The BBC Sports Personality of the Year (or SPOTY) is awarded annually to the most successful British athlete. It occurs every December, close to Christmas when one contender will lift the distinguished trophy. Going back to 1954, some world-class athletes like Andy Murray, Lewis Hamilton and Mo Farah are among the most notable winners. Combine the award's prestige with the Britons’ love for betting, and you can see why the BBC SPOTY odds have become a hot topic.
Before placing your next wager, you might wonder, which are the most critical factors in a sportsbook? We aim to give you a complete and definite answer by shortlisting the best bookies in odds, markets and bonuses. To make the most of them, we also provide you with top SPOTY bookmakers and betting predictions that come from extensive research and will give you a great shot at winning.
Latest SPOTY Odds
The best place to start is by checking this year's favourites and underdogs for the award. Of course, depending on current events, the odds at SPOTY bookmakers on all candidates will fluctuate. In any case, in the table below, you can find the prices of this year's top 10 frontrunners and delve deeper into our Entertainment betting guide.
Contender | Odds |
Keely Hodgkinson | 1/4 (1.25) |
Luke Littler | 4/1 (5.00) |
Mark Cavendish | 16/1 (17.00) |
Raheem Sterling | 40/1 (41.00) |
Marcus Rashford | 40/1 (41.00) |
Eoin Morgan | 50/1 (51.00) |
Alistair Brownlee | 66/1 (67.00) |
Sarah Storey | 66/1 (67.00) |
Alex Yee | 80/1 (81.00) |
Alice Tai | 100/1 (101.00) |
BBC SPOTY Betting Preview 2024
Award Ceremony: 17/12/2024
Venue: Media City, Salford
Candidates: 10+
The idea of giving an award to the best British athlete came to fruition in 1954 due to the magazine Sportsview. Collaborating with the BBC, they asked for a public vote, which favoured Christopher Chataway over Roger Bannister and named him the first winner.
Over the years, the ceremony has changed shape several times. Nowadays, an expert panel shortlists the best representatives of UK sports and lets the public be the judge. One thing that has remained the same is the date, which is always near Christmas.
In addition to the Sports Personality of the Year award, more awards are given, although the main event overshadows them. These include Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, World Sport Star, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Unsung Hero and Helen Rollason Award.
Sports Personality of the Year Betting Predictions
The king of the awards is the Sports Personality of the Year. There are several upsides for the punter, the first being the popularity of the contenders, so you likely know how well they performed. Next, the list of nominees is announced a couple of weeks before the ceremony, thus giving you time to prepare. If you add our BBC SPOTY betting predictions to the above, you could very well look at a nice profit. You can also follow the same pattern and get a profit from Nobel Peace Prize odds as well.
SPOTY Odds for the Favourites
The UK has always been successful in individual and team sports. Furthermore, the World Athletics Championships in 2023 saw the Brits getting 10 medals in total. As a result, the favourites list is expected to be packed. However, looking into the British public’s reception of individual performances, we can pick the odds at SPOTY bookmakers for the likely winner. At this time, Keely Hodgkinson looks like the undisputed favourite, followed by Luke Littler.
Keely Hodgkinson
It's not very common for the SPOTY award to have such a clear favourite. However, after the year she's had, she is by far the frontrunner to win the award. Apart from the gold medal she won in Paris, which was the icing on the cake, she also won the European Athletics Championships in Rome and the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. In addition, she set a new British 800m record of 1:54:61 in July. Due to her dominant year, the bookmakers only pay 1/4 (1.25) for her to win the SPOTY award. In our opinion, this price is too low to make any decent profits.
✔️ Keely Hodgkinson ⏩ To win the BBC SPOTY 2024 Award @1.25 (1/4).
Luke Littler
If there is one serious threat to Hodgkinson's chances of winning the award, it is Luke Littler. The darts sensation managed to reach the final of his first World Darts Championship whilst broking the record for the highest average for a first-time performer. Later, he won the Players Championship in his debut, crashing the opposition on his way to the final, and also reached the quarter-finals of the UK Open. His form improved throughout the year, with more titles and notable wins over previous world champions. If you want to place a wager on the SPORT 2024 award, we strongly recommend backing Luke Littler.
✔️ Luke Littler ⏩ To win the BBC SPOTY 2024 Award @5.00 (4/1).
Also Read: BAFTAs Bookmakers.
SPOTY odds on Underdogs
Now that we have evaluated the favourites let’s jump onto the riskier part. You might want to test your luck on a dark horse with fewer chances but much higher odds. Upsets are not unlikely in SPOTY history, and 2024 could bring another one. After all, the earlier you bet, the higher the odds you will receive. Let’s assess the highest-valued underdogs on SPOTY bookmakers.
