Guide To Betting on Eurovision
No specials betting market is more popular than the Eurovision Song Contest and you've just found the best Eurovision betting guide on the internet!
We've got all the information you need, from the lowdown on the qualification process, to the top bookmakers offering Eurovision bets, tips on how to find the winner, and Eurovision 2021 betting odds.
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?
The Eurovision Song Contest began in 1956. While staying true to its origins as a song contest, it is now also the world’s most-watched television show.
Any country which is a member or associate member of the European Broadcasting Union can take part, which explains the likes of Australia, Azerbaijan and Israel’s participation.
Following national final season at the beginning of each year, songs are generally selected by early March, with the Eurovision semi-finals and final taking place in mid-May.
The contest is settled on scores based on a 50-50 split scoring system from televoters and juries in each participating country.
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Eurovision Betting Tips
Eurovision Betting Odds
Every bookmaker offers ante-post Eurovision betting odds on who will win the contest, with juicy place terms of ¼ the odds for first 4 places offered by the best specials bookmakers.
The semi-finals are also a big betting event. Markets on specials such as top Scandinavian and Ireland finishing position emerge as the final week draws closer. Eurovision is a massive event on online betting exchanges too, with over $25million matched on Betfair annually.
In-running betting is offered by most top bookies and caters to those who may want to get a feel for the contest in any given year, before placing their Eurovision bets on the night.
The popularity of songs with pundits and fans on social media will likely have a major impact on Eurovision betting odds in the lead-up to the contest and during the event.
Note that the odds are subject to change and you might see a huge shift in the odds when the live shows begin. It's also important to go with safe, trusted operators that are fully licensed when reviewing Eurovision betting odds and placing your Eurovision bets.
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How to Bet on the Eurovision
- Online – Every bookmaker will offer Eurovision betting odds for the competition's final and many also have semi-final markets to bet on. The top online betting sites are worth checking out on the eve of the final as they tend to add a lot of markets.
- In a bookie shop – While the main markets will be available in high street bookmakers, it can be a troublesome task finding the outright market, let alone anything else. Eurovision can appear under various betting categories like Novelty, TV, Specials, Entertainment or Reality, so shop staff can sometimes struggle to provide customers with all of their Eurovision odds. When it comes to Eurovision bets, you are best advised to visit an online bookmaker for this specials market.
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Eurovision 2021 Betting Odds
Malta is among the favourites to win this year's contest, with 18-year-old Destiny providing their entry with the song 'Je Me Casse'.
Destiny won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 with the song 'Not My Soul' and she is a former Britain's Got Talent contestant contestant from 2017.
Gjon’s Tears is singing for Switzerland and has also had plenty of support from Eurovision bettors. Aside from Malta and Switzerland, France, Italy, Bulgaria and Sweden are also among the top contenders to win the crown when you examine the Eurovision 2021 betting odds.
| Top 15 for Eurovision 2021 (odds May 19th, 2021) | Artist | Betting Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Maneskin | 5/2 (28.6% chance) |
| France | Barbara Pravi | 10/3 (23.1% chance) |
| Malta | Destiny | 4/1 (20% chance) |
| Ukraine | Go_A | 8/1 (11.1% chance) |
| Iceland | Daði og Gagnamagnið | 11/1 (8.3% chance) | Bulgaria | Victoria | 14/1 (6.7% chance) |
| Switzerland | Gjon's Tears | 14/1 (6.7% chance) |
| Cyprus | Elena Tsagrinou | 25/1 (3.8% chance) |
| San Marino | Senhit | 40/1 (2.4% chance) |
| Lithuania | The Roop | 50/1 (2% chance) |
| Greece | Stefania | 50/1 (2% chance) |
| Russia | Manizha | 66/1 (1.5% chance) |
| Sweden | Tusse | 66/1 (1.5% chance) |
| Finland | Blind Channel | 100/1 (1% chance) |
| Norway | TIX | 150/1 (0.7% chance) |
Understanding Eurovision Betting
Eurovision betting odds will appear before any songs are finalised, usually around September in the previous year. Perennial contenders such as Sweden, Russia, Australia, Italy and Azerbaijan will be towards the top of the betting before any songs are released.
As national finals take place from December to March, there is a lot of activity in the market and normally two or three front-runners emerge by mid-March. These will be single-figure odds.
When trying to form your own view on the songs, it is helpful to listen to Spotify to get a feel for the sound of them. However, the real work has to be done on YouTube as visuals and live vocals are extremely important as Eurovision is, after all, a live TV show.
It is crucial to compare prices from multiple sites to ensure you get the best Eurovision betting odds possible.
What is a Eurovision Party?
Viewing national final performances and Eurovision Party videos are essential when lining up Eurovision bets, so that you can form a view of the artist and stage show. Eurovision parties are informal and unofficial pre-event concerts held in major cities across Europe, which feature the acts taking part in Eurovision.
