Eurovision 2025 – Can Sweden Win Again as the Favourites?
Everything you need to know about the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, including the countries at the top of the betting.
KAJ, a music and comedy group, will represent Sweden at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. © LivLovisa, Wikimedia Commons
Key Facts:
- Early Eurovision betting sees Sweden marginally favoured ahead of Austria.
- France appears to be the best of the ‘Big 5’ and is 6/1 in outright betting.
- All 37 participating countries will vote on the final.
- Eurovision semi-finals take place on May 13, 15. The grand final is scheduled for May 17.
Sweden, the most successful country in Eurovision Song Contest history, is the early betting favourite for the 2025 edition of the famous televised music competition. This year’s event will take place in Basel, Switzerland, starting on May 13 with the first of two semi-finals.
Leading online bookmakers also respect Austria’s chances and, available on 5/2 odds, the nation is just half a point bigger than Sweden in the current betting. The UK can be backed on 150/1, while 500/1 ranks outsiders in Montenegro, Portugal, Iceland, and Georgia.
Eurovision’s ‘Big 5’, comprising of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, plus the host nation as defending champions, will perform during the semi-finals as part of the televised shows despite possessing a golden ticket taking them directly to the Grand Final on Saturday, May 17.
Big Five France, Et-Voila, a Top-3?
France – five-time winners but without success since 1978 – is considered the most likely ‘Big 5’ country to take the title. The nation sits third in the betting lists available on 6/1 odds. Israel (12/1) and Netherlands (16/1) round out the top five in the betting.
UK online gambling sites offer several opportunities for punters on the competition starting with the winner of the first semi-final. That show’s running order and odds of topping the Public Vote that will determine the result is as follows:
- Iceland – 250/1
- Poland – 20/1
- Slovenia – 100/1
- Estonia – 5/1
- Spain – N/A
- Ukraine – 12/1
- Sweden – 2/5
- Portugal – 250/1
- Norway – 33/1
- Belgium – 20/1
- Italy – N/A
- Azerbaijan – 100/1
- San Marino – 50/1
- Albania – 16/1
- Netherlands – 9/1
- Croatia – 66/1
- Switzerland – N/A
- Cyprus – 28/1
Austria Looks a Fan Favourite
Remarkably, Austria is quoted on greater odds to win its semi-final than it is to win the competition outright. This inconsistency can be attributed to the semi-finals being decided exclusively by public vote, whereas the final is a 50/50 combination of public vote and expert Judges’ Vote.
The ten best-ranked countries from each semi-final will join the ‘Big 5’ and Switzerland in the final when all 37 participating countries will provide two results: Jury and Televote.
The second semi-final’s running order and individual country’s odds of winning it is as follows:
- Australia – 33/1
- Montenegro – 100/1
- Ireland – 80/1
- Latvia – 66/1
- Armenia – 100/1
- Austria – 11/4
- N/A United Kingdom
- Greece – 33/1
- Lithuania – 50/1
- Malta – 16/1
- Georgia – 250/1
- N/A France
- Denmark – 66/1
- Czechia – 50/1
- Luxembourg – 80/1
- Israel – 4/6
- N/A Germany
- Serbia – 100/1
- Finland – 7/2
Recent results have shown that a healthy Jury Vote is vital to any nation’s chances. Last year, Switzerland won the contest despite being only the fifth most popular act amongst Public Voters.
In 2023, Finland netted 376 points to Sweden’s 243 in the Public Vote category, but an avalanche of support for Sweden in the Judges’ Vote saw that advantage overturned.
The scoring system opens the door for some bizarre results, potentially allowing punters to collect on bets involving a top-6 or top-10 finish. For example, Armenia finished eighth last year despite being the ninth most popular country, with both the Jury and Judges. Norway came last while not finishing at the bottom of either the Jury or Judges’ voting tables!
All You Need to Know About Betting on Eurovision 2025
Bet types that will be available on the event as Eurovision 2025 draws closer will include win, each-way, top-5, top-6, to qualify for the final, to finish last, country match bets, to win the jury vote, to win the televote, top Baltic country, top ‘Big 5’ country, and more.
UK viewers can vote in the second semi-final of 2025’s Eurovision Song Contest. The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 15, 2025. All three Eurovision shows will begin at 9 pm local time (8 pm in the UK and Ireland) and will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The BBC has confirmed Hazel Brugger, Michelle Hunziker and Sandra Studer as its 2025 Eurovision Song Contest broadcast hosts. However, the channel has yet to confirm Eurovision stalwart Graham Norton will act as the commentator for the final – a role he has played since 2009.
