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 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 11/10 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 4/1 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 13/2 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 10/1 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 14/1 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 66/1 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 125/1 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 150/1 with talkSPORT BET

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.

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 22/1 with Sky Bet

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.