Watched by hundreds of millions of people each year, the Eurovision Song Contest is the ultimate celebration of national pride where countries battle it out and vote for Europe's favourite song. Don't miss out on the excitement in store with all the Eurovision betting opportunities available!
- Event Structure for the Eurovision
- Best Bookies for Eurovision
- Eurovision Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions 2023
- 5 Reasons to Bet on the Eurovision
- Eurovision Betting Sites With Livestreaming
- Popular Eurovision Betting Markets
- History of the Eurovision
- UK in the Eurovision
- Eurovision Key Stats
- Similar Tournaments To the Eurovision Song Contest
- Upcoming Sporting Events
- Eurovision Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Event Structure for the Eurovision
- In the months leading up to the Eurovision Song Contest, each participating country goes through a domestic national selection process to determine which artist will represent the country in that year’s competition. Each contest is hosted in the nation that won in the previous year, usually in May.
- All countries, with the exception of the Big 5 (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain) and the host country, are divided into two semi-finals, where they compete against others in their group. The top 10 countries from each semi-final will qualify for the Grand Final, where they will join the Big 5 and host country for a total of 25 participants.
- During both semi-finals, which take place in the preceding week, as well as the Grand Final, all participants perform their original song in a predetermined order, with viewers invited to vote for their favourites.
- In 2016, the voting system was revised, and now each participating nation has a jury of professionals who are tasked with ranking their top 10 songs in descending order from 12 through one. During the broadcast, a series of live video calls to all of the capital cities around Europe are made, where one spokesperson will reveal to whome they are allocating their points. A second round of votes from the public takes place, which will establish another top 10 before the two sets of scores are added together, creating a final winning table where the winner of the Eurovision will be announced.
- While the winners do receive a trophy, the main prize is the honour of winning the Eurovision and having it hosted in the winner’s home country the following yea.
- All songs in the Eurovision must be a maximum of three minutes and sung live, whilst any instrumentals have to be pre-recorded and cannot be performed on-stage.
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#1
Paddy Power
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 William Hill
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 Ladbrokes
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 Coral
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 Betfred
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 bet365
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#7
BetVictor
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Eurovision Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions 2023
As 2022 winners Ukraine are unable to host the contest due to the ongoing Russian invasion, the 2023 Eurovision is set to be hosted by the United Kingdom in the city of Liverpool instead.
The dates are the following:
- Semi-final 1: 9th May
- Semi-final 2: 11th May
- Grand Final: 13th May
Eurovision Winner Betting Odds 2023
We've gone ahead and published the latest Eurovision 2023 betting odds below.
Eurovision 2023 Winner Odds
| Nations | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 4/5 | bet365 |
| Finland | 4/1 | William Hill |
| Ukraine | 5/1 | bet365 |
| Norway | 10/1 | BetVictor |
| Spain | 12/1 | 10bet |
| Israel | 20/1 | Paddy Power |
| Austria | 25/1 | Betfred |
| France | 33/1 | Betway |
| Czech Republic | 33/1 | BoyleSports |
| Italy | 40/1 | William Hill |
| United Kingdom | 45/1 | Betfred |
| Armenia | 50/1 | Parimatch |
| Switzerland | 50/1 | BetVictor |
| Croatia | 100/1 | Betfair |
| Netherlands | 100/1 | Unibet |
Eurovision Betting Tips & Predictions 2023
Sweden have been widely touted to storm to victory in this year’s edition, with a strong entry that boasts a banging chorus. Loreen, who previously won Eurovision in 2012 with the song “Euphoria” will return to the Grand Final, and the bookies have given her a lot of credence with her short 4/5 price. Johnny Logan, who is the only two-time winner, could see his record come under threat.
Ukraine, meanwhile, are the reigning champions after their barnstorming success 12 months ago with Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania”, and this year they will be targeting a third triumph in seven years. Despite placing 17th in the Grand Final in Lisbon in 2018 with “Under the Ladder”, Melovin will represent his country once again, and he will hope to do better this time around. That said, even though Ukraine are trading at around the 5/1 mark with most bookies, a top-10 finish seems more likely.
