TV and Awards Betting

No so long ago, betting was viewed as an activity for sports fanatics only, focused almost exclusively on football, horse racing, and little else outside major sporting events. But just as television has brought fans more sports to bet on, it has also developed a dedicated following for “reality shows,” and it wasn’t long until bookmakers realized that markets for these could attract an entirely new breed of punter.

It all started with Big Brother Betting in the summer of 2000, as wagers were taken on who would be evicted from confinement in a house week by week, and who would be the last housemate standing. Having a few quid on the outcome made the twelve-week series even more exciting to those who were skillful at deciphering the mood of voting public, who decided who stayed and who went packing.

The success of Big Brother as a program and as a new gambling opportunity paved the way for a new category of Novelty Betting reserved just for TV and Awards. The Australian Outback adventure game called “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” debuted in 2002 in the UK and was an instant smash; it has given bookmakers a reliable and captive audience ever since. Similarly, “Strictly Come Dancing” and the “Pop Idol” replacement called the “X Factor” took over the airwaves in 2004, spawning new television audiences and new betting shop customers as well.

The most recent programme to rise to the heights of TV wagering was “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2008. Seeing a long-shot like Parish choir singer Susan Boyle make her way to the finals has sparked tremendous interest in ante post betting for the show. Wagers can also be placed week by week on who will be eliminated and who will move on.

Actually, the current hoopla over TV Betting is not a far cry from past enthusiasm expressed for beauty pageants, like Miss World, which still draws a keen following of bettors. And wagering on the winners of the various categories for the Academy Awards has long be a staple of bookmakers round the world.

But that does not explain the surge of interest in Award Betting for less directly competitive fields, such as Nobel Laureate wagering and taking stakes on literary recognitions, like the Man Booker Prize. Other popular markets are the Grammys, the Baftas, and the Brits. It is as if the public now wants to become more directly involved in the cheers and tears that accompany competitions of all kinds, and betting serves that purpose just perfectly.

To encourage TV and Award Betting among those who do not commonly wager on sports, many bookmakers are touting Special Free Betting Offers. Most of these can be claimed after a first bet has been placed. For example, William Hill has a £25 free bet offer, following sign up, deposit, and a first bet, which will be matched up to £25 for subsequent wagers. Promotion code F25 must used when signing up.

Another recent innovation is the addition of U.S. reality TV shows and awards to the lists of markets available through U.K. bookmakers. This reflects the ever-increasing internationalisation of television programming. Among markets offered are The Apprentice (Donald Trump’s “Your Fired” Show), Last Comic Standing, Rock Star Supernova, Amazing Race, and the leader of them all, Survivor. British bettors should not be surprised to see some familiar derivatives among the U.S. markets, such as American Idol, Big Brother (U.S.), So You Think You Can Dance, and Hell’s Kitchen.