Eurovision has been one of the most intriguing song contests for decades now.
Where the UK and Ireland were once considered regular favourites with the likes of Katrina & The Waves, Bucks Fizz and Johnny Logan taking home the big prize in the Final, it is not all that uncommon to see the phrase “Nul points” next to the UK entry in recent years.
Eurovision has also become a massive market for bettors, with the Finals attracting a huge amount of punters betting on this quirky and often hilarious evening, and I’ll be covering how you can bet on the 2025 iteration of the event below.
Eurovision 1st semi-final winner
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💰 Eurovision 2025 winner betting odds
🏆 Eurovision winner favourites for 2025
As the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 draws closer, the betting markets have started to settle around a handful of clear favourites. Bookmakers have analysed trends, rehearsals, jury reactions, and televote history to build their rankings.
While surprises can never be ruled out in a contest known for upsets, the following five entries have emerged as the top contenders to take home the ultimate prize.
Sweden: KAJ – “Bara Bada Bastu”
Sweden enters Eurovision 2025 as the bookmakers’ favourite, with KAJ’s “Bara Bada Bastu” leading the pack. The Finnish-Swedish comedy trio delivers an upbeat and eccentric performance that blends humour, regional charm and strong stage presence, a formula that’s resonated well with both fans and analysts in years past.
Sweden’s consistency at Eurovision, combined with a clever entry that’s built for both the jury and televote, places them in pole position. Market odds from talkSPORT BET reflect a strong forecast, with Sweden given a the shortest odds of winning the contest.
🎤 Bet on Sweden to take the trophy back home at 4/5 with talkSPORT BET 🎤
Austria: JJ – “Wasted Love”
Austria’s JJ has captivated early listeners with “Wasted Love”, a stirring ballad driven by emotional intensity and a powerful vocal. It’s a stripped-back entry that leans heavily on storytelling and delivery a move that often performs well in jury voting.
JJ’s song has been trending upward in both fan polls and odds tables, showing strong momentum ahead of rehearsals. bet365 currently lists Austria with a second-best chance of becoming the Eurovision 2025 winner.
🎤 Take a chance on Austria’s “Wasted Love” to win at 3/1 with bet365 🎤
France: Louane – “Maman”
Louane returns to the international spotlight with “Maman”, a deeply personal track that draws on themes of family, nostalgia and resilience. Her experience as a charting artist adds to her credibility, and her vocal control is expected to shine in live rehearsals.
The entry is seen as one that could climb the rankings quickly if it connects emotionally with the jury and viewers alike. Sky Bet places France’s chances fairly high, keeping them firmly in the top five.
🎤 Bet on France to win again after almost 40 years at 11/1 with Sky Bet 🎤
Israel: Yuval Raphael – “New Day Will Rise”
Israel’s “New Day Will Rise” has a message of hope and unity, delivered in English/French and with purpose by Yuval Raphael. With a modern arrangement and a strong build in the final chorus, it’s a song designed to leave a lasting impression.
While not currently topping fan favourites lists, this entry has a really jury-friendly structure and likely a wide televote appeal. Betfred lists Israel with a real chance to win, indicating support from certain betting markets.
🎤 Tip Israel to win Eurovision 2025 at 12/1 with Betfred 🎤
Netherlands: Claude – “C’est la vie”
“C’est la vie” by Claude is one of the more pop radio-friendly tracks in this year’s competition (and not because it has the same title as a B*Witched track). Its breezy pop production and confident vocals give it broad appeal, especially among younger audiences. The Netherlands may benefit from strong staging and solid televote support.
Though seen as an outsider compared to the likes of Sweden or Austria, Claude’s track remains firmly in the mix. Betfred gives the Netherlands a decent chance of winning, with value that may attract bettors looking for strong returns on a high-potential entry.
🎤 Go for a Netherlands win at 20/1 with Betfred 🎤
🏋️♂️ Eurovision Song Contest underdogs
While the spotlight often shines on the frontrunners, the Eurovision Song Contest is renowned for its surprises. Several entries, though considered underdogs, have the potential to defy expectations and make a significant impact on the competition. These participants, despite longer odds, bring unique performances that could resonate with both the jury and the televote.
United Kingdom: Remember Monday – “What The Hell Just Happened?”
The UK’s entry, performed by the girl band Remember Monday, faces challenging odds with talkSPORT BET deeming them quite unlikely to win. The UK very rarely gets anywhere near the top of the leaderboard these days, and Remember Monday will probably be asking “what the hell just happened!?” by the end of the night.
🎤 Bet with your heart for the UK to win in 2025 at 80/1 with talkSPORT BET 🎤
Ireland: EMMY – “Laika Party”
Ireland’s representative, EMMY, will perform “Laika Party,” a classic Eurodance-style track with an accompanying dance routine. Despite its lively nature, the song has been placed third in the second semi-final, a position some fans view as less advantageous. bet365 are estimating a small chance for Ireland to win the whole competition, which places it way down the pecking order.
