The Scripps National Spelling Bee is one of the more niche events you can wager on. But dedicated spelling bee fans manage to find good value on the event at our favorite spelling bee betting sites.
We’ll take a look at the best sportsbook with odds on the spelling bee, as well as provide some tips and tricks for finding betting success.
There are many betting sites offering wagers on the spelling bee. We picked the five below as the best of the best. Each site is unique; read the mini-reviews to see what they’re best for.
BetUS is the best spelling bee betting site overall because of the depth of its markets, its competitive odds, and its loyalty program.
I checked out BetUS close to the spelling bee, and it has odds on outright winners, head-to-heads, and props like what the final word will be along with the gender, nationality, and age of the winner. I compared the odds against other sites and found them to be competitive, although not always the best on every single wager.
Another great thing about BetUS is its loyalty program. It offers comp points on every bet on the spelling bee and other wagers. These earn you extra bonuses, free payouts, and access to a toll-free customer support number.
Bovada is the best site to belling bee for beginners thanks to its simple layout, fast and easy betting, and excellent help and support.
Starting with the layout, Bovada is intuitive to use on both mobiles and desktops. Categories are visible on the main menu as recognizable icons; you’ll find the spelling bee bets under the entertainment section.
Placing bets is also super simple. Select the spelling bee wager you want to make, enter the amount on your bet slip, and click the ‘Place Bet’ button. It takes under 10 seconds all in.
If you do have any questions as a beginner, Bovada’s support is unrivaled. Its FAQ section covers everything in detail, and its live chat is available around the clock with fast, professional responses.
The spelling bee is a competition, but SportsBetting.ag takes things to the next level by offering real money contests based on the outcome.
What does this mean? Click the ‘contests’ icon, and you’ll see real-money competitions based on questionnaires related to the spelling bee and other events. You answer these for a shot at winning a share of the prize money, and all you have to do to be eligible is have a regular wager on the spelling bee.
These contests add an extra element of excitement to betting. I think of them as a free bet on top of my real money wager. They’re ongoing and available in lots of competitions and events, including the spelling bee.
BetOnline is best for fast payout and crypto, and the two are linked. It accepts Bitcoin and 15 altcoins for both deposits and payouts, with payouts in as little as 24 hours when you use crypto.
Bitcoin has the highest limits with $500k deposits and $100k withdrawals. Altcoins tend to have deposit limits of $100k and withdrawal limits of $10k; although you can withdraw $100k by ETH, USDT, and USDC.
Better yet, crypto withdrawals are processed within 24 hours and they have no extra fees. You’ll pay only the blockchain network fee, and the payment will arrive just hours after it is cleared. This is the best site for fast, free withdrawals if you win bets on the spelling bee.
MyBookie is the best site for mobile betting. It underwent a major redesign in 2017 and enhanced mobile compatibility, including the offer of an optional app for download.
I visited MyBookie on both a PC and my Android mobile device; it’s one of the few sites where I’d say the mobile version trumps the desktop one. Its bold black and orange layout is eye-catching, and everything responds with one touch or tap. You’ll be prompted to download the app, but you don’t have to.
Placing bets on your mobile is also easy, with no download required. Tap the spelling bee bet you want to make, enter the wager amount on your bet slip, and click ‘Place Bet.’ It’s as easy as A-B-C.
The next Scripps National Spelling Bee is slated for May 27th, 2025. Be sure to check back here before the event to see an updated comparison with odds and more.
| SNSP Sportsbook | Wagers Available | When Are Odds Posted? | Sports Welcome Bonus | Read Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetUS | Moneyline, futures, props, live. | Unspecified, usually 1-2 days before. | $2,000 | BetUS Review |
| Bovada | Moneyline, futures, props, live. | 1-2 days before. | $250 | Bovada Review |
| SportsBetting.ag | Moneyline, futures, props, live, contests. | 1-2 days before. | $1,000 | SportsBetting Review |
| BetOnline | Moneyline, futures, props, live. | 1-2 days before. | $250 | BetOnline Review |
| MyBookie | Moneyline, futures, props, live. | Unspecified, usually 1-2 days before. | $1,000 | MyBookie Review |
How did we come up with our list of approved spelling bee sites? Our experts subject them all to a detailed review process before we give them the green light. This process includes evaluating banking, bonuses, customer service, and many other factors.
We check the odds being offered on spelling bee bets and compare them with other sites. You’ll always get competitive odds, and sometimes there are ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ promos.
The lines will be updated regularly as things progress. As the contest proceeds in rounds, odds will change dynamically and often in real-time.
As well as betting on outright winners, you can bet on all sorts of props, like what the final word will be and various characteristics of the winner, such as their nationality.
There are various types of bets you can make on the spelling bee, some of which we’ve covered already. Here are some others:
These are just some of the ways you can bet on the spelling bee. Some safe betting sites, like SportsBetting.ag, offer special contests and other types of wagers.
Tips for Betting on the Spelling BeeNobody can predict the outcome of the spelling bee with total accuracy. However, there are some tips you can utilize for a better chance of making winning bets.
Data on previous spelling bee contests is available online. Consider previous winning words as well as attributes of winners such as their age, gender, etc. Past results don’t hint at future performance, but you might be able to spot some patterns.
If you can find information about the contestants, it can give you some clues as to who might perform well. Look at any previous spelling bees they have participated in, their hobbies (such as reading), and their prep methods. Previous winners of other spelling bees will be strong favorites.
If you want to make bets on the winning word, such as how many letters it will have or what its first letter will be, look into sources such as specific dictionaries or word lists. Knowing these can help you make more informed bets.
If you can watch the spelling bee live, observe the contestant’s confidence and composure. Nervousness and hesitation can indicate weak points, especially in first-time contestants. Likewise, confidence and composure indicate they’ll perform well under pressure.
Looking at the characteristics of the contestants, such as their gender distribution and how many wear glasses, can increase your odds of winning prop bets related to these. Obviously, if 70% of the contestants are female, the winner is more likely to be so.
Betting on the spelling bee is supposed to be fun; it’s not a reliable way to make money or solve financial problems. If you or a loved one has a gambling addiction, please use the resources below to get help.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee only comes around once per year, so make sure you’re ready to wager on the event. Research the contestants and brush up on the rules before placing a wager.
Our favorite spelling bee betting sites are BetUS, Bovada, and SportsBetting.ag. They offer new players generous bonuses and have odds posted for the spelling bee days before the event.
Good luck betting on the spelling bee. We hope you’re a big W-I-N-N-E-R!
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