If you are looking for something a little longer, then you may be intrigued by France. Currently available at 33/1 with most bookies, the French entry is rather unique, with a typically modern disco twist. Performed by Canadian singer-songwriter La Zarra’s, “Evidement” has a fabulous beat drop and could well capture the attention of both the judges and the public.
Eurovision Betting Promotions 2023
5 Reasons to Bet on the Eurovision
- It is one of the biggest extravaganzas of the year.
- It’s watched worldwide.
- The whole of Europe gets involved.
- It's a European must-see TV event.
- We get to crown the continent’s favourite song.
Eurovision Betting Sites With Livestreaming
- Betfred
- Paddy Power
- William Hill
- Coral
- bet365
Popular Eurovision Betting Markets
Traditionally one of the biggest nights of the year in Europe, the Eurovision Song Contest has been going on since 1956 and was designed to unify the post-war continent. Such is its success that it is now a global mega event watched by audiences around the globe. As a result, there are plenty of Eurovision betting markets to choose from for punters, the best of which we have outlined below.
Winning Country
The main way to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest is, of course, to wager on the winning song and country of origin. All you need to do is select the nation that you think will win.
Over the years, Ireland have won the contest seven times, making them the most successful ever nation in Eurovision. That being said, they haven't won it since 1996. Meanwhile, Sweden, who have been famously represented by ABBA, are the second most successful nation with six wins.
Best Eurovision betting site for Winning Country: Betfred
Top Scandinavian Country
Given the pedigree that Scandinavian countries have in the Eurovision, some bookies will drill down markets, allowing you to wager on which Nordic nation will finish highest in the competition. Sweden, in particular, have been a formidable force, winning twice over the past decade. As mentioned above, they are the second most successful contestant in the competition’s history.
Best Eurovision betting site for Top Scandinavian Country: bet365
Top 3 and Top 5
Another popular option among the Eurovision bets is wagering on one or more nations to finish inside the top three or the top five. Some bookies may even offer top 10 betting. You may not want to bet patriotically – although the UK has won the contest five times and also has come second on a record 15 occasions, their record has been pretty atrocious since their last win in 1997.
Best Eurovision betting site for Top 3 and Top 5: bwin
Jury Betting
This is a wager on which country you believe will receive the most points from all of the juries in the Grand Final. It's worth bearing in mind that there has been more than a little political voting going on over the years, with related nations – Greece and Cyprus, we’re looking at you – voting favourably for each other. Since the introduction of televoting in 1998, Greece and Cyprus have given each other the maximum 12 points 18 years in a row. Neither have picked the most votes from all of the other juries, however.
Best Eurovision betting site for jury betting: Betfair
Last Place
Another straightforward wager is to bet on which song or country will finish bottom of the table on the night. It is hard to know before the night in question just how awful a song might actually be, but watching the semi-finals, which are broadcast on BBC 2 in the mid-week prior to the final, can give you a hint. Doing this might give you an idea of what the buzz is, or maybe you might even see a performance there that you think is bad enough to come last.
Best Eurovision betting site for Last Place: Paddy Power
History of the Eurovision
The idea for a Europe-wide music competition came about when the continent was still recovering from the Second World War, and unity between European nations was lacking. The first Eurovision Song Contest was held on 24th May 1956 and featured seven countries.
As the years went by, the popularity of the contest grew with the rules becoming more complex, and by the end of the 20th century, more than 40 different countries were taking part in a contest which millions of people would come to love.
Up until 1999, a live orchestra was required to accompany each song, but this was abolished in an attempt to modernise the event. In 2015, history was made when Australia became the first country from the Oceania region to participate in the Eurovision.
In 2020, the Eurovision was cancelled due to the pandemic that swept the world. On a more cheery note, this was also the year that Hollywood parodied the contest with the Will Ferrell Netflix comedy, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
In 2021, the show resumed with 2020’s planned city Rotterdam hosting, although on a much more scaled-down note.
Last year, Ukraine stormed to victory in the 66th edition of Eurovision in Turin last year with their third triumph in the competition. Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania” won over the judges, and recorded 631 points. Normally, the winner is be given hosting rights, but due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UK will stage the 2023 competition instead. However, Ukraine is hoping to take the reigns in 2024.
