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SPOTY Odds: Luke Littler revealed as bookies’ worst result for William Hill
Luke Littler has been revealed as William Hill’s worst result for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, despite darts’ teenage star sitting at a double-figure price in the market. Rory McIlroy leads the betting as odds-on favourite, but a Littler victory would represent the biggest payout of the night for the bookmaker.
Ahead of this evening’s ceremony, William Hill have confirmed that Littler is their most expensive outcome of the six-person shortlist. The darts sensation, who made headlines with his breakthrough on the oche last year, has attracted 17% of all bets in the SPOTY winner market and is currently priced at 14/1, having been as short as even-money earlier in 2025.
McIlroy, meanwhile, heads the field and is the clear market leader. The Masters champion is 4/7 to land the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and has drawn in 39% of total bets placed on the outright, underlining his status as the public’s most-backed contender as well as the traders’ favourite.
Lando Norris sits second in the betting at 10/3 following his recent Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship title. The McLaren star’s season has put him firmly in the frame and he holds a solid share of support from punters as the most likely alternative to McIlroy. Lionesses forward Chloe Kelly rounds off the top three in the market at 5/1 after another standout year on the international stage.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025 – Latest Odds:
- Rory McIlroy – 4/7
- Lando Norris – 10/3
- Chloe Kelly – 5/1
- Luke Littler – 14/1
- Ellie Kildunne – 40/1
- Hannah Hampton – 50/1
*Odds subject to change, prices correct at time of writing.
William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: “It’s been some year for British athletes and there’s a star-studded shortlist vying for this evening’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
“Despite Rory McIlroy raking in 39% of all bets in the market and being our 4/7 favourite, it’s Luke Littler who has the potential to nuke our pockets. Trading at evens earlier this year, we’ve seen continued support for the darts sensation with 17% of the bet share – he now sits at 14/1.
“Lando Norris’ recent F1 Drivers’ Championship win sees him the 10/3 second favourite, with Lionesses ace Chloe Kelly marking the top three at 5/1.”
With strong cases across golf, darts, football, rugby and motor racing, the stage is set for a high-profile finish to the 2025 sporting calendar as punters wait to see whether the odds-on favourite holds firm or the bookies’ worst result lands on the night.
Littler narrowly missed out on SPOTY 2024 glory to gold medal winner Keely Hodgkinson after he incredible performance at the Olympics, and she went on to retain her gold medal at the European Championships. What added to her achievement is that she was the first British athletic to win a gold medal at the Olympics in athletics since Mo Farah in 2016.