How To Bet On The Eurovision Song Contest For The First Time

Posted: February 24, 2021

Updated: February 24, 2021

We take a look at this long-established, very tongue-in-cheek, contest for those who want to know how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Image source: Babak Fakhamzadeh, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Online sportsbook sites in the UK like Bet365 have to offer a plethora of odds on things people wouldn’t expect. They offer odds on reality television, the gender of royal babies and who’ll be the next Doctor Who. British people just love these novelty wagers. They’re just a little flutter. That’s why at this time of year so many people want to know how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s the perfect novelty wager. But how do you chose who to back? Here are some tips.

1. Select By Country

You’ll notice this first when learning how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest. Whilst the performers all have names, the contest is demarcated by nationality. So, you can, if you wish, just select a country you particularly like. Perhaps you went to Albania once (200/1 this year) or particularly like France (11/1 right now). Naturally many people, particularly in Europe, will back their own national entry. This is especially true in the UK, despite its appalling record.

2. Choose By Which Performer You Like Best

Yes, you will actually need to go and listen to all the songs to choose whom you back this way. However, you’re going to have to hear them sometime. There is no escape. Fortunately for those trying to discover how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest, this is the most fun. You will quickly find it’s a lot of fun to take advantage of UK gambling laws to back some of these crazies. Do remember, of course, to completely ignore their actual talent. It rarely matters.

3. Pick The Song You Think Nicest

This too requires you to do some work. However, upon listening to the entries you may well find a favorite. A song you particularly like, or at least don’t loathe totally. Then all one needs to do is find the odds on Eurovision at your favorite online bookmaker in the UK. When it comes to working out how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest this is perhaps the most obvious. However, there are issues with it, not least of which is sitting through all the songs more than once.

How To Bet On The Eurovision Song Contest — Why wouldn't you bet on the most important cultural event of the human era? - Image source: Flickr

4. Listen To Rumour And Controversy

Part singing contest, part soap opera, Eurovision brings with it, each year, a certain amount of controversy. Nations, or sometimes even performers, will use the contest to make a point about something. This means those learning how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest should pay attention to gossip. Some of the bigger nations even throw their weight around a bit (yes, Russia, I’m looking at you) to get more votes. So it’s not like a simple bet on sports in the UK at all.

5. Check Out The Statistics

Obviously, you can simply check out the Eurovision betting odds on offer at Bet365 etc. All the big bookmakers will offer prices and, frankly, they may prove a better guide to who’ll win than your personal tastes. This is partly because music is subjective. Although mostly because if you’re learning how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest you probably don’t have a lot of taste. This is the epitome of kitsch. A full-blown cavalcade of crazies. Let the bookies help you choose.

6. Fall Back On Historical Reasoning

Unfortunately, nationalism does tend to raise its head in the run-up to the contest. Whilst rumours and controversies come and go, history doesn’t. You’ll notice, when learning how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest some nations are distinctly bias. Old rivalries, pieces of ancient history, diplomatic spats that still echo. All of these can play a part. They can even adjust the odds on offer at online betting sites in the UK like Bet365. Just ask the Italians or Romanians this year.

7. Go With Your Gut Instinct

This is often the bastion to which many of us resort. Whilst a detailed analysis can give you insight into the possible outcomes, it’s a singing contest. Many nations now allow the public to vote on who should get the points. That means it’s almost random these days. So if you want to learn how to bet on the Eurovision Song Contest perhaps the best advice is not to. Follow your instincts and simply pick the most fabulous entry in any given year. They usually win anyway.