Recent Eurovision Winners
| Year | Singer | Song | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kalush Orchestra | Stefania | Ukraine |
| 2021 | Måneskin | Zitti e buoni | Italy |
| 2020 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 2019 | Duncan Laurence | Arcade | Netherlands |
| 2018 | Netta | Toy | Israel |
| 2017 | Salvador Sobral | Amar pelos dois | Portugal |
| 2016 | Jamala | 1944 | Ukraine |
| 2915 | Mans Zelmerlow | Heroes | Sweden |
| 2014 | Conchita Wurst | Rise Like a Phoenix | Austria |
| 2013 | Emmelie de Forest | Only Teardrops | Denmark |
| 2012 | Loreen | Euphoria | Sweden |
| 2011 | Ell & Nikki | Running Scared | Azerbaijan |
| 2010 | Lena | Satellite | Germany |
Most Successful Countries in the Eurovision
| Wins | Country | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ireland | 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 |
| 6 | Sweden | 1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015 |
| 5 | France | 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977 |
| 5 | Luxembourg | 1961, 1965, 1972, 1983 |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 1957, 1959, 1969, 1975, 2019 |
| 4 | Israel | 1978, 1979, 1998, 2018 |
| 3 | Norway | 1985, 1995, 2009 |
| 3 | Denmark | 1963, 2000, 2013 |
UK in the Eurovision
The UK has a bit of a chequered history when it comes to the Eurovision. Although they have been named the winners on five occasions, with their most recent in 1997, there have been some abysmal performances ever since.
In 2021, for example, James Newman’s song “Embers” failed to get lift-off and didn’t score a single point. Indeed, it was one of two entries that claimed nil points for the UK in the content's history.
The weight of expectation for the 2023 edition will fall on the shoulders of Mae Muller, who will represent the UK with “I Wrote A Song”. The 25-year-old will hope to emulate Sam Ryder, who finished second last year, making that the country's best performance in two decades.
Eurovision Key Stats
- Ireland is the most successful country in Eurovision, having won the contest seven times.
- Germany has taken part in the Eurovision a record 63 times.
- Italy once boycotted the Eurovision in 1981, saying that it was too old-fashioned.
- Performances are not allowed to have more than six people on stage.
- Cyprus holds the record for most years in the ESC without getting a win, with 38 attempts in total. This is closely followed by Malta and Iceland, with 33 attempts each.
- It took the United Kingdom 11 years to record a win in this event.
- At the time of writing, never has the second song performed on the night ever gone on to win the contest.
- Amazingly, in 1969, four countries - UK, Spain, France and the Netherlands - jointly won the Eurovision.
- In 2001, the largest audience (38,000) was in attendance for the Eurovision in Copenhagen where Estonia won.
- Norway have the unenviable record of finishing bottom of the scoreboard as many as 11 times.
Similar Tournaments To the Eurovision Song Contest
- Love Island: A group of young adult men and women are flown out to Majorca in order to find love on TV.
- Strictly Come Dancing: In this show, celebrities perform a series of dances each week, with the public getting involved in the voting.
- I’m a Celebrity: Usually filmed in Australia, this show features a group of celebrities who are forced to survive in the jungle and endure a series of grim trials.
Upcoming Sporting Events
Eurovision Betting FAQs
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The dates for the 2023 Eurovision are: Semi-final 1: 9th May Semi-final 2: 11th May Grand Final: 13th May
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The final and the preceding rounds are usually broadcast across the BBC.
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The 2023 Eurovision Contest will be held in Liverpool due to the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine following the invasion by Russia. After a strong bidding process, Liverpool was deemed to be the most appropriate venue.
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Mae Muller will be representing the UK at this year’s Eurovision with her entry “I Wrote A Song”.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The Eurovision Song Contest is something we all love to hate – and hate to love. The level of entertainment provided by this competition is like no other, which is what makes the Contest such a big part of the European music scene.
No matter your interest, we would absolutely suggest opting for some Eurovision betting on the night itself – it's a great example of what novelty betting has to offer. Even if it's not exactly your thing, putting money on who you think will qualify to compete in the final to become the overall winner will definitely make the whole event more exciting.
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