Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is one of the most recognizable Fourth of July traditions in the United States, combining competitive eating, live television spectacle, and a short event window that makes it easy to follow from start to finish. The 2026 contest has extra attention because Joey Chestnut is back and scheduled to eat, immediately making the men’s field revolve around the sport’s biggest name.
In what should come as no surprise to those who have bet on the Hot Dog Eating Contest before, Chestnut is the heavy favorite, while the rest of the board centers on challengers, totals, matchups, and novelty props. Sportsbooks are offering more than simple winner odds, with markets covering outright winners, head-to-head results, hot dog totals, record chances, and broadcast-related props.
The Men’s Contest
| Competitor | Bovada | BetUS | BetOnline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Chestnut | -2000 | -2500 | -2000 |
| Patrick Bertoletti | +1000 | +1200 | +1100 |
| James Webb | +2200 | +2000 | +2200 |
| Geoffrey Esper | +2500 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Nick Wehry | +3500 | +4000 | +4500 |
| George Chiger | +9000 | +5000 | — |
| Ricardo Corbucci | — | +8000 | — |
| Max Stanford | +7500 | +7000 | — |
| Gideon Oji | +10000 | +10000 | — |
| Derek Hendrickson | +15000 | +10000 | — |
| Radim Dvoracek | +10000 | +10000 | — |
| Darrien Thomas | — | +10000 | — |
| Cameron Meade | +20000 | +10000 | — |
| Jerome Burns | +20000 | +10000 | — |
| Adrian Morgan | — | +8000 | — |
| Field / Any Other Competitor | — | — | +5000 |
The 2026 men’s contest is once again built around Joey Chestnut. He is listed as a massive favorite at Bovada, BetUS, and BetOnline, with odds ranging from -2000 to -2500. That means sportsbooks are treating him as the clear man to beat. At prices that short, betting Chestnut outright requires a large risk for a small return, so some bettors may look at props instead of the main winner market.
Patrick Bertoletti is the clear second choice on the board. Bovada has him at +1000, BetUS at +1200, and BetOnline at +1100. James Webb is also close across the three books, sitting around +2000 to +2200. Geoffrey Esper and Nick Wehry round out the main group of realistic challengers, though both are still priced as major underdogs. The larger longshots, including George Chiger, Max Stanford, Gideon Oji, Radim Dvoracek, Derek Hendrickson, Cameron Meade, and Jerome Burns, offer bigger payouts but would likely need an unusual contest script to win.
Women’s Futures
| Competitor | Bovada | BetUS | BetOnline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miki Sudo | -1600 | -1800 | — |
| Michelle Lesco | +700 | +700 | — |
| Larell Marie Mele | +5000 | +4000 | — |
| Tandra Childress | +7500 | +6000 | — |
| Katie Prettyman | +12000 | +8000 | — |
| Danielle DiSapia | — | +8000 | — |
Entertainment sportsbooks are also featuring a heavy favorite. Miki Sudo is priced at -1600 at Bovada and -1800 at BetUS. Michelle Lesco is the main challenger at +700 on both books, while Larell Marie Mele, Tandra Childress, Katie Prettyman, and Danielle DiSapia are deeper underdogs. As with Chestnut in the men’s event, Sudo’s price shows dominance, but it also creates a question for bettors: is the favorite worth the cost, or is there more value in side markets?
Hot Dog Eating Prop Bets
| Outcome | Bovada | BetUS | BetOnline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Chestnut / Yes | — | -2500 | -2000 |
| The Field / No | — | +800 | +800 |
The most useful part of wagering on this contest may be the prop bets. BetUS and BetOnline both offer a Joey Chestnut vs. the field market, with Chestnut listed at -2500 and -2000, while the field is +800 at both shops. This market is essentially another way to bet on the men’s winner, but it simplifies the board to one favorite against everyone else.
| Betting Market | BetUS | BetOnline |
|---|---|---|
| Will PETA Protest? — Yes | +200 | +200 |
| Will There Be An Eat-Off? — Yes | +1000 men / +600 women | +900 |
| Joey Chestnut 1st Minute Total — Over 12 | -155 | -150 |
| Joey Chestnut 1st Minute Total — Under 12 | +115 | +110 |
| Joey Chestnut Total Hot Dogs | Over 71.5 -165 / Under +120 | Over 70.5 +100 / Under -140 |
| Patrick Bertoletti Total Hot Dogs | Over 56.5 +120 / Under -165 | Over 52.5 -120 / Under -120 |
| James Webb Total Hot Dogs | Over 50.5 -120 / Under -120 | Over 48.5 -150 / Under +110 |
| Geoffrey Esper Total Hot Dogs | Over 48.5 -115 / Under -125 | Over 45.5 -150 / Under +110 |
| Nick Wehry Total Hot Dogs | Over 44.5 -115 / Under -125 | Over 43.5 -145 / Under +105 |
| Nick Wehry vs. Miki Sudo | Nick Wehry -500 / Miki Sudo +300 | Nick Wehry -400 / Miki Sudo +250 |
| Miki Sudo Total Hot Dogs | Over 40.5 -110 / Under -130 | Over 38.5 -175 / Under +135 |
| Reversal of Fortune / Vomit — Yes | +500 men / +500 women | +500 |
Hot dog totals are where the differences between sportsbooks become more interesting. BetUS lists Joey Chestnut at 71.5 hot dogs, with the over priced at -165 and the under at +120. BetOnline has a lower number at 70.5, but the pricing is very different, with the over at +100 and the under at -140. That gives bettors two different ways to approach the same general prediction. Someone who likes Chestnut to push past 71 hot dogs may prefer the BetOnline over 70.5 at even money. Someone who expects a lower total may compare whether the BetUS under 71.5 at plus money is more appealing than the BetOnline under 70.5 at a heavier price.
The same kind of comparison applies to the challenger totals. BetUS has Patrick Bertoletti at 56.5, while BetOnline has him at 52.5. James Webb is listed at 50.5 at BetUS and 48.5 at BetOnline. Geoffrey Esper is 48.5 at BetUS and 45.5 at BetOnline, while Nick Wehry is 44.5 at BetUS and 43.5 at BetOnline. These gaps matter because competitive eating totals can swing quickly based on pace, conditions, judging, and how aggressively each eater pushes in the final minute.
There are also novelty-style props. BetUS and BetOnline both list “Will PETA Protest?” at +200. The eat-off prop is available in both books, though BetUS splits it into men’s and women’s versions, while BetOnline offers a single general market. Bettors can also find props tied to a reversal of fortune or vomiting, with the yes side commonly listed at +500.
For a more direct matchup, both BetUS and BetOnline offer Nick Wehry vs. Miki Sudo. BetUS lists Wehry at -500 and Sudo at +300, while BetOnline has Wehry at -400 and Sudo at +250. This type of prop is not about winning the event; it is simply about which eater finishes with the higher total.
Overall, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest betting is less about finding a favorite and more about finding the right market. Chestnut and Sudo are priced like dominant champions, so outright bets may not be the most attractive option for every bettor. Better opportunities may come from shopping totals, comparing sportsbook numbers, and choosing props where the line offers a more reasonable path to a return.
Hot Dog Eating Odds Provided By BetUS, BetOnline, Bovada | Yahoo! Sports
