Best Political Betting Sites: Midterm Election Betting Apps October 2026
The constant political cycle means there’s also a never-ending political betting cycle. With the US midterms right around the corner, many prediction market apps are allowing customers to trade on the outcomes of some of the biggest races.
- Best Political betting site in the US
- Top 3 political prediction sites reviewed
- Latest midterm election odds
- How to choose the right political betting site
- How to sign up for a political betting site
- How we rate and review political betting sites
- Legal aspects of political betting in the U.S. and Canada
- U.S. political betting events
- Political betting tips
- Political betting recent news
- Political betting sites summary
- Political betting sites and responsible gambling
- Political betting sites FAQ
Best Political betting site in the US
Editor's Note: No U.S. real money sportsbooks accept political wagers.
Although betting on politics is forbidden on traditional U.S. betting sites and betting apps, Americans can use prediction market apps to place trades on who they think will win key races. These prediction market apps operate under federal oversight, allowing them to bypass state laws and operate in almost every state.
My favorite prediction market app for political trading is Kalshi. Kalshi offers a great welcome bonus, plenty of state and national races, and more.
Top 3 political prediction sites reviewed
With the midterms less than a week away, key races all around the country are starting to take shape. Below, I review the three best prediction market platforms for political trading, highlighting bonuses, available markets, and more.
1. Kalshi
With Kalshi promo code SBR35, new users will get $35 in bonuses after signing up, depositing $10, and trading at least $25 worth of event contracts. This bonus can be used on political markets, such as "Texas Senate Winner?" and "Which party will win the U.S. Senate?"
There are also plenty of additional markets available for House races, margin of victory, and more.
Kalshi is one of the best-organized prediction market platforms. Finding the political market I was interested in took no time at all, thanks to the search bar and Midterms category. If you visit the Midterms section of the site, you'll even find a convenient interactive map that shows the percentage chance of each party winning Senate seats in particular states.
2. Polymarket
With Polymarket promo code SBR, new users can earn $25 in bonus funds just for depositing $10. There is no trade requirement to land this bonus.
Once you have your bonus in hand, you can use it to trade on whatever political market interests you most. Like Kalshi, Polymarket is loaded with political markets, covering everything from Senate and House races to Governorships and top referendums. For all races, Polymarket even has a tier category that lists whether a race is Safe Dem, Safe Rep, or somewhere in between.
Like Kalshi, Polymarket has a Midterms section with an interactive map. That said, I found the Kalshi map to be much easier on the eyes. Polymarket's gives you all the information you need, but I prefer the visuals at Kalshi.
3. FanDuel Predicts
Without needing a FanDuel Predicts promo code, new customers can claim a Trade $5, get $100 in Predicts Bonuses welcome offer. The bonus is administered as five daily $20 bonuses awarded after trading $1 for each of the first five days after making an account.
This means that if you sign up now, you can trade just $1 for each of the next five days and grab five $20 bonuses to use for the midterms. However, this bonus is only available in the following 18 states: AK, AL, CA, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, MN, ND, NE, NM, OK, RI, SC, SD, TX, and UT.
While FanDuel Predicts offers plenty of political markets, the depth on the platform pales in comparison to Kalshi and Polymarket. That said, you can still trade on Senate, House, and Governor winners, and some of the odds are more favorable at FanDuel Predicts due to lower liquidity than the top two platforms.
Latest midterm election odds
In less than a week, we'll know if the Republicans retained control of the Senate and House or if the Democrats were able to flip one or both of the chambers of Congress. Here's a look at the latest odds for the most pivotal races at Kalshi and Polymarket.
| Race | Kalshi | Polymarket |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Senate | Talarico (D) - 65% | Talarico (D) - 68% |
| Maine Senate | Jackson (D) - 61% | Jackson (D) - 62% |
| Ohio Senate | Brown (D) - 67% | Brown (D) - 70% |
| Michigan Senate | Abdul El-Sayed (D) - 68% | Abdul El-Sayed (D) - 69% |
| Alaska Senate | Peltola (D) - 74% | Peltola (D) - 75% |
| Iowa Senate | Hinson (R) - 58% | Hinson (R) - 59% |
| Kansas Senate | Marshall (R) - 60% | Marshall (R) - 61% |
| House Control | Democrats - 92% | Democrats - 91% |
| Senate Control | Democrats - 64% | Democrats - 66% |
How to choose the right political betting site
Not all election betting sites are created equal. Some have more markets than others, and you'll find slightly varied odds at all the books on our list. Here are the most important factors to consider when choosing between the top US sports betting sites and the best sports betting sites in Canada:
Reputation and trustworthiness
You’re putting your hard-earned money and personal information on the line when using any betting site, so you need to have complete trust in the one you’ve chosen. The best political betting sites have built up and, more importantly, maintained a stellar reputation with their customers.
