2024 has been an excellent year for sports. The Olympics and the Euros gave us a summer to remember, records have been broken, and a cheeky 17-year-old made us fall in love with darts.
The 2024 Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony is set to honour the athletes who have shaped the sporting landscape over the last 12 months, and it is one of the strongest shortlists in recent memory.
The event has become increasingly popular to bet on, and in this Sports Personality, of the Year 2024 odds and betting guide, I break down each of the candidates, analyse their chances, and offer my betting tips.
The latest Sports Personality of the Year odds
As you can see from the following odds, Keely Hodgkinson is the clear frontrunner to take home this year’s Sports Personality of the Year, with major bookmakers pricing her at 2/5, with Luke Littler her nearest rival.
| Sports personality | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Keely Hodgkinson | 2/5 | 71.4% |
| Luke Littler | 2/1 | 33% |
| Alex Yee | 66/1 | 1.5% |
| Joe Root | 66/1 | 1.5% |
| Jude Bellingham | 100/1 | 1% |
| Sarah Story | 100/1 | 1% |
🏆 Top contenders for 2024 Sports Personality of the Year
The shortlist for this year’s Sports Personality of the Year has been released, and it’s incredibly competitive. Let’s take a look at the six candidates, highlight their 2024 achievements, and see how the bookies rate their chances.
1. Keely Hodgkinson
As Sunday’s event nears, Keely Hodgkinson has, rather fittingly, raced into the lead for this year’s Sports Personality of the Year award. Hodgkinson stole the nation’s hearts with her uplifting, and frankly phenomenal, performance in the women’s 800m during the Paris Olympics.
Hodgkinson took home the gold after an incredible 12 months, which also saw her win European gold, and she looks to round it off by winning Sports Personality of the Year.
➡️ Back Keely Hodgkinson at 2/7 with talkSPORT BET
2. Luke Littler
A little over 12 months ago, Luke Littler was an unknown 16-year-old darts player from Runcorn. In less than a month, he would become a household name in the UK, getting an entire nation hooked to darts and ushering in a new era for the sport. Littler’s performance in the 2024 World Darts Championship was incredible.
In his debut tournament, he defeated former world champions like Christian Kist, Raymon Van Barneveld and Rob Cross en route to the final, where he lost to Luke Humphries. He would then go one further in the 2024 Premier League Darts competition, becoming the youngest player to win a PDC major at just 17.
➡️ Back Luke Littler to win at 2/1 with bet365
3. Alex Yee
Triathlete Alex Yee made history in 2024 when he became only the second triathlete in history to be in both the World and Olympic championships in one year.
He won the men’s triathlon in Paris and also took home a bronze in the men’s relay. He was given the honour of being one of Team GB’s flag-bearers at the event’s closing ceremony.
➡️ Back Alex Yee to win Sports Personality of the Year at 66/1 with bet365
4. Joe Root
England cricket star Joe Root rewrote the history books in October 2024 when he overtook Sir Alastair Cook as England’s highest-ever Test run-scorer. By breaking this record, he also becomes the fifth-highest test scorer in history.
Root’s status as one of the greats was never doubted, but the bookies think his chances of adding the Sports Personality of the Year prize to that list are slim.
➡️ Back Joe Root to win Sports Personality of the Year at 80/1 with BetUK
5. Jude Bellingham
In an alternate timeline, England grabbed a late winner against Spain in Berlin, ending the nation’s 58-year goal drought. As it were, we had to settle for a second-consecutive final defeat. I imagine this year’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist would have looked extremely different had we won.
Instead, Jude Bellingham, the team’s poster boy, sits fifth on the odds list at 100/1 with bet365. Bellingham’s finest moment was his dramatic equaliser against Slovakia, but this, alongside his Champions League win, is not likely to be enough to see him take home SPOTY on Sunday.
➡️ Back Jude Bellingham to win the Sports Person of the Year at 100/1 with bet365
6. Sarah Storey
Paralympian Sarah Storey continued to break records in 2024. The 47-year-old cyclist and swimmer won her fifth consecutive road-event gold medal, adding an eighteenth gold to her collection and cementing her status as the most decorated Paralympian in British history.
➡️ Back Sarah Storey at 100/1 to win with bet365
How can I bet on Sports Personality of the Year?
If you want to bet on the Sports Personality of the Year 2024 result, then follow these steps:
- Log in to your chosen bookmaker account. Personally, I think bet365 has some of the best odds for Sports Personality of the Year.
- If you do not have an account, follow the links we have provided in this guide. Ensure you claim the welcome bonus to get the most from your experience.
- Locate the SPOTY markets. I would recommend using the search function. If not, they will be listed under novelty, TV/Film, or entertainment.
- Click on your chosen winner and add your selection to your betting slip.
- Enter your stake and double-check you have made the right choice.
- Click confirm, and then make sure you tune in on December 17th to see if you’ve won!
Who was the Sports Personality of the Year spot in 2023?
Lioness goalkeeper Mary Earps won the Sports Personality of the Year award in 2023. Earps’s heroics had helped Serina Weiggman’s team reach the 2023 World Cup Final, where they had fallen short of glory against Spain. She became the third-consecutive female to win the prize, following Emma Raducanu in 2021 and her teammate, Beth Mead, in 2022.
Brief history of BBC Sports Personality of the Year
The first Sports Personality of the Year award took place in 1954 and was the brainchild of Sir Paul Fox, a BBC executive. The first ceremony saw runner Christopher Chataway defeat Roger Bannister to win the prize.
Anita Lonsborough became the first woman to win in 1962 for her swimming accolades. Despite its popularity in the UK, it wasn’t until the 13th ceremony in 1966 that a footballer won the prize, with Bobby Moore winning after captaining England to the World Cup.
Many iconic athletes have won over the years, including David Beckham, Seb Coe, Linford Christie, Fatima Whitbread Lennox Lewis, and Sir Chris Hoy.
FAQ about BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year competition
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions bettors had about SPOTY.
1. How often do the odds change before the event?
The odds for the Sports Personality of the Year event will change a lot in the months leading up to the event, but the closer it gets, the clearer the picture becomes. Typically, the bookies tend to lock in a favourite as December approaches who remains there until the event.
2. When will the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year winner be announced?
The winner of the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year award will be announced on December 17th. Viewers can tune in live to the ceremony on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
3. What bookmaker provides the best odds currently?
In my opinion, bet365 currently offers the best BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 odds. For example, you can find Alex Yee at 66/1 with bet365, while other operators have him listed as low as 33/1.
About the author
Liam Hoofe
Liam is an experienced iGaming and sports betting journalist based in Cardiff. He has worked in the sports betting industry since 2017 and has provided content for some of the biggest casino and betting brands in the UK. He has also covered football and other sports for both regional and national newspapers.
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