I was doing a little research about the world of online betting and the sheer enormity of what you can bet on is stunning. Most sites concentrate on their popular and profitable sports betting sections, offering the usual range of football, racing and cricket games.

But at the risk of exposing my vast ignorance when it comes to sport, I have to admit there were some that threw me – Gaelic Hurling, for example, necessitated a quick trip to Wikipedia and a brief chat with an Irish mate of mine. And I love darts and snooker, but who knew that people search for online betting sites so they can place wagers on them? You can even bet on poker games – which is amusing as you’re essentially having a gamble on gambling – maybe it’s just me!

Aside from the sports betting, though, what I was most interested in was the sort of things people would place bets on in the real world. If you prefer your races to be of the human kind, you can bet on who will become the next leader of a political party; if you’re a pop culture vulture, you can have a punt on who will win Big Brother or the X Factor.

If you’re new to betting, look for sites offering new players free bets as well as a first deposit bonus. These may come with certain restrictions like the games you’re allowed to wager on, but if you look around sites like Betclic have guaranteed first-time bets where they pay you either way. Nothing is guaranteed in life – but at least you’re compensated if you lose!