SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
William Hill has revealed that it has recorded significant pre-event wagers on Israel’s Netta Barzilai winning the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest (Lisbon -12 May).
The bookmaker details that Barzilai’s song ‘Toy’ has been its early Eurovision market maker, revising Israel’s pop entry from 50/1 to its current market price of 5/4.
Barzilai seeks to become Israel’s fourth Eurovision winner, as William Hill details its strongest pre-song contest odds.
“Netta Barzilai might well be the perfect Eurovision entry, it is quirky, catchy and should it win we will lose a small fortune,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.
So dominant is the Israeli contender’s early Eurovision form, that bookmakers have priced Estonia’s Elina Nechayeva – ‘La Forza’ and the Czech Republic’s Mikolas Josef – ‘Lie to me’ as 8/1 joint-second favourites.
UK music will be represented by SuRie – ‘Storm’, winner of the BBC’s ‘Eurovision You Decide’ competition. However, bookmakers have priced the Essex singer at 100/1, representing the UK’s longest odds at winning the pop contest.
The UK has not won a Eurovision Song Contest since Dublin 1997, when Katrina and the Waves – ‘Love Shine a Light’ was crowned Europe’s best pop anthem.
