After missing the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest over a sponsorship dispute, hot dog king Joey Chestnut is back in the competition for 2025 and is an enormous -1600 favorite to capture his record-extending 17th yellow belt. Last year’s champion during Chestnut’s hiatus, Patrick Bertoletti, is the only men’s competitor anywhere close at +1200, according to ESPN BET odds.
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo, winner of the past three contests, is an even larger -2500 favorite to win her record-extending 11th pink belt. Domenica Dee and 2021 champion Michelle Lesco show the second-best odds at +1600.
Despite their extremely short odds, Chestnut and Sudo are very popular plays across the sportsbook marketplace, but those big minus prices dictate that they are not big hazards for the books; Bertoletti, unlikely as he is to win, comes in as BetMGM’s largest liability.
Thus, bettors are looking to find value elsewhere, such as with total hot dogs and buns (HDB) eaten and other specialty props.
ESPN BET lists Chestnut’s over-under at 71.5 — higher than the 62 HDB he consumed in 2023, but lower than the record 76 HDB he downed in 2021. Sentiment among the betting public on the market differs greatly from book to book, with ESPN BET reporting 69.9% of handle backing the over, BetMGM reporting 86% of money on the under, and DraftKings reporting a very slight advantage for the over.
Books also have markets for Winner Without Chestnut and Sudo. For the men, Bertoletti (-115) is the public’s clear preference, but Geoffrey Esper (+300) is attracting some attention in his own right. FanDuel is also listing a Chestnut vs. The Field market, where 80% of the wagers are on The Field (+720) but 87% of handle is on Chestnut (-1800).
No matter which side they’re on, bettors will relish the opportunity to watch eaters down dogs when the sun shines on the stage at Coney Island.
“With Joey Chestnut making his return this year, we expect excitement — and betting interest — to be high,” DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello told ESPN over email, noting it won’t compare to major sports events’ handles. “It’s a fan favorite that brings a different kind of excitement to the holiday.”
