The Tony Awards, which recognize the best in Broadway theatre, are right around the corner. The ceremony is comprised of 26 categories, such as best musical, best play, best actors, and best director. This year, they will take place on June 8 at the Radio City Hall in New York City. Lately, betting interest has become increasingly popular.
Following our guide, you will be able to unveil a brief history of the event alongside some expert Tony Awards betting tips on all the top categories. Who is favoured to win, and which are some of the dark horses that might cause upsets? Which are the top Tony Awards betting sites based on odds and market coverage? Let’s get down to it, keeping in mind our Entertainment betting guide.
Which are the best Tony Awards Betting Sites
While the Tony Awards are specifically given for Broadway theatre performances, their appeal is universal. It is often mentioned in the same breath as entertainment excellence alongside the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. This is why you can find multiple bookmakers online.
However, not all of them are equal in terms of payouts and wagering options. Right below, you can check the top Tony Awards betting sites. You can follow the same pattern for other events, like the Emmys, but you should base your picks on the Drama Desks and the Outer Critics Circle awards. Check out our guide for picking the best Emmys bookmakers.
Tony Awards betting preview 2025
The Tony Awards have been given since 1947 by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League and are voted on by nearly 900 voters on a year-to-year basis. There is a 24-person committee called the Tony Awards Administration Committee that determines the nominations. This year’s instalment will be the 78th and will take place on June 8, hosted by actress Cynthia Erivo. Although there are 26 categories in total, Tony Awards betting interest is higher for some categories than for others.
Tony Awards Betting Tips & Markets
Our team of experts has been following the event all season and has compiled a quick guide to the best Tony Awards betting tips, as we have also monitored the best Oscars bookmakers. Most betting sites offer odds on certain categories, which is why we have prioritized our advice on these ones for your convenience.
Best Musical
This was a strong year for musicals: The leading contender is Maybe Happy Ending, which is considered the Tony Awards odds-on favourite to take home the trophy. Other bets are offered on Death Becomes Her and Dead Outlaw, but we think the Korean title that swept the trophies at other awards will also deliver in this one.
Maybe Happy Ending ⏩ To win the Βest Musical @1.11
Best Play
The bookies and critics are not divided for this category either. The comedy Oh, Mary! is expected to win. The second and third favourites, John Proctor is the Villain and Purpose, give juicier payouts of 7.00 and over. If you want to risk it, John Proctor is the Villain to win is a viable bet. But then again, we doubt that Oh, Mary! will be beaten.
Oh, Mary! ⏩ To win the Βest Play @1.17
Best Leading Actor in a Musical
Darren Criss' electrifying performance as a robot in love in Maybe Happy Ending might be the reason why the musical claimed all the trophies it did. However, the Best Leading Actor can be contested by Jonathan Groff, whose acting in Just in Time left the audience completely seduced. At 5.50 payout, we are inclined to back Groff on this one. We ignored the Leading Actor in a Play category, as even George Clooney's star status cannot compete with Cole Escola's role in Oh, Mary!, and the odds bear this out.
Jonathan Groff ⏩ To win the Βest Leading Actor in a Musical @5.50
Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Musicals also have better options than plays for best actress this year. Sarah Snook will most probably win uncontested in the plays category, and the payout is not worth betting on her. On the other hand, Nicole Scherzinger is leading the race with her powerful vocals in the Sunset Boulevard remake at 1.57, followed by Audra McDonald at 2.88. Their performances cannot compare, and Scherzinger should be the jury's choice. Still, McDonald is a Tony Award record holder, so she cannot be taken lightly.
Nicole Scherzinger ⏩ To win the Βest Leading Actress in a Musical @1.57
Also Read: Nobel Peace Prize Odds.
How to Bet On the Tony Awards
The Tony Awards are limited to Broadway theatres. The main categories are broken down into two areas: Musicals and Plays. Here are a few things to look out for before placing your Tony Awards bets. This strategy can also secure money for you in other events. For reference, take a look at the top Eurovision bookmakers.
Look into the critic's opinions
This is the best way to make an informed decision. Because many of these Broadway critics are highly influential in the main vote, it’s a good practice to read up on some of the coverage and check a variety of content to see which plays and musicals they think will stack up. Every year, it seems critics can, to a certain degree, prelude the favourites. A few publications we keep our eye on for Tony Awards betting tips include Playbill, American Theatre Magazine, and Live Design Magazine.
Budget can be a huge factor
Definitely take the time to look up the budget of a musical or play you’re thinking about choosing in Tony Awards betting. Why? Because it’s simple: The shows with the biggest budgets have the most exposure. This kind of bias is baked into the cake of voters’ decisions: big-box plays and musicals receive much more publicity, therefore, they will have a better chance of winning.
Account for good timing
Many years, if a play or musical has award aspirations, the event will be unveiled on Broadway later in the season–as close to nomination time as possible so their performance is fresh in the voters’ minds. The cut-off date for the nominations is traditionally in spring, late April usually, so make a note of the shows that have been recently released when you’re following all the latest Tony Awards betting odds.
Full list of Tony Awards betting sites
By now, you should have a good understanding of how Tony Awards betting works. In general, it’s not much different than wagering on other award shows: The goal is to pick the winners. However, bettors can gain an advantage by recognizing that, although it’s a worldwide event, there is significantly less interest in it than in the Oscars, Grammys, or Emmys.
This is why our team of experts is here to give you the best Tony Awards betting tips, so you can find an edge to win real money. Of course, you’ll need to find the right online bookmaker to place your bets. At Bookmakers.bet, we have you covered there, too; be sure to check out a complete list of sportsbooks below for all upcoming betting events.
The Tony Awards are decided by a vote of roughly 900 theatre experts who belong to respected industry groups. There is a 24-person Tony Awards Administrative Committee that determines the nominees.
Currently, the Tony Awards betting favourite for Best Play is Oh,Mary!, which was one of Broadway’s biggest smashes over the past year. For Best Musical, Maybe Happy Ending has the best odds to take home the trophy.
You might not believe it, but the youngest person to win a Tony Award is a pair of 11-year-olds: Frankie Michaels, in 1966, in Mame, as Best Actor; and Daisy Eagen, in 1991, for The Secret Garden.
The voters are comprised of the American Theatre Wing board of directors and designated members of the advisory committee and members of these associations: Actors' Equity Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, United Scenic Artists, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America, and voting members of The Broadway League.
The betting markets open immediately after nominations are announced. This year, the Tony Awards betting odds were released on May 1st, in accordance with the official nominations.