Licensing and regulation
We only use and recommend political betting sites that are fully licensed and regulated by a reputable regulatory body. Before depositing any money into a betting site, ensure it is properly licensed and regulated so you know it is safe, legitimate, and has some regulatory oversight.
Variety of betting options
Not all political betting sites offer the same markets. The betting options offered from site to site can vary considerably. The best political betting sites offer several betting options. Be sure to review what bets they have available when choosing your preferred betting site.
Competitive odds
Finding competitive odds can dramatically impact how much money ends up in your bankroll when you make winning bets. Creating accounts at multiple political betting sites can be advantageous, as it helps you shop around to find the best and most profitable odds for a wider range of markets.
User-friendly interface
Using a political betting site should be easy. It should take only a few minutes (at most) to make a deposit, place a bet, and request a withdrawal if it wins. A difficult-to-navigate interface or painfully slow withdrawal time can quickly ruin your betting experience.
Payment options and security
The best political betting sites offer several safe and quick deposit and withdrawal options. Those options should be quick, whether you’re moving money in or out of your account. Security should also be a top priority for the best political betting sites. Your data and funds should be safe and protected by the top security measures available.
Obviously, fastest payout sportsbooks get our best ratings in this category.
Customer support
If you run into any issues with your account or have a question about using a political betting site, customer support should be easy to access and provide timely assistance. The best election betting sites have several ways to access customer support, such as live chat, phone, and email. On top of that, some of these methods are available 24/7.
Bonuses and promotions
Generous welcome or sign-up bonuses from political betting sites can get you started with a nice bankroll boost. However, the total dollar amount isn’t the only thing to look at when grading bonuses. Playthrough requirements and other terms and conditions are also important to research. You should also look for ongoing bonuses and promotions for existing customers to see how well loyal players are rewarded.
How to sign up for a political betting site
After you’ve read through our list of the best political betting sites and narrowed down which is the right one for you, registering and making your first deposit is easy. Just follow this simple step-by-step guide to get started.
💻 1. Choose a political betting site
Any of the sites we recommended above are great choices. If you want to go with a different site, just make sure you've carefully evaluated it using the same factors we do.
📝 2. Register your account
To begin the registration process, you’ll need to provide some standard personal information such as full name, date of birth, mailing address, and email address.
This personal information may need to be verified to authenticate your identity, your age, and where you live. This verification process can usually be completed with a government-issued identification.
💰 3. Deposit
After your information has been verified, you can make your first deposit into your account. Choose your preferred deposit option and enter the necessary financial information. Most deposit methods take only a few seconds to complete. Once the money is in your account, you can make your trade.
💸 4. Collect your welcome bonus
When registering and making your first deposit, make sure you accept any welcome bonuses that you are eligible for. Some political betting sites make their bonuses available during registration (before you deposit). Make sure you watch for them throughout the process.
📈 5. Make your first bet and cash out
Now that your account is created and properly funded, navigate to the political betting market section. Find the election race you want to wager on, confirm the odds, and add it to your bet slip. Then, confirm your bet to make it official.
If you're right, you'll be able to cash out your winnings immediately. Navigate back to the 'Banking' or 'Cashier' section of your betting site to find the 'Withdraw' option. Follow the steps to send your profits back to yourself.
How we rate and review political betting sites
At SBR, we rate and rank political betting sites by reviewing many factors that are important to bettors. We only recommend political betting sites that live up to our high standards and offer a safe and enjoyable betting experience. Before assigning a political betting site a rating of any kind, we thoroughly review bonuses and promotions, banking options and payout speeds, security and trust, customer support, and website or app ease of use.
