Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Betting Tips
It's that time of year again and the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel on Saturday promises to be a great evening's entertainment.
The betting on the events in Switzerland should also be fascinating. Sweden is the hot favourite to land a record-breaking eighth victory just two years after its seventh success, with a quirky song about saunas that is not in the mould of a traditional Eurovision winner.
Austria are second favourites with France the only other nation rated at single-figure odds for victory.
Tip 1 – Finland each-way @ 18/1
The two acts at the top of the Eurovision Song Contest betting have different strengths and that could allow a bigger-priced candidate to sneak past both of them.
Sweden has long been topping polls of Eurovision betting fans and is a hot favourite to win the public vote, but its lack of musical merit and light-hearted nature could see it struggle with the juries.
Austria is the 3/4 favourite to win the jury vote and the high-pitched vocal performance from JJ should be appreciated by juries, but it perhaps will not catch the attention of voters at home, while it also has the handicap of an early draw in ninth to overcome - only one act drawn in single figures has won in the last 20 years.
The value looks to have gone out of France's price, which has almost halved since before the semi-finals to 6/1 third favourite. Maman, by Louane, should be well-liked in the jury rooms and its hopes of a strong score from televoters will be boosted by performing third from last in 24th.
Finland offer great each-way value at 20/1 after Erika Vikman closed the second semi-final on Thursday with a power-packed rendition of Ich Komme.
The Finns have had only one success in the ESC but it was a notable one as hard-rockers Lordi blew the opposition off the stage in 2006.
They went close to a second triumph just two years ago when Kaarija was runner-up and the power of Vikman's personality and performance could carry them a long way in the competition.
It should be popular with the public while also being in the mix for some high scores from the juries.
A draw in the middle of the running order in 13th is not ideal but Ukraine in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2019 both won after performing 12th, while Portugal in 2017 and Austria in 2014 triumphed after singing 11th, so it's not insurmountable.
Tip 2 – Germany top-10 finish @ 4/1
Like the United Kingdom, Germany is another big-five nation that has been starved of recent success but it has a strong contender this year and Abor and Tynna can be backed to secure a top-10 finish at 4/1.
Apart from a fourth place in 2018, Germany had finished between 25th and 27th for seven successive contests before an improved effort to come 12th last year.
They should at least be targeting a top-10 finish this time with a strong song called Baller, which has done pretty well to land 16th spot in the running order.
Tip 3 – Luxembourg top-15 finish @ 3/4
Luxembourg's 2025 entry, La Poupée Monte Le Son by Laura Thorn, is a real throwback to the glory days of Eurovision and it's therefore a real shame that it has been handed a dreadful draw as the second of the 26 acts.
That could harm its chances with home voters, who may well have found a new favourite among the subsequent 24 songs by the time they pick up the phone to vote.
However, it should still be able to make a solid start to the voting procedure by picking up points from the juries.
Having qualified from the second semi-final without any jury assistance, Luxembourg could do well enough in the final to at least make the top 15.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation