidential Election

But it isn’t legal to take action on such wagers.

Betting Odds 2020 Election

My advice is to obey the law, but if you want to put a little money down on the next presidential election, at least only risk money you can afford to lose – especially if you’re betting with an offshore sportsbook rather than a buddy of yours.