🎤 Take the longshot bet for Ireland’s “Laika Party” to win at 150/1 with bet365 🎤
Spain: Melody – “Esa Diva”
Melody’s “Esa Diva,” Spain’s entry into the competition this year is a proper outsider. The Spanish delegation is actively working on enhancing the song’s staging and production to improve its standing before the contest in May, but right now this sits at extremely long odds on talkSPORT BET, mainly because it’s largely forgettable.
🎤 Bet on Melody to lead an upset and take Spain’s song to the top at 100/1 with talkSPORT BET 🎤
📊 Eurovision facts & stats
As Eurovision 2025 approaches, fans and bettors are turning their attention to the top contenders and how they’ve performed historically, which may well give them an indication as to how the top contenders might fare at the Grand Final. Here’s a comprehensive look at the current landscape for the Eurovision final on May 17th:
Eurovision performance – Top 3 contenders
Sweden
Sweden have consistently been a strong performer in Eurovision, with notable entries in recent years.
| Year | Song | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Marcus & Martinus – “Unforgettable” | 9th |
| 2023 | Loreen – “Tattoo” | 1st (Winner) |
| 2022 | Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer” | 4th |
| 2021 | Tusse – “Voices” | 14th |
Austria
Austria’s recent Eurovision entries have seen varying degrees of success, although they have at least reached the final in the last two years.
| Year | Song | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kaleen – “We Will Rave” | 24th |
| 2023 | Teya & Salena – “Who The Hell Is Edgar?” | 15th |
| 2022 | LUM!X & Pia Maria – “Halo” | 36th (did not reach the final) |
| 2021 | Vincent Bueno – “Amen” | 30th (did not reach the final) |
France
France have had some strong performances in recent contests, with a notable 4th place finish in 2024 and 2nd place finish in 2021.
| Year | Song | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Slimane – “Mon amour” | 4th |
| 2023 | La Zarra – “Évidemment” | 16th |
| 2022 | Alvan & Ahez – “Fulenn” | 24th |
| 2021 | Barbara Pravi – “Voilà” | 2nd |
H3 Eurovision stats – wins & losses
| Country | Wins/Points value | |
|---|---|---|
| Biggest no. of wins | Ireland and Sweden | Ireland (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996) Sweden (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015, 2023) |
| Highest point total | Portugal | 758 points in 2017 with “Amar pelos dois” by Salvador Sobral. |
| Most jury points | Portugal | 382 jury points in 2017 with “Amar pelos dois” by Salvador Sobral. |
| Most televote points | Ukraine | 439 televote points in 2022 with “Stefania” by Kalush Orchestra. |
😞 List of European countries that have never won Eurovision
While many nations have enjoyed Eurovision glory, several are still waiting for their first win. Here’s a list of countries that have participated but never taken home the win during the Final:
- Malta: Debuted in 1971: Best Result – 2nd place in 2002 and 2005.
- Cyprus: Debuted in 1981: Best Result – 2nd place in 2018.
- Iceland: Debuted in 1986: Best Result – 2nd place in 1999
- Croatia: Debuted in 1993: Best Result – 2nd place in 2024.
- Slovenia: Debuted in 1993: Best Result – 7th place in 1995
- Poland: Debuted in 1994: Best result – 2nd place in 1994.
- Lithuania: Debuted in 1994: Best Result – 6th place in 2006.
- Bulgaria: Debuted in 2005: Best Result – 2nd place in 2017.
- Albania: Debuted in 2004: Best Result – 5th place in 2012
- Armenia: Debuted in 2006: Best Result – 4th place in 2008
- Montenegro: Debuted in 2007: Best Result – 13th place in 2015
- Czechia: Debuted in 2007: Best Result – 6th place in 2018
- Georgia: Debuted in 2007: Best Result – 9th in 2010
- San Marino: Debuted in 2008: Best Result – 19th in 2019
- Australia: Debuted in 2015: Best Result – 2nd in 2016
- Romania: Debuted in 1994: Best Result – 3rd place in 2005 and 2010.
Some of these countries, like Iceland and Malta, have come close to winning in the past, making them fan favourite underdogs each year.
🤔 How to bet on 2025 Eurovision
Betting on the Eurovision Song Contest adds another layer of excitement to the event. With a wide range of markets available, placing a bet is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:
1. Choose a licensed bookmaker
Sign up with a trusted UK betting site that offers Eurovision markets such as bet365, talkSPORT BET, Betfred, SBK or Sky Bet.
2. Verify your account
Complete identity verification as required by the bookmaker to ensure secure and responsible gambling.
3. Browse the Eurovision markets
Navigate to the Eurovision section, where you’ll find odds on the winner, top 10 finish, qualifying bets and more.
4. Study the entries and trends
Use rehearsal footage, public polls, and betting insights to inform your prediction. Consider jury appeal and televote support.
