Betting on the weather: innovation or abuse?
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17 Aug 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Imagine being able to bet not on the outcome of a match, but on the weather: rain, snow, hail or extreme temperatures. That’s exactly what’s happening, and more frequently than you might think.
When the weather becomes an unusual bet
During the pandemic, American bookmakers, deprived of the usual sporting events, sought alternatives to attract bettors. This gave rise to weather betting, notably the simple question: ‘Will it rain on that day?’ These weather bets are popular in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, but they are not new. English bookmakers have been offering bets on a white Christmas in December for over 10 years.
Uneven legality depending on the country
While some territories tolerate it, others refuse it. In the United Kingdom, the weather is a playground for original bets: Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Bet365… all offer bets on unlikely weather events, such as a white Christmas or a spectacular downpour. Ireland and Australia follow a similar logic, while Canada is seeing the emergence of offers in recently legalised betting books such as Bet99 and NorthStar.
In the United States, however, weather betting faces opposition from state regulators. Major legal operators often refuse to offer these formats, which are too far removed from traditional sports betting. With the exception of platforms such as Kalshi, which operate in a different framework (a prediction market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission), weather betting remains a grey area.
In Belgium, it is legal to bet on certain events such as ‘Will we have a white Christmas?’. However, weather betting is not part of bookmakers’ permanent offering.
Just a curiosity or already a serious market?
While it may seem like a curiosity at first glance, the reality shows a pragmatic adoption. Some users point out that even DraftKings and FanDuel offer free pools related to the weather, such as ‘what will the temperature be at a given time?’ Others mention similar practices in sporting contexts in Australia or on normal betting platforms, even if this type of market remains a minority. This shows that betting on the weather now attracts both curious amateurs and experienced bettors.
These bets may seem innocent, but they are not without criticism. Among the concerns are:
- Ethics: profiting from unpredictable phenomena such as natural disasters may seem disturbing or insensitive.
- Manipulation of information: financial gain could be an incentive to influence or dramatise weather forecasts.
Other unusual bets
If betting on rain or snow seems strange to you, bear in mind that this is only the tip of the iceberg. The world of legal betting, especially in permissive jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and Australia, is brimming with imagination. Operators offer bets on political events, such as election results or the date of a cabinet reshuffle, as well as ceremonies such as the Oscars or Eurovision.
In short, the weather is just one chapter in a catalogue where almost anything that attracts public attention can become the subject of betting.
A bet between entertainment, market and regulation
The history of weather betting is one of innovation born out of a void left by the pandemic. Between curiosity, speculative market and risk management tool, it illustrates how gambling can take hold in unexpected areas — even rain or snow.
The areas of legality vary, ethics are debated, but one thing is certain: as soon as the extraordinary occurs where it is least expected, bettors are already ready to place their bets.
