The midterm elections are looming and the Democrats are gaining momentum to maintain their Senate majority, while the Republicans are poised to reclaim the House next November 8th. At least, that’s the expectation after looking at the available lines at the top political betting sites.
The best sportsbooks in the industry are dealing odds on a multitude of political races including which party will hold a majority in each chamber after the midterms. Republicans are heavy favorites to control the House at -700, while the Democrats are a longshot at +400. However, things are more competitive when it comes to the senate as Democrats are slightly favored at -130.
Below we will examine a pivotal battleground state, Florida, and peruse the odds on its Senate and Governor’s races. We will also provide a guide to the top betting sites that have odds on all the races for political enthusiasts everywhere as well as an explanation of how to understand odds.
Who Will Win the Florida Midterm Elections?
On November 8th, voters in Florida will decide on one senate race, 28 congressional seats as well as the gubernatorial election and other local offices.
Gubernatorial Election Betting Odds
The Florida election forecast shows Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as a prohibitive favorite in the race for reelection over Charlie Crist (D), according to BetOnline. Crist is no stranger to the position as he was elected governor back in 2006, however, back then he represented the Republican Party.
- Ron DeSantis -2000
- Charlie Crist +700
Ron DeSantis is a formidable opponent and will likely get reelected in Florida. According to the latest information shared by Politico’s forecast, DeSantis has a double-digit lead in the latest polls. Since 2002, Florida hasn’t witnessed a governor race decided by more than 10 points.
Senate Election Betting Odds
The same outcome is also anticipated for the senatorial race with incumbent Marco Rubio expected to waltz back into office over challenger Val Demings. The odds on Rubio are also -2000.
Back in 2016, Rubio won his first re-election by a margin of more than seven percentage points and for this race, BetOnline has set the total at 7.5%, with both sides priced at -120.
Best Sportsbooks for the Midterm Elections 2022
Our team of experts has scoured the sportsbook industry to find the best online betting sites offering odds on U.S. politics. Features like customer service, mobile software and secure payouts were taken into account.
These are the top four options to bet on the U.S. midterm elections. Although there are subtle differences between them, the one constant is reliability.
BetOnline Election Betting Odds
BetOnline has over 25 years of experience making it an iconic brand whose odds are quoted in respected publications. When it comes to the midterm elections, you won’t find more options elsewhere. Besides the general offers like which party will win the majority in either the House or the Senate, you’ll find specific offers for the Florida races, like the margin of victory for Marco Rubio.
BetOnline has expanded its offerings in the world of politics. There are betting propositions on anything from Donald Trump officially launching his 2024 campaign, to the Brazilian Presidential election. This site is popular for offering opinionated lines and secure payouts as explained in this BetOnline review.
Bookmaker Election Bets
Bookmaker.eu is one of the industry’s oldest and most respected online betting sites and it differentiates itself by daring to set the odds before any of the others do. Currently, their offer for November is not as broad as the one from BetOnline or Bovada.
However, Bookmaker is already looking ahead at the 2024 Presidential Elections and if betting big appeals to you then this might be your first and only stop. Bookmaker’s limits are large and professional players are welcome. Find out more in this Bookmaker review.
Heritage Sports Election Betting Lines
There was a time when getting an invitation to join Heritage Sports was reserved for a segment of the sports betting population. However, in recent years management pivoted and allowed everyone to join while keeping the same VIP customer service approach.
The politics betting menu at Heritage Sports is not as extensive as the one from other competitors but you will find some of the main markets for the midterm election, like odds to win the House or the Senate. Read more in this Heritage Sports review.
Bovada Midterm Election Betting
Bovada caters exclusively to the American market and it has been doing so for over a decade. The political betting options are vast and the bonus programs you will find here are more than generous. This betting site is also home to the most popular poker room in the United States.
At Bovada you’ll be able to find a number of different props for the upcoming elections, including whether the turnout in 2022 will exceed the number of the 2018 midterms. There are few other online sportsbooks that can compete but the other three on this list stack up quite favorably. Find out more in this Bovada review.
Reading Midterm Election Odds
Before betting on politics, it’s vital to know how to read the odds, which will be presented in American format. Let’s take BetOnline’s odds on the Governor’s race in Florida between incumbent Ron DeSantis (R) and Democrat challenger Charlie Crist.
- Ron DeSantis -2000
- Charlie Crist +700
Every line is predicated on a $100 bet. That doesn’t mean you must bet $100 as you can bet less or more depending on the sportsbook’s minimum and maximum allowable wagers. In this case, the choice with the minus sign (-) is the favorite and the other with the plus (+) sign is the underdog.
If you want to bet Ron DeSantis -2000 that means you would have to risk $2000 to win $100. Meanwhile, risking $100 on Crist could turn into a $700 payday if the Democrat flips the election.
Senate vs. House: What’s the difference?
The United States has a bicameral legislature with the chambers being the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. There are two senators per state, often referred to as senior and junior senators based on their longevity in office, while there are a total of 435 congressional members comprising the House of Representatives. Of those seats, a total of 28 are determined in the Florida elections.
Senators and representatives can be from any party but the two most popular party members in the United States are the Republicans and Democrats. The former is nicknamed the GOP (Grand Old Party) while the latter does not have an equivalent moniker. We should also note that senators receive six-year terms while congressional races are for two-year terms.
Both chambers craft legislation but must work with each other to negotiate the final draft of those laws. They are part of a series of checks and balances that is outlined in the United States Constitution and must be adhered to for any business to get done on behalf of the American people.
Florida Sports Betting Compact: Is Sports Betting Legal in Florida?
The short answer is no. Retail and mobile sports betting apps are not allowed in the Sunshine State although the tribal casinos and Indian tribes associated with them tried to make a launch in 2021.
Amendment 3, legislation passed by Florida voters in 2018, deemed any expansion of online gambling in the Sunshine State must be approved by voters — except those that are introduced on tribal lands and remain there.
Three years later and for a little over a month, the Seminole Tribe, a Native American tribe located in Florida and owners of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, went live with mobile sports betting in November due to a new amendment in the compact between the tribe and the state which made it “legal”.
The Seminoles contended that their servers are located on their grounds and are therefore in compliance with the compact amendment. However, an appellate court ruling saw the gambling laws differently, as the compact stipulates betting must take place on tribal lands and those placing mobile bets are not located on the property. The fact that the servers receiving the bets are on tribal lands is immaterial to the language and spirit of the compact amendment.
Where can I find the 2022 elections odds?
The 2022 election odds can be found at BetOnline, Bookmaker, Bovada, and Heritage Sports betting sites. All of these top-rated online sportsbooks have a wide variety of political props. They also offer bonuses, great customer service and reliable payouts.
Do sportsbooks offer presidential election betting odds?
Yes, the presidential betting odds are already up despite the election being two years away. The best online sportsbooks like BetOnline, Bookmaker, Bovada, and Heritage Sports all have odds on the anticipated presidential candidates looking to get elected in 2024.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Daily Caller were not involved in the creation of this content.