5. Place your bet
Select your market, enter your stake and confirm the bet. Your slip will reflect any potential winnings based on current odds.
6. Follow the contest live
Keep track of semi-finals and the grand final to see how your bet performs as votes are revealed. Always remember to gamble responsibly.
👀 How to watch the Eurovision Song Contest 2025:
For fans that are eager to catch all the performances and results of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, here are the essential details that you need to know:
🧭 Location
- St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland.
🗓️ Dates and times
- First Semi-Final: Tuesday, 13 May 2025, at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST).
- Second Semi-Final: Thursday, 15 May 2025, at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST).
- Grand Final: Saturday, 17 May 2025, at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST)
📺 TV/Streaming
- United Kingdom: All events will be broadcast live on BBC One and available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
- International: Viewers outside the UK can check their local broadcasters for coverage or access the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel for live streams.
Please note that schedules are subject to change. It’s advisable to verify the timings with your local broadcaster closer to the event.
🤓 Eurovision scoring system explained
The Eurovision Song Contest uses a dual voting system to determine each country’s final score. Each participating country awards two separate sets of points: one from a professional jury and one from the public televote.
The juries, made up of five music industry professionals from each country, evaluate performances based on vocal ability, song composition and originality, stage presence, and overall impression. Each jury awards 1-8, 10, and 12 points to their top 10 songs (excluding their own country), making the jury’s influence a significant part of the outcome.
The public vote carries equal weight and follows the same 1-8, 10, and 12-point structure, based on viewer preferences submitted through phone, SMS, or the official Eurovision app.
These televote points are tallied separately and then combined with jury points to create a country’s final score. In total, both jury and televote contribute 50% of the final result. This balanced system helps ensure that winners appeal both to industry experts and to the viewing public across Europe and beyond.
💓 My personal favourite for the 2025 Eurovision
Among the diverse entries in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Sweden’s KAJ with “Bara Bada Bastu” stands out as my personal favourite (to win, not my actual favourite song). The song’s unique blend of humour (?) and regional charm, delivered by the Finnish-Swedish comedy trio, brings a refreshing energy to the competition.
Their performance embodies the spirit of Eurovision by celebrating cultural diversity, creativity and being slightly daft, so it’ll probably do extremely well at the final if not win it. While “Bara Bada Bastu” may not conform to traditional Eurovision formulas, its originality and engaging presentation have the potential to resonate with both the jury and the televote. That’s why it is my favourite to win the Eurovision 2025 final.
But Bara Bada Bastu is certainly not MY favourite and the song that I hope wins the competition. In terms of the 2025 entries, I really like Belgium’s entry: Strobe Lights by Red Sebastian. It’s a “proper” Eurovision song, it’s a Eurodance/Trance four-to-the-floor track that wouldn’t sound of place in a mid-2000s nightclub just after a Cascada track. The track probably won’t get the win on the night of the final with odds of 16/1 on some bookmakers, but it just feels like what a Eurovision track SHOULD feel like: over the top Dance with stabby synth lines!
🎤 Bet on Belgium’s “Strobe Lights” to take the Eurovision crown at 16/1 with Sky Bet 🎤
❓ FAQ about Eurovision 2025 betting
As excitement builds for the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final in Basel, there are some common questions that pop up about the competition and the lead up to it. Here are answers to some of the most common questions around Eurovision:
1. Which artist is the bookie favourite for Eurovision 2025?
As of writing, Swedish trio KAJ leads the betting odds with their comedic entry “Bara Bada Bastu,” boasting a 35% chance of winning. Austria’s JJ follows closely with “Wasted Love,” a powerful ballad, at 20%, while France’s Louane with “Maman” stands at 7%.
2. Who won Eurovision 2024?
Switzerland clinched the 2024 title with Nemo’s performance of “The Code,” amassing 591 points. The song’s blend of drum-and-bass, opera, rap, and rock elements captivated both juries and viewers
3. What’s the best position to be in the Eurovision performance order?
Performing later in the show, particularly in positions like 24th or 25th, is generally advantageous. These slots have historically yielded better results, as they leave a lasting impression on both juries and viewers
4. Which Eurovision betting markets do UK bookies offer?
UK bookmakers provide a variety of Eurovision betting markets, including: Outright winner, Top 5 finish, Top 10 finish, Semi-final qualifiers and Head-to-head matchups between countries. Popular platforms like bet365, Sky Bet, and Betfred offer these types of markets, often with competitive odds and promotions
5. Which song is the most famous Eurovision winner?
“Waterloo” by ABBA, representing Sweden in 1974, is arguably the most iconic Eurovision-winning song. The track propelled ABBA to international stardom and remains a staple in pop music history even today.
About the author
Jake Skudder
Jake Skudder is a British journalist and digital content strategist with over a decade of experience covering sports, gaming, and entertainment. His work spans areas such as mixed martial arts, professional wrestling, football, and gaming. Additionally, he has been involved in public relations and media coordination within the UK’s independent wrestling scene.
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