We put every political betting site to the test by experiencing firsthand what they have to offer by creating an account, making a deposit, placing bets, and requesting a withdrawal. We're not going to recommend any site to our readers unless we're willing to use it ourselves first, so we can judge how good (or bad) the experience is.
Legal aspects of political betting in the U.S. and Canada
The best political betting sites offer odds on elections and political events from around the world. However, is it actually legal to bet on politics and election results in the United States or Canada?
In the U.S., the answer is no. Under current laws in every state with a form of legalized betting, wagering on politics and election outcomes is prohibited. That said, you can legally use prediction market apps, which are widely available across the US at this time, to make trades related to US politics.
Things are a bit different North of the border. Political betting is perfectly legal in Canada, and you can use the best sportsbook promos to place bets. In addition to Canadian Federal Election markets, there are a lot of international political markets in Canada, including many options for the U.S. and U.K. political spheres.
U.S. political betting events
Trading on who will be President is just one prop that traders can take advantage of. Additionally, they can trade on the primaries leading up to the election, as well as elections in Congress and the Senate.
2028 Election betting
Odds are available for the 2028 Presidential Election, but it's still too early to tell what the race will even look like. Vice President JD Vance was the frontrunner for a while, but Gavin Newsom overtook him in early May. However, at this point, Vance is back in the driver's seat, though that's mostly because the Democratic candidate is so up in the air.
Odds updated weekly. Check your preferred prediction market app for the latest numbers.
| Nominee | Kalshi | Polymarket |
|---|---|---|
| JD Vance | 20% | 19.3% |
| Gavin Newsom | 13% | 11.9% |
| Marco Rubio | 10% | 9.8% |
| Jon Ossoff | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | 8.1% | 13.1% |
| Kamala Harris | 3.7% | 4.1% |
| James Talarico | 3% | 1.8% |
| Pete Buttigieg | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| Ron DeSantis | 2.7% | 2.8% |
Congressional Election betting
On November 3, 2026, Americans will head to the polls to vote in 435 congressional districts, as part of the midterm elections for Donald Trump's second term. Historically, sitting presidents tend to lose seats in Congress during the midterms, so this year's elections represent the best chance for Democrats to tip the balance of power before 2028.
Political betting tips
Unlike sports betting, political betting doesn't usually have a long list of trends or analytical data to study. There's certainly no such thing as an injury report or weather scouting.
However, there are a few things you can study and pay attention to that can improve your chances of making successful political bets.
Know the numbers
First, before you place any bets, make sure you have a good understanding of how odds work. If you’re a sports bettor, you’re likely already familiar with how odds are written out and what they mean. If you’re more of a beginner bettor, here’s how decimal and American odds work at political betting sites:
Decimal odds
High decimal odds mean the outcome of that bet is less likely to happen. Lower decimal odds indicate a greater chance of it happening. To calculate decimal odds, simply multiply your wager by the decimal odds. For example, if you were to wager $100 on 1.50 odds the potential payout is $150.
American odds
American odds follow roughly the same rules. Positive odds (i.e., +200) are considered underdogs, while negative odds (i.e., -175) are considered favourites. The number you see equates to $100 bet amounts, so if you bet $100 at +200 and win, you get back $300 total (your original stake plus your winnings).
For favourites, you need to bet the odds number to win $100, so if you wagered $175 at -175, you'd see a total return of $275. These numbers scale up and down based on the amount of your bet, so even a $5 bet returns the same ratio of winnings.
Shop around for the best price
It’s often more lucrative to use multiple political betting sites. That’s why we’ve listed our top five choices. By having accounts at multiple sites, you can shop around for the best odds on your preferred bet.
Different sites may also give you access to more betting markets. One political betting site may only post odds on presidential elections, for example, while others may offer odds on additional elections or a larger selection of props and futures.
Stay current
If you’re making frequent political bets, it pays to keep up on the news. Keep an eye on what’s happening in Washington D.C., Ottawa, or London, England, if you’re betting on Presidential and Prime Minister elections.
How will the economy factor into an election? What are the most recent polls saying? Also, don’t get all your political news from one source. Reading or watching the news from different media outlets will give you a better view of what’s happening on both sides of the political spectrum.
Don’t forget about political biases, and don’t let them impact your betting habits. You shouldn't let your sporting allegiances affect your sports betting picks, so don't let your political biases sway your election picks, either.
