S5E08 podcast: 2025 Oscars Betting Recap: Final Predictions & Payouts
The 97th Academy Awards have wrapped, marking the end of another thrilling awards season. But how did our betting analyst trio fare—did they cash in on the Anora wave or miss the mark?
Get the full breakdown of 2025 Oscars betting results, expert picks, and insights on the latest episode of Lights, Camera, What’s The Action? Subscribe now and follow us on X for more Oscars betting tips!
Betting summary
The Professor
97th Academy Awards, profit on turnover (POT) +51%
Feeling vindicated after holding out, holding the line against The Brutalist wave which overwhelmed the Best Picture path for a win probability, (at one stage priced a 70% win by sportsbooks), before the pendulum swung against it across the weekend of CCA, PGA and DGA Awards, when Anora popped and changed the momentum.
Strategic plays on Anora and Sean Baker paid off, but the biggest betting win of the night came from Zoe Saldana’s Best Supporting Actress victory—continuing an incredible 17-year streak where the bookmaker favorite in this category has won.
Season Wide Awards Betting Performance (2024/2025) +37% POT
A total of 106 bets (67 on the Academy Awards) laid throughout the season, which include Emmys.
Across the six entertainment awards markets, the total profit on turnover result was a combination of:
2025 Oscars Betting: +51% POT
Emmys Betting: +49% POT
Golden Globes Betting: +42% POT
BAFTAs Betting: +21% POT
SAG Awards Betting: -100% POT
Razzies Betting: -40% POT
Unfortunately, Razzies betting didn’t pan out, as the strategy of linking contenders to Worst Picture fell short.
Max Renn
97th Academy Awards, profit on turnover +122% POT
Taking an essentialist and minimalist approach, Max Renn avoided hedging and cover bets, instead focusing on just four key categories at the Oscars.
This high-conviction strategy paid off handsomely, thanks to Anora and Mikey Madison, which delivered major betting wins.
Season Wide Awards Betting Performance (2024/2025) +145% POT
To cap off the weekend, Max Renn also placed a high-commitment bet on Madame Web to win Worst Picture at the 2025 Razzies, cashing in at $3.25 odds before the Oscars even began.
Tony Coca-Cola
97th Academy Awards, profit on turnover -5% POT
Under a tighter budget, Tony Coca-Cola took a more conservative approach to Oscars betting this year. While the Academy Awards resulted in a slight -5% loss on turnover, the broader awards season still brought in profits.
Season Wide Awards Betting Performance (2024/2025) +16% POT
Although the Oscars night itself wasn’t a winning one, Tony Coca-Cola made gains throughout the season, with smart bets on precursor awards like the Indie Spirit Awards and BAFTA.