The annual Eurovision Song Contest is a popular event and has, over its history, built a big fan base. European countries (plus occasional invites from outside the continent) compete, with each country represented by one act.
Many countries have a national competition where the public votes to decide which act will represent them at Eurovision. The hosting duties for the Eurovision Song Contest fall to the winning nation from the previous edition. The Eurovision betting odds cover the entire annual event.
Eurovision History
The first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in 1956, featured just seven countries. That inaugural event, won by artist Lys Assia for Switzerland, stands alone in Eurovision history as the only edition in which countries were represented by two songs.
The competition was created by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for its member countries but soon attracted attention outside of Europe. African and Asian countries began entering from the 1970s onward.
Australia was invited to the party at respectable odds in Eurovision betting to celebrate the event's 60th anniversary in 2015. They didn't win but have remained part of the competition ever since.
Eurovision holds a special place in many people's hearts. Not only is it the longest-running televised music competition in the world, but it's also one of the most watched non-sporting events.
The Format
Eurovision semi-finals were introduced in 2004, which opened up new betting angles with Eurovision winner odds for the new stage. The ten nations with the highest points totals from each of the semis advance to the final.
There is a Eurovision Big Five, comprising France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Those nations all get a free pass into the Eurovision Song Contest Final because they are the largest financial contributors to the EBU.
The public's votes for the semi-finals count as the scoring. For the final, the public televote and the judges' votes each give credit to a nation.
Eurovision Betting Tips
The list of participating acts is known well before the current edition. So, you can check out the tunes for the entries listed in the Eurovision betting odds.
Scour the official Eurovision site and read user comments on social media to get a sense of which nations will do well. Then, compare that research to strong odds in Eurovision betting markets.
Semi-Finals Eurovision Betting Markets
- Semi-Final Outright Winner: Which nation will win their respective semi-final event?
- To Qualify for Final: Nations can be selected to qualify for the Finals.
- Not to Qualify for Final: Eurovision Betting odds on nations to not qualify for the Finals.
Eurovision Song Contest Final Betting Markets
- Outright Winner: Which nation will win outright? Eurovision winner odds get clearer after the semi-finals.
- Top 10: Backing a nation to finish in the Top 10 is a popular option. Variations are a Top 3 and a Top 5 finish.
- Top Big Five Country: Which Eurovision Big Five nation will earn the most points in the Final? Variations include Top Nordic and Top Baltic Country.
Eurovision Song Contest Facts
Eurovision has many rules, and one of them is that a song has to have both music and lyrics. Three times since the turn of the century, there have been entries with completely made-up languages, twice from Belgium in 2003 and 2008 and by the Netherlands in 2006.
Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2017, setting a record points tally of 758 with the song 'Amar Pelos Dois' by Salvador Sobral.
The joint all-time most successful nations in Eurovision are Ireland and Sweden, both with seven victories. No more than six people can be on stage during a performance, and live animals are banned. The youngest ever entry came along at Eurovision 1986 with Belgium's 13-year-old artist Sandra Kim.
Up until 1988, Eurovision had a live orchestra, but backing tracks are now used for music, and songs may only last up to three minutes.
Eurovision Favourites 2024
Switzerland has been trading as the ante-post favourite in the odds for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the entry 'The Code' by Nemo. It's a very high-energy song that blends several styles and should score big points for originality.
Croatia is also running among the Eurovision favourites in 2024 with the entry 'Rim Tim Tagi Dim' by Baby Lasagna. The thumping rock/disco hybrid song looks like a big opportunity for Croatia to win the title for the first time. It's a light-hearted song already deeply embedded in the public consciousness.
Eurovision 2024 Betting Odds
Of the Eurovision Big Six, Italy has strong Eurovision 2024 odds, and Angelina Mango's song 'La noia' is perfect Eurovision material. Italy has won three previous titles, so it could be a good longer-priced option in Eurovision odds.
Ukraine is once again trading strongly after winning in 2022 and finishing in the top six in each of the last three editions. The pop ballad 'Teresa & Maria' by artists Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil has been well received.
France is pulling at the heartstrings and going well in Eurovision odds 2024, with Slimane singing 'Mon amour' while the Netherlands have a left-field option with Joost Klein's 'Europapa.' Belgium is another interesting entry, with Mustii singing 'Before the Party's Over,' which has a memorable finale.
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