Mark Cavendish
2024 marked the finish of a stellar career for the prominent rider. In July, he managed to win for the 35th time on stage 5 in Saint-Vulbas, which meant that he broke the all-time win record in the Tour de France. Following that win, Cavendish receives his knighthood at Windsor Castle in October. In November, he became the most successful sprinter in history after his victory in Singapore. However, despite all these accomplishments, he remains a long shot to win the award.
✔️ Mark Cavendish ⏩ To win the BBC SPOTY 2024 Award @67.00 (66/1).
Eoin Morgan
Even though he is retired, there is a lot of speculation that Morgan will receive recognition for his achievements in cricket, at least at some point. He's already been named as the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in cricket and an Honorary Life Member of the Marylebone Cricket Club. However, this year's list is too tough to overcome, which is why you should keep an eye on him for the future.
✔️ Eoin Morgan ⏩ To win the BBC SPOTY 2024 Award @51.00 (50/1).
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Betting Offers
The promotions part can be tricky in such an event. Firstly, it is a ceremony with shortlisted candidates; secondly, it is run on a single day. We can distinguish the best BBC SPOTY bookmakers in promos, Enhanced Odds and Free Bets.
The former can boost the prices of a particular candidate, especially if they are somewhat low. For example, Keely Hodgkinson could get a Price Boost from 1.25 to 1.50. On the other hand, a Free Bet could reward you if you select a candidate who wins. A Rashford win could be accompanied by a $/€10 gift.
How to Place a Winning SPOTY Bet
You can easily see a clear frontrunner for winning first place in 2024. However, some SPOTY bookmakers offer additional markets, like the best Oscars bookmakers. These include a top-3 finisher or winning without the favourite. Moreover, a strategy rather than just some outright tips can serve you in every annual ceremony since the principles remain the same. Level of competition, popularity and type of sport are the main factors dictating how to bet on the BBC SPOTY.
Evaluate the Competition Level
The winner has to face some strong opponents on the road to win a title, international in particular. If they are an underdog and cause an upset, even better. The betting odds at SPOTY bookmakers will always favour an athlete who dominated foreign opponents and helped the British flag rise. That explains the nominations of Hodgkinson, Morgan and Rashford, who excelled on the highest level.
Check the Sport’s Popularity and Acceptance
The athletes who rank first in BBC Sports Personality of the Year betting sites always come from sports with a big fanbase. After all, the public votes for the winner, even if a committee shortlists the nominees. So, the winner will be chosen from sports with high ratings and a broad audience in the UK.
Opt for Individual Sports Over Team Ones
While there have been winners from team sports like football or cricket, most titleholders come from individual sports. Lately, Andy Murray and Lewis Hamilton have won multiple times, competing in tennis and Formula 1. Furthermore, the 2024 candidates will show that most compete in non-team sports.
BBC SPOTY Past Winners
Year | Winner | Second Place | Third Place |
2023 | Mary Earps | Stuart Broad | Katarina Johnson-Thompson |
2022 | Beth Mead | Ben Stokes | Eve Muirhead |
2021 | Emma Raducanu | Tom Daley | Adam Peaty |
2020 | Lewis Hamilton | Jordan Henderson | Hollie Doyle |
2019 | Ben Stokes | Lewis Hamilton | Dina Asher-Smith |
2018 | Geraint Thomas | Lewis Hamilton | Harry Kane |
2017 | Mo Farah | Jonathan Rea | Jonnie Peacock |
2016 | Andy Murray | Alistair Brownlee | Nick Skelton |
2015 | Andy Murray | Kevin Sinfield | Jessica Ennis-Hill |
2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Rory McIlroy | Jo Pavey |
Which Sites Offer the Best BBC SPOTY Odds
Now that you have good knowledge about the award, you can apply it to boost your bankroll. The best way to do it is by picking one of our listed sportsbooks with the best betting odds at BBC SPOTY bookmakers. We concluded they have the best prices among the competition and numerous satisfied members. You can also follow the exact pattern for other events, like Eurovision, picking the right bookmakers.
Since the event is mainly targeted to the UK audience, you might expect that most SPOTY bookmakers have a British background. Nevertheless, we have found several top sportsbooks listed above, with 1xbet, 22bet and Powbet standing out due to quality and excellent members’ feedback.
Firstly, it’s the competitiveness of the sport. The winner will likely have overcome worthy adversaries on an international level. Then, it’s the popularity as the fans will ultimately decide who wins. Finally, athletes competing in individual sports have the upper hand over team ones.
The clear frontrunner is Keely Hodgkinson who won the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics (800 meters). The top candidates to overcome her are Luke Littler and Mark Cavendish.
The ceremony traditionally takes place in December, a few days before Christmas. In 2024, it will be held on December 17, in the dock10 studios in Salford. BBC One will broadcast it, and the hosts will include Gary Lineker and Clare Balding.
Yes, seven more categories are getting an award. These include Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, World Sport Star, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Unsung Hero and Helen Rollason Award. Keep in mind, though, that they lack the prestige and interest of SPOTY betting.