Top 10 sports-betting events for 2025
Here, we take a look at 10 events taking place in 2025 that could receive the same kind of betting action and attention at U.S. sportsbooks.
All odds provided by bet365 Sportsbook & Racebook
10. Wimbledon
Over two weeks, the tennis world will have all their eyes on Wimbledon. Beginning 30 June, the best in the sport will take the grass courts and square off until only two remain for the finals on 13 July.
For the men, the favorites are Carlos Alcaraz (+120) and Jannik Sinner (+162). The women’s favorite is Aryna Sabalenka (+333).
Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion at Wimbledon and in both years, he defeated Novak Djokovic in the finals.
9. Champions League Final
On 31 May, one of the most-watched sporting events in the world will take place, the Champions League Final at Munich Football Arena.
Similar to Wimbledon, the defending champs, Real Madrid, are the favorite to repeat at +333, followed by fellow La Liga Club Barcelona (+450) and a pair of English Premier League teams Liverpool (+550) and Arsenal (+550).
Luckily for Barcelona, the other three teams mentioned above are all on the other side of the bracket and Barcelona wouldn’t have to square off against any of them until the final.
8. Ryder Cup
Bethpage in New York will be filled with electricity and excitement as top golfers in the U.S. and for Europe will square off as two teams from 23-28 September.
The top six U.S. players in points as of 20 August will automatically qualify to be on the team and Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are pulling away from the competition as the top two.
Keegan Bradley is this year’s U.S. captain and Luke Donald will be the European captain. Bradley recently named Jim Furyk as Vice Captain. Furyk was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team nine times in his career.
The top six also auto qualify for Europe and Rory McIlroy is leading the way in that regard.
Despite losing 10 of the last 14 Ryder Cups, including the last installment in 2023, the U.S. (-130) is currently a slight favorite over Team Europe.
Will @tomdetry become the third Belgian to represent Team Europe at the Ryder Cup? ????@ROLEX | #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/khUzOGE9sE
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) February 10, 2025
7. NFL Draft
The last couple of years, it has been pretty clear who the top pick in the NFL Draft would be, but this year has a different feel to it.
There are two guys who could really easily be the No. 1 choice for the Tennessee Titans who hold the pick. Cam Ward (-140) is the favorite to be the first name called after his explosive season as Miami’s QB, but Abdul Carter (+175) the defensive end from Penn State has the capability to change games with his pass rush and he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All American.
The Titans certainly have a difficult decision to make, if they even want to keep that pick, because they sure could receive a haul in return for it if they would rather drop down in draft and bring in additional picks and players in a trade. The Titans are -275 to make the opening pick on 24 April in Green Bay.
6. Stanley Cup Finals
With how successful the 4 Nations Face Off tournament was, don’t be surprised if the Stanley Cup Playoffs attracts more viewership than last year.
Shockingly, the top five teams in the NHL are not the current favorite to win the Stanley Cup, it’s the team sitting in sixth with 72 points, the Edmonton Oilers (+700), followed by four teams at +900, the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.
The Oilers have a chip on their shoulder after losing in seven games to the Florida Panthers last year in the Stanley Cup. Despite his team losing, Connor McDavis still was awarded the MVP of the Finals after setting a playoff record of 34 assists.
5. Kentucky Derby
The most exciting two minutes in sports. That is the correct description for the Kentucky Derby and even if you don’t bet, you understand the chaos and thrill during the race at Churchill Downs.
The 151st running of the Derby on 3 May will bring guests a new experience with the debut of the venue’s new grandstand renovation. The renovation of the Grandstand Club will transform existing outdoor aluminum bleachers into a combination of 8,300 new comfortable seating varieties.
Whether you wager on an outright winner, an exacta or trifecta, your eyes will be glued to the screen come May to hopefully see your horse cross the line in the order you need.
?? Updated 2025 Road to the #KyDerby Leaderboard pic.twitter.com/yBMaO1fFXd
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) February 23, 2025
4. The Masters
During the second week in April, Augusta, Georgia, is annually the center of the sports betting and golf worlds as the coveted green jacket will be up for grabs.
Scottie Scheffler has won two of the last three Masters tournaments and he comes in as the favorite for 2025 as well at +440 with Rory McIlroy (+900) and the 2023 Masters winner Jon Rahm (+1300) behind him.
We have been witnessing a historic run for Scheffler as he seems to be in the hunt of every tournament he has played in over the last year or so. However, Augusta National is an extremely difficult course that can be unforgiving, which can make it anyone’s tournament.
3. The World Series
With the amount of deferred money the Los Angeles Dodgers (+250) have involved in their current roster, it is no surprise to anyone that they are the heavy favorites to repeat as World Series Champs in 2025.
Despite losing Juan Soto to the Mets (+1000), the New York Yankees (+800) added some pieces to their arsenal such as Cody Bellinger and ace left-hander Max Fried.
Come October, the stacked lineup of the Dodgers will have to remain healthy in order to go back-to-back.
2. NBA Finals
Can the Boston Celtics repeat? Well the sportsbooks think they have a good chance as they are the favorites at +200 with Oklahoma City nipping at their heels at +210.
The Finals are set to begin in early June and both conferences will be a battle in the postseason to find out who will represent the East and West.
The Celtics, Cavs, Knicks and Bucks are really the only four many can see making it, but the Celtics and Cavs are separating themselves as the frontrunners.
On the other side, the Nuggets are always dangerous with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are running away with the conference with a 9.5-game lead in the regular season over any Western Conference team.
Gotta earn everything ?? pic.twitter.com/BdQ2EpUP8E
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 23, 2025
1. March Madness
It really is right around the corner. March Madness is approaching and in a few weeks, we will have a bracket to start filling out and an opening round to start wagering on. On 20 and 21 March, there will be 32 games played over those two days which is full of nonstop basketball from noon till a little after midnight on each night.
There are so many different wagers you can make before the tournament even begins as well. Take a shot at predicting the Final Four, or just choose a team to make it to the Sweet 16. The options are all there for basketball fans.
Auburn and Duke are co-favorites to win it all at +350, followed by Houston, who I think has a great shot at cutting down the nets at +800.
23-4
— Houston Men's Hoops ?? ?? (@UHCougarMBK) February 23, 2025
15-1 @Big12Conference
On to the next one
Presented by @continentaltire
The Smart Choice in Tires#ForTheCityx #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/WcAXwQQ5n6