Bet with your head and not your political heart. The squares you check at the ballot box don't always have to match the box you check on your bet slip.
Political betting recent news
Here's the latest news and notes from the political betting scene:
Feb. 3, 2026: DraftKings and FanDuel ramp up federal political spending ahead of the 2026 midterms, marking a sharp shift from the sports betting industry's usual focus on state-level politics.
Sept. 9, 2025: Upstart political prediction platform PredictIt receives regulatory approval from the CFTC, allowing it to operate as a licensed hub for contract sales and purchases.
July 3, 2025: The odds of disgraced former DOGE leader Elon Musk launching a new political party this year climb to 40% at Kalshi following his public falling out with Donald Trump.
Mar. 31, 2025: British sportsbook William Hill begins offering odds (five-to-one as of this writing) that Donald Trump will disobey the U.S. Constitution and seek a third presidential term in 2028.
Mar. 23, 2025: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney officially calls a Federal Election for April 28, ending months of speculation on when the next election will take place.
Mar. 19, 2025: The Liberal Party sees a massive odds swing at major books like FanDuel and bet365 and now sits tied with the Conservatives for the best odds of winning the Canadian Federal Election.
Mar. 18, 2025: 338Canada's statistical model projects a Liberal Majority government for the first time in the current federal election cycle, though the Conservatives remain the betting favorite at most sportsbooks.
Mar. 9, 2025: Mark Carney wins the Liberal Party of Canada leadership race. Carney will run against Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives in the next Federal Election.
Feb. 27, 2025: Ontario Premier Doug Ford is re-elected, marking a third straight majority government win for the Conservatives.
Feb. 24, 2025: According to Kalshi, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith now has the fourth-shortest odds of becoming the Democratic Presidential nominee in 2028. The prediction market platform gives the popular sports personality 7% listed odds, which would pay out $1,250 on a $100 bet. California Governor Gavin Newsom remains the betting favorite, followed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
Feb. 13, 2025: Donald Trump nominates Brian Quintenz to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). A former CFTC commissioner, Quintez also previously served on the board of Kalshi, the events contract platform that received approval to offer presidential election markets ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election.
Jan. 28, 2025: Ontario Premier Doug Ford meets with the lieutenant governor to dissolve provincial parliament, triggering an early election for Feb. 27.
Jan. 21, 2025: Canadian sportsbook and iGaming operator Rivalry adds $TRUMP cryptocurrency to its list of accepted payment options. The controversial meme coin was launched by US President Donald Trump just days before his Jan. 20 inauguration.
Jan. 16, 2025: Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney officially launches campaign to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader. Carney's chief opponents in the race include former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland and Government House Leader Karina Gould.
Jan. 13, 2025: Donald Trump Jr. posts on X (formerly Twitter) that he's joined prediction market Kalshi as a strategic advisor. Kalshi notably became the first legal, regulated prediction market in the U.S. during last year's Presidential Election after successfully overcoming legal challenges from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Jan. 7, 2025: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation shakes up political betting markets like Polymarket, which now projects a 72% chance that a federal election will be called by March 31, 2025.
Jan. 6, 2025: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces he's stepping down as Liberal leader and proroguing Parliament until late March, giving time for the party to elect a new leader. Once a new leader is chosen and Parliament resumes, the Trudeau government will likely lose a key confidence vote, triggering a federal election.
Nov. 26, 2024: France gaming regulators reportedly ban crypto betting platform Polymarket in response to a gambler winning $80 million on the platform after betting on the U.S. Presidential Election.
Nov. 13, 2024: In an interview with Sportsbook Review, former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal claims he foresaw a "massive landslide" win for Donald Trump and suggests UFC CEO Dana White should join the re-elected president's team.
Nov. 8, 2024: On a conference call with analysts and investors, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins says the company is looking into prediction market opportunities ahead of the 2028 U.S. Presidential Election.
Nov. 7, 2024: The identity of the "French Trump Whale" who bet more than $30 million on the Republican candidate to win the Electoral College and popular vote is revealed as Theo, a trader and investor who made nearly $50 million off his massive political wager.
Nov. 6, 2024: Donald Trump wins the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election becoming the 47th President of the United States, a result that was foreseen by many prediction platforms before Election Day.
Nov. 1, 2024: Polymarket, Kalshi, and other platforms reveal the 20 biggest U.S. Presidential Election bets placed so far. The top wager? $45 million(!) on Trump to win at Polymarket.
Oct. 30, 2024: A new study from the American Gaming Association found that the majority of Trump and Harris voters support legal gambling and sports betting.
Oct. 29, 2024: Robinhood, the stock trading app, rolls out U.S. Election predictions, allowing users to "make trades" based on their election predictions.
Oct. 28, 2024: ChatGPT predicts that Kamala Harris will win the election by a razor-thin margin, after some brief hesitation.
Oct. 25, 2024: BetMGM reports that Trump is holding over 75% of the betting handle in markets where political betting is allowed, even though the number of bets on each candidate is almost exactly 50/50.
Oct. 21, 2024: Trump stages a photo-up at a McDonald's restaurant in a weird attempt to call out Harris for not actually having worked there during college, as she claims. The betting odds do not shift much at all.
Oct. 15, 2024: With just three weeks left in the race, Trump now sits as a -163 favorite to win the Presidency, while Harris sits at +130.
Sept. 11, 2024: Harris surged to a slight lead after debating Trump on national TV for the first time, now posted as a -125 favorite compared to Trump's +100 even money.
Sept. 10, 2024: With Harris and Trump's first debate scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on ABC, Trump now leads with -125 odds. Harris remains even money at +100.
Sept. 5, 2024: The odds continue to shuffle around. Both Trump and Harris are sit tied at slightly less than even money, each with -110 odds.
August 19, 2024: Kamala Harris increases her lead in the betting odds, shifting to a -125 favorite. Donald Trump remains even money at +100.
August 6, 2024: Democratic nominee Kamala Harris sees odds stay at +110 after selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz as her Vice-President on Tuesday.
July 21, 2024: Joe Biden announces he will no longer accept the Democratic nomination and will instead endorse current Vice President Kamala Harris.
Political betting sites summary
Here's a quick breakdown of the important details you need to know when it comes to the best political betting sites:
| Political betting sites info | |
|---|---|
| 📆 2028 U.S. Presidential Election Date | Nov. 7, 2028 |
| 📊 Current U.S. Presidential Favorite | JD Vance (20%) |
| 🤑 Common Bet Types | Moneyline, props, totals, futures |
| 🔵 Democratic Nominee | Unknown |
| 🔴 Republican Nominee | Unknown |
| 🎂 Legal Age for Political Betting | 19 (or 18 in AB, MB, and QC) |
Odds courtesy of Kalshi as of Oct. 27 2026.
Political betting sites and responsible gambling
No matter what you’re betting on, whether it’s sports, politics, or casino games, it’s important to play responsibly. Risk is always present in all forms of gambling. Even something that looks like a guaranteed win could turn out to be a loss.
Some of the signs of problem gambling include being unable to stop gambling, chasing wins to overcome past losses, neglecting your responsibilities in favour of gambling, mood swings, and constantly claiming you can stop anytime.
If you (or a loved one) are showing signs of problem gambling, there are many resources available to you that can help. Speak to your doctor or health care provider, or check out any of these free resources:
- ResponsibleGambling.Org - A resource to connect you with various counsellors and tools to help.
- CAMH - The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is Canada's largest mental health and addiction organization.
Political betting sites FAQ
Minimum and maximum bet amounts vary depending on the political betting site you are using and your account status. Information on minimum and maximum bets can often be found in your betting site’s help section or FAQ or by contacting customer support.
Age and location requirements for political betting depend on the site you use and where you are located. Under current U.S. laws, no legal sportsbooks operating in the country can offer betting on politics and elections. The legal age required to place bets can vary in different locations and at different sportsbooks, so check these requirements before creating an account.
Odds for political events and elections are calculated using algorithms that examine polling information, placed bets, and other betting data. Political and economic news, plus the candidate’s behaviours, can also affect the odds.
Sportsbooks in the U.S. are not allowed to take political bets. Sportsbooks in Canada and the U.K. can offer odds and take bets on elections in their own country and on elections that take place in other countries as well.
It’s very rare to be able to place live political bets. Unlike sports, there is very little live action in politics. Live betting may be available during an important debate or political convention, but most political bets must be placed prior to an event, such as an election taking place.
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