Editor
Loading ...
Reality TV is a guilty pleasure for lots of us, but did you know that reality TV betting is not only possible, but very popular? Since the advent of online bookmakers particularly, it’s a market that thousands of punters enjoy.
In our rundown of the world of reality TV betting, we’ll show you some of the most sought-after betting markets, and give you some handy hints and tips on getting started. It doesn’t matter if you never miss Love Island, or you’re a sucker for a waltz on Strictly, we’ve got you covered.
Being able to bet on reality TV shows is a relatively new phenomenon at lots of bookmakers, but one that is gaining a lot of popularity. There is no shortage to choose from, but these are just a few of the most popular options you’ll find at reality TV betting sites:
Love Island was named as the most-watched TV show of 2022, which just goes to show its popularity. Some of the betting markets available on the show include the winning couple, the top male, the top female, and the next person to get dumped. If you love a bit of fun and romance in the sun, you can read through our guide to the top Love Island betting sites.
A new series of The Apprentice appears in January every year. Common bets on the series include the overall winner, the overall runner-up, and the next person to be fired. To find out more about betting on Lord Sugar’s latest business buddy, you can visit our guide to the best The Apprentice betting sites.
I’m a Celeb sees a group of famous faces endure Bushtucker trials (including the infamous dinner of kangaroo danglies) in the jungles of Australia, South Africa or, in the 2021 series, Wales. The most popular bet made is the overall winner of the series but you might also wager on who’s next to be eliminated - check out our review of the top I'm A Celebrity betting sites here.
Show | Category | First Aired in UK |
---|---|---|
Love Island | Dating | June 2015 |
The Apprentice | Business | February 2005 |
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | Celebrity | August 2002 |
Strictly Come Dancing | Dancing | May 2004 |
Big Brother | Household | July 2000 |
Britain's Got Talent | Talent Show | June 2007 |
Strictly Come Dancing first aired in 2004, and has been a Saturday staple ever since. Throughout each three month series, celebrities are paired with professional dancers and given one week to learn a dance routine. You can expect fabulous dance routines with a twist of scandal as the couples compete for the Glitterball trophy.
Big Brother first appeared on our screens in 2000, and is set to return to TV in 2023. On the show, contestants are shut off from the outside world and must vote to eliminate other players from the house. There’s 24/7 drama and weekly eliminations guarantee that things never get boring. To find out about the best Big Brother betting sites, read through our dedicated guide.
This talent contest sees ordinary people showing off their skills (for better or worse!), from magic and comedy, to dancing and singing.
Reality TV offers some of the most varied betting markets around. The TV shows mentioned above take the form of competitions and run over a series of weeks (or, in many cases, months). This gives punters the chance for some varied, long-term betting markets that change frequently. The variety of markets available to bet on will depend on your bookmaker of choice.
The most common reality TV bet is a stake on the overall winner of a show. The runner-up is also a popular option. For task based shows such as The Apprentice or Strictly Come Dancing, you might also bet on who’ll be eliminated next, the winner of a specific task, or the highest finishing female/male contestant.
Reality TV is a fairly new betting market that is impacted by lots of different variables. To help you get started, follow our top tips:
It’ll come as no surprise that the best dancer doesn’t always win Strictly. The winner of many reality TV shows (including Strictly, Britain’s Got Talent, and I’m a Celebrity) will be decided by a public vote. Therefore, those with a lot of fans are likely to do well, whatever their ability (sometimes the sympathy vote for a bad dancer trying their best can be powerful too).
Sometimes the public’s attitude towards a contestant can be swayed when they don’t do as well in a task, or from a judge’s harsh words.
It's tempting to get involved right away, maybe backing someone to win a show after the first episode. However, there’s a fine balance here between picking an early favourite to win and taking your time to see who improves after a few weeks.
Making a wager on reality TV is one of the best ways to get started in the world of novelty betting. It’s a great way to enhance your enjoyment of your favourite shows and make the viewing experience even better.
Not only does it add an extra layer of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, it gives you even more reason to root for your favourite contestants. It’s also a fun way to share some laughs with family and friends, and engage in a little friendly competition.
You should assess a betting site based on its ability to meet your individual needs. This includes how easy it is to use and whether it offers any welcome bonuses for new members. To help you, Betting.co.uk keeps a regularly updated list of the best reality TV betting sites, so check back often to see what’s new.
There are lots of different betting markets available for reality TV betting. We’ve outlined which bets are possible for reality TV in our total guide, so give it a read through to find out more.
The odds on each individual reality TV show will vary across the year, even before the first episode of the series airs. To find out the reality TV betting odds for your preferred show and betting market, you can have a look through our Betting.co.uk guides.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.