How to Bet on Specials
There are far more opportunities to bet than ever before as the public continues to show an appetite for predicting what will happen in all walks of life. Bookmakers no longer restrict themselves to accepting wagers on sports and nowadays, if there is interest in an event, it is safe to say that you will be able to gamble on it.
Where to Bet on Specials
The following online sportsbooks have lots of fascinating specials markets to consider:
Specials Markets
Some of the most popular specials markets relate to big TV series, such as Big Brother, X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. The competitive element of such shows, and the fact they are generally transmitted live, makes it simple to have markets on who will win, be eliminated next, clinch the title of top man or woman or even finish in the top three. However, it is also possible to make bets on other aspects of TV, even on scripted programmes, for example when a soap character is killed off and there is a mystery over the identity of the murderer.
In the film industry, punters can bet on the Oscar results or the next actor to be cast in a high-profile role such as James Bond. There are also stacks of music markets, whether for Eurovision, the Christmas No.1 single, the next winner of the Mercury Prize or who will be named as a headline act at Glastonbury.
The Royal Family has also proved to be the source of some of the biggest non-sporting betting events ever, such as whether the Duchess of Cambridge would have a boy or a girl and what the baby might be named. Some bookies also keep markets open on the next monarch and when Prince Harry might get married.
All sorts of other bets are available, either on request or from certain bookmakers, such as whether there will be a white Christmas, who will be the next Pope, whether the Loch Ness Monster will be discovered by a certain date and when the existence of alien life will ever be proven. You can also find out more on how to bet on politics if you fancy a punt on another topic besides sports.
Tips and Strategy
Specials betting is extremely diverse and there is something for everyone, but the important trick is to really understand the subject you are gambling on before making that wager. Reality shows featuring public votes reward popularity and not necessarily the best competitors, so it is all about being in tune with other viewers rather than backing who you think deserves to win.
Generally, high-stakes gamblers stick to sports such as horse racing, football or tennis where selections can be based on longer-term trends in form, and specials markets are the domain of punters who are just wishing to have a flutter on the side to add to their enjoyment of a particular event.