The week of the contest is when the betting markets really hot up as stage shows and outfits are revealed for the first time in rehearsals. Massive shifts in Eurovision betting odds can take place the night before semi-finals during dress rehearsals, as juries vote on this contest and not the live TV show.
Popular Eurovision Markets
- Eurovision Song Contest winner - Eurovision fans who fancy a bet on the competition tend to favour a punt on the overall winner market with one of the top online betting sites.
- Eurovision semi-final 1 winner - Punters who want to choose from a smaller field can place a wager on the winner of the first semi-final, which takes place in midweek before the weekend of the final each year.
- Eurovision semi-final 2 winner - The second semi-final generally takes place a couple of days after the first and Eurovision punters can find betting opportunities here as well.
- Top 5 betting - Bookies offer odds on Eurovision Song Contest top 5 betting, for when you fancy a country to finish among the top spots in the competition.
- Top 10 betting - Value can also sometimes be found in the top 10 betting market, with almost a quarter of entrants annually making it into the top 10.
- Country to finish last - Bookmakers also sometimes offer last place finishes as a novelty market. Norway and Finland are the two nations who have come last more than any others, with both Northern European countries having finished bottom of the pile in the final 11 times.
Can I bet in-running on Eurovision?
In-running betting is available during the semi-finals and finals with the major betting firms, but if placing Eurovision bets during the contest, the online betting exchanges offer a much better proposition.
If betting on the semi-final, it is worth noting that results are not released until a few hours after the end of the Grand Final, so as not to prejudice the voting for the final itself.
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Eurovision Betting Tips & Strategy
- Have an early look – Recent winners Austria, Ukraine and Portugal were all available at north of 50/1 in the weeks leading up to the contest. If you can make a case for a contender at a big price it is best to get your Eurovision bets on early.
- Bet each-way – ¼ the odds for 4 places may not sound amazing with a 40+ runner field, but in reality only five or six countries will be realistic contenders for outright victory on the night, making an each-way bet a very attractive proposition if your fancy is not the outright market leader.
- Ignore trends – Formlines are valuable only in the sense that the countries that usually do well have proven their ability to stage the song well consistently. A bad song will perform badly, no matter what country it is.
- Be flexible in your views – Your opinion on any song is only one view among literally hundreds of millions. Seek out well-informed blogs and podcasts and be ready to change your mind on a song based on stage performance. The worst mistake you can make is to be too dogmatic too early on a song. A lot can change in the week of the contest in particular.
- Watch rehearsals – The Eurovision YouTube channel will upload rehearsal clips extremely efficiently as rehearsals progress. These are essential viewing, showing how an act is staged, what a singer is wearing, how backing dancers adding to the show, and everything in between.
- Hunt for specials – Eurovision is one market that bookmakers are not too experienced in, so value prices are always available in special markets when placing Eurovision bets if you look hard enough. In particular look for value in top Scandinavian, Balkan, Western Europe and Big 5 odds lists as the dynamics of these sub-markets can change quickly.
- Podcasts – There are loads of valuable Eurovision podcasts out there and the beauty of them is that the contributors are incredibly knowledgeable, but they are generally not punters. The ESC Insight, Europhoria and ESCtips podcast are good places to start.
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Previous Eurovision Winners
| Year | Country | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Netherlands | Duncan Lawrence | Arcade |
| 2018 | Israel | Netta | Toy |
| 2017 | Portugal | Salvador Sobral | Amar Pelos Dois |
| 2016 | Ukraine | Jamala | 1944 |
| 2015 | Sweden | Mans Zelmerlow | Heroes |
| 2014 | Austria | Conchita Wurst | Rise Like A Phoenix |
| 2013 | Denmark | Emmelie de Forrest | Only Teardrops |
| 2012 | Sweden | Loreen | Euphoria |
| 2011 | Azerbaijan | Ell & Nikki | Running Scared |
| 2010 | Germany | Lena | Satellite |
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FAQ
Is Eurovision 2021 going ahead?
Yes - the competition was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic but it's going ahead as planned this May.
When is the Eurovision 2021 final?
The final will take place on Saturday, May 22nd, 2021.
Who has won the Eurovision Song Contest the most times?
Ireland holds the record for most Eurovision wins with seven, Sweden has won six times, and Luxembourg, France and the UK have won five times each.
How many countries compete in the Eurovision?
41 countries are due to compete in the competition in 2021.
What is the Big 5?
The Big 5 is the group of countries who make the biggest financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union. The UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain make up the Big 5 and qualify automatically for the final each year.
Contributors
Hi, I'm Dean Ryan
"A passionate sports betting broadcaster and journalist with over 15 years spent in the gambling industry."
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Reviewer since June 2016
