After missing the 2024 Hot Dog Eating Contest due to other affiliations, Joey Chestnut will be back on the big stage for the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Chestnut has won every year he has competed since 2016 and currently holds the record for eating 76 hot dogs in 2021. He finished with 83 hot dogs on Netflix’s Unfinished Beef, but that doesn’t count for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest record books. Of course, he’s the favorite in today’s competition.
Betting a -1800 favorite is not so exciting. However, there are other ways to bet on Chestnut’s success, including betting on how many hot dogs he’ll consume.
That said, I’ve added multiple best bets for today’s event. Check them out below.
2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Best Bets
(Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Men's Outright Winner (Without Joey Chestnut)
At -1800, Joey Chestnut will likely win the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Therefore, DraftKings Sportsbook offers a market where you can ultimately bet the field without Chestnut.
Patrick Bertoletti earned the victory in 2024 after he consumed 58 hot dogs. Geoffrey Esper ate 53 hot dogs and James Webb scarfed down 52. Bertoletti has competed just five times since 2010. However, he’s eaten at least 51 hot dogs in three of those five events. He’s also coming off an outright win and should be prepared to chow down on another 50+ hot dogs today.
On the other hand, Geoffrey Esper has consumed at least 47 hot dogs in each of his last five competitions. He’s easily the most consistent of the bunch. James Webb continues to improve year by year. He ate 41 hot dogs in 2022 and finished with 52 hot dogs in 2024.
I wouldn’t be surprised if James Webb took another step forward and finished second behind Chestnut tonight. Webb even acknowledged he hopes to eat 60 hot dogs in the event. That would likely be enough to take down this Chestnut-less market.
Bet: James Webb (+350)
Geoffrey Esper Milestones
Geoffrey Esper finished second for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, losing to Patrick Bertoletti. However, he improved on his number in 2024 and is hoping for a slight improvement from his 53 number last year. He’s added at least 50 hot dogs in two of his previous three events. He was close the other two times with 47.5 and 49 hot dogs.
Esper has been the most consistent hot dog eater (other than Chestnut). He recorded his best number ever last year and feels confident he can improve on that number this time around.
Bet: Geoffrey Esper to Eat 50+ Hot Dogs (-140)
James Webb vs. Geoffrey Esper
If I like James Webb to crack 60 hot dogs, he’ll likely beat Geoffrey Esper for second place in today’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Webb has been smashing hot dogs every day during training and has shattered so many records this year with other foods. He seems like Webb is conditioned and has really good momentum entering this contest.
Meanwhile, Esper is one of the best eaters. Maybe he’ll improve on the 53 hot dogs he ate last year. But he hasn’t taken massive jumps. He has remained in the same range over the last five years. Webb has increased his consumption at a much higher rate.
We’ll back Webb to beat Esper.
Bet: James Webb (-130)
