Joey