
Originally started as a way to unite the nations of Europe after WW2, the Eurovision Song Contest has become an annual celebration of the weird, wacky, and wonderful. It brings together 50 European countries (plus a few invited guest nations) to showcase their national (ahem) talent.
Eurovision betting is a brilliant way to add some extra fun to the proceedings, and, in our guide we’ll show you how. You can expect loud music, and even louder costumes and personalities, as we provide you with some key Eurovision facts to give you the best odds for success.
In the very first Eurovision Song Contest, held in 1956, seven nations came together to take part in an internationally televised singing contest. Each nation sang two songs, but victory eventually went to Switzerland.
Cut ahead 75 years and the contest has grown to include 50 European nations and several non-European countries, especially invited to join in with the fun, such as Israel and Australia.
The so-called Big Five countries (Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK), who contribute the most financially to Eurovision, gain automatic admission to the final of the competition. They’re also joined by the previous year’s winner. The rest of the entrants have to earn their place by qualifying in two semi-finals before the live final.
Held in May each year, the live Eurovision final sees singers and groups from 26 countries competing to bring home the trophy, and national glory.
The winner of Eurovision is decided by a combination of public votes and points awarded by a panel of industry experts from each participating country (including those who didn’t make the live final). During the final, each country awards their allocation of points up to a maximum of 12 (douze points!) for their nation’s favourite song (no voting for your own country though).
Eurovision has always been a popular novelty betting option and there are a massive range of betting markets available across all Eurovision betting sites. To see other novelty betting markets, check out our latest guides, including our list of the best The Voice betting sites.
The final of the 2024 competition will be held in Sweden but details about the location and staging won’t be released until closer to the time. Before the competition starts, bookmakers will release odds on potential favourites, as well as songs that could cause an upset. It's a similar situation with betting on the Glastonbury Festival, we know when and where, but who will play remains a mystery until closer to the time.
Eurovision has spawned some truly memorable musical memories, as well as some scandalous moments! Have a look at our key betting facts, and sauciest moments, from Eurovision history:
Year | Country | Artist |
---|---|---|
2017 | Portugal | Salvador Sobral |
2018 | Israel | Netta |
2019 | Netherlands | Duncan Laurence |
2020 | N/A - Cancelled | N/A |
2021 | Italy | Måneskin |
2022 | Ukraine | Kalush Orchestra |
2023 | Sweden | Loreen |
To help you on the way to your first Eurovision bet, our experts have put together some top tips.
43 songs have been winners after performing in the second half of the show.
Historically certain countries have voted for their neighbours, which could give an already strong song an extra edge.
Many of the recent winning songs have already been hits going into the contest. Trust your ears and choose the top tune for the win.
It’s possible to bet live on Eurovision, which adds a whole other dimension of excitement. Lock your odds early in though to secure the best potential returns.
Eurovision is all about bringing different nations together in a spirit of celebration. It’s a good excuse to throw a party, and making a few wagers on the side is an excellent way to add to the atmosphere. It’s a perfect bet for those new to novelty betting, and a great way to learn more about how this style of betting works. To find out about other novelty betting markets, you can have a look at our guides to the top Masked Singer betting sites, and more on betting.co.uk.
If you’re more used to sports betting, you might be wondering if the Eurovision Song Contest offers the same sort of staking opportunities. We can tell you that, as one of the highlights of the international calendar, Eurovision is an excellent chance to make a novelty bet. But it’s far from the only novelty betting option; reality TV makes another great alternative. You can see our rundown of the top Britain's Got Talent betting sites for more fun betting opportunities.
The Eurovision Song Contest offers bettors a varied range of betting markets, which go far beyond predicting which nation will take the trophy home. In our Eurovision betting guide, we’ve provided information on all of the different types of bet that are available, so the best way to find out more is to give it a read.
To find the best Eurovision betting sites for you, it’s important to look at what each platform offers to meet your individual betting needs. This could include a generous welcome bonus, or the most varied Eurovision betting markets. You can see our list of the top sites offering a bet on the Eurovision Song Contest to find out more and make your pick.
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