Online bookies will always be the destination for those looking to bet on sports. Football, horse racing, darts, greyhounds, snooker and dozens more are all available to bet on with the vast majority of betting sites. However, over recent years, bookmakers have started to accept bets in other categories with one of those being Reality TV.
Reality TV went mainstream in the UK when Big Brother launched back in 2000. Although punters weren’t able to bet on the first series, the structure of the show provided a perfect betting platform for those wishing to lay their money on the line by predicting which contestant would win or be evicted next.
What reality TV shows can you bet on?
There are several TV shows that are aired throughout the year on UK television that the public can bet on with online bookmakers and the market for it is growing with each year that passes.
Some of the most popular TV Shows that bookmakers take bets on include:
- I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!
- Britain’s Got Talent
- The Voice
- Dancing on Ice
- Strictly Come Dancing
- Eurovision
- The Masked Singer
- The X Factor
How to bet on reality TV
The first step in betting on a reality TV show is to find a bookmaker that offers betting markets and odds for it. Betfred is one bookie that offers betting across several UK TV shows.
You’ll usually find the available betting markets by visiting the bookmakers website and navigating to the TV or Novelty betting section in the list of sports.
Depending on the betting site and the TV show, you’ll find markets available such as:
- Who will win the show
- Next contestant to be evicted
- Top Male / Female
Some TV shows feature celebrities whereas others have contestants who are all members of the public. If you are unsure of who some contestants are, you may be better off following predictions from betting experts online. The WhichBookie Tips section provides selections for all of the top reality television shows.
Tips for betting on reality TV
Here is some advice on how to maximise your returns when betting on TV Shows with online bookmakers.
1. Watch the show
If you’re betting on a TV show, it’s important that you are following it. Shows like I’m A Celeb are televised every day and one event in the camp can either significantly increase or decrease a contestant’s chances of winning. If you follow the show, you’ll have a much better understanding of which contestants are in with a good chance of winning or being evicted next and you can then determine if there is any value in the odds being offered.
2. Consider each way bets
Some bookies will allow you to place an each way bet on the winner of the show. Depending on the show and the terms of the bet, you’ll be offered lower odds but your bet will win if your selected contestant finishes in the top 4 or so places.
For example, Matt Hancock was 50/1 to win I’m A Celebrity before he entered the jungle. Betfred were offering 1/5 odds on the former health secretary to win each way. That means that if you placed a £10 each way bet on him, £5 would be placed on Matt Hancock winning at 50/1 and £5 would be placed on him finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th at odds of 10/1. Hancock finished 3rd and so the payout would have been £55 from that bet.
3. Go with the best odds
Unless a bookmaker is running a promotion from which you can receive free bets or a refund when placing a bet on a reality TV show, you should always place your bet with the bookie offering the best odds on the contestant you are backing.
Not all bookies offer the same odds and when it comes to betting on reality TV, the odds can vary significantly between bookmakers.
You can increase your returns by some margin by placing your bets at the highest odds that are available and if it means that you have to open a new bookmaker account, you’ll likely be able to claim free bets or some other offer as a new customer.
4. Look out for price boosts
You may be able to find a bookmaker that is offering price boosts on certain contestants. If you do, check that the boosted odds are better than what is available with other bookies and if they are, they may be worth taking up if they’re available on your contestant.
Making a profit from betting is all about finding value in bets and price boosts are often a great opportunity to do that.
5. To bet early or to wait?
Many bets on reality TV shows are placed when the first episode airs on television. However, you’ll have a much better understanding of who may be in line to go all of the way if you wait a little while longer to place your bet.
Odds on contestants change a lot during the early stages of the show but tend to stabilise as the show progresses. As a general rule, you usually want to be backing a contestant that is least likely to get involved in any arguments or confrontations which is what usually leads to them losing the public vote and being evicted.