It’s a tradition unlike any other. Every year, Americans gather around to celebrate their hard-won freedom by watching men and women gorge themselves on hot dogs on the Fourth of July. This year’s event is more contentious than most with competitive eating superstar Joey Chestnut barred from competing. Chestnut won every men’s hot dog eating contest from 2008 to the present save for 2015, so the odds for this year’s battle are wide open. Let’s dive into how to bet on Nathan’s hot dog eating contest as we dive into our odds and picks — and, of course, the states where betting on the hot dog eating contest is even legal.
How to Bet on Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: Odds, Picks & Legal States for 2024
How to Bet on Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: Legal States for 2024
If you live in any of the following states, you’re in luck! You are able to bet on the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Washington
- Wyoming
2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Odds
Men’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Odds
Men’s Winner
Geoffrey Esper: -115
Nick Wehry: +750
Field: +2500
Derek Hendrickson: +7500
Max Stanford: +7500
James Webb: +175
Patrick Bertoletti: +1000
Gideon Oji: +4000
Darrien Thomas: +7500
George Chiger: +7500
Women’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Odds
Women’s Winner
Miki Sudo: -900
Michelle Lesco: +2200
Field: +5000
Mayoi Ebihara: +500
Katie Prettyman: +5000
Larell Marie Mele: +10000
All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, current as of July 3 at 3 p.m. CT
2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Picks & Predictions: Women
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo comes into this year’s hot dog eating contest having won every contest since 2014 save for the 2021 one, which rival Michelle Lesco captured with Sudo out during her pregnancy. Lesco won by consuming 30.75, which would not have exceeded any number Sudo posted in any of her wins.
Last year’s contest saw Miki Sudo win after consuming 39.5 hot dogs, but rookie Mayoi Ebihara was close behind and ate 33.5 hot dogs. Ebihara is back this year and clocks in at odds of +500 to score the upset win over Sudo. Although Sudo remains the women’s world-record holder at 48.5, she hasn’t surpassed 40 hot dogs since.
Sudo has told reporters she feels the heat from Ebihara and intends to break her record on Thursday by eating 50 hot dogs, but I’m skeptical. I recommend playing Ebihara as the underdog in this spot — paying -900 for Sudo is just too much juice for me to swallow. Let’s hope for an upset by the up-and-comer!
2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Pick & Prediction: Mayoi Ebihara +500 at DraftKings
2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Picks & Predictions: Men
For the men, the runner-up in last year’s hot dog eating contest, Geoffrey Esper, clocks in as the favorite. He ate 49 hot dogs to Chestnut’s 62 last year, up two from the 47 he ate to also finish runner-up in 2022. Esper ate 50 to finish runner-up n 2021 as well. He is the No. 2 ranked competitive eater by Major League Eating.
Esper’s main competition, if you believe the betting odds, is James Webb. Webb ate 41 in 2021 to finish third before eating 47 in 2022 to also finish third. Should that upward trend be sustainable, he could cause serious problems for Esper. I recommend either playing the field (+2500) and rooting for chaos or picking Esper at -115 on DraftKings ahead of the 2024 Nathan’s hot dog eating contest.
2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Pick & Prediction: Geoffrey Esper -115 at DraftKings
