5 Most Popular Non-Sports Bets of 2018

• We’ve put together five of the biggest non-sports bets from the past year
• Marquee events like the Oscars and the Super Bowl halftime show attracted an avalanche of wagers
• Bettors have been eager to wager on Donald Trump’s future 

Here at SBD our day-to-day focus tends to be on sports wagering, but every now and again we spot a non-sports prop so entertaining that we just have to share it.

Sometimes it’s something outrageous like whether Donald Trump will declare the earth is flat, while other times it’s a little more news-worthy like the location of Amazon’s new HQ2.

We consulted with a selection of top sportsbooks and have rounded up the five non-sports bets of 2018 that generated the most buzz and the biggest handles.

5. 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Formerly the third most bet on pageant behind the Miss Universe and Miss World contests, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show rose to best in breed in 2018 as gamblers wagered millions on their favorite beagles and bull terriers.

Flynn the bichon frisé is a very good dog who just won Best in Show at the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. ? pic.twitter.com/aW4qpJWHin

— ESPN (@espn) February 14, 2018

In the end, the top dog was Flynn, a fluffy white Bichon Frise, who earned high praise from judges for his exquisite grooming and excellent disposition.

The five-year-old was greeted with thunderous applause at Madison Square Garden and afterwards was swept away for a trip to the Empire State Building and a lunch at legendary New York City restaurant Sardi’s.

4. Will Donald Trump Be Reelected?

You didn’t really think Trump would make our list just once, did you?

Bettors spent approximately $130 million on the outcome of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, and they haven’t been shy about wagering on whether The Donald will win again in 2020.

2020 U.S. Presidential Election Odds

Trump began the year with average odds of +230 across a number of top sportsbooks, and his chances of staying in the Oval Office for a second term have only improved since. You can check out our 2020 U.S. Presidential Election Odds Tracker to see a visual depiction of his chances.

3. Will Donald Trump Be Impeached?

From the moment he was sworn into office on January 20, 2017, sportsbooks have been accepting wagers on whether President Donald Trump will be impeached during his first term.

Dear @realDonaldTrump,

I know that you were disappointed with the size of your inauguration crowd, but don’t worry. You are on track to have the highest rated impeachment proceedings in history.

It’s going to be a HUGE IMPEACHMENT!

— Ryan Knight ?? (@ProudResister) December 8, 2018

What began an amusing prop picked up steam in November 2018 when the Democrats won control of the House of Representatives during the midterm elections. They now have the power to kick the POTUS to the curb if they can present sufficient evidence.

The good news for gamblers is it isn’t too late to take advantage of this bet.

Donald Trump Impeachment Odds

2. First Song of the Super Bowl Halftime Show

Sportsbooks raked in a record $158.5 million for Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018, but fans weren’t betting solely on the game itself.

Many of them also laid down their hard earned cash on a selection of zany prop bets ranging from the color of Bill Belichick’s shirt to the number of times broadcasters would reference the phrase “wardrobe malfunction.”

The most popular non-sports prop of all revolved around which song Justin Timberlake would sing first during his heavily hyped halftime show.

The 10-time Grammy Award winner had no shortage of hits to select, but in the end went with “Filthy” from his fifth studio album, Man of the Woods.

1. 90th Academy Awards

Director Guillermo del Toro was the big winner at the 90th Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, but he was far from alone. Bettors around the world also won a bundle by correctly guessing the recipients of the night’s biggest awards.

Del Toro fantasy flick takes top billing in 90th Academy Awards https://t.co/bpwxclPiYh pic.twitter.com/QLarnwPUBA

— Boston Herald (@bostonherald) March 5, 2018

There weren’t many surprises during the three-hour broadcast as the favorites won the lion’s share of Oscar statuettes. However, those who bet on The Shape of Water for Best Picture at +140 made a tidy profit as the film was expected to finish a distant second to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.