For many punters, ‘special’ markets are where they feel an advantage can be gained over the bookmaker. Although firms devote an increasing amount of energy on making sure their odds are as accurate as possible, they’re sometimes powerless to prevent certain shrewd players, especially if there’s inside information flying about. Bookies tend to counteract this by limiting the maximum stake on these type of markets.

The reality TV show Big Brother has become a popular betting event in recent years, with the Winner, Top Female / Male and Next Eviction the most regular markets. You can also bet on other ‘entertainment’ shows, such as Celebrity Come Dancing, the X Factor and of course the Eurovision Song Contest. Making a profit on the latter can often come down to calculating which countries have the most political allies.

Aside from this, you can bet on political events such as Next US President, sporting events such as BBC Sports Personality, religious events such as Next Pope and the weather, such as Snow on Christmas Day.  Paddypower has a particularly broad selection of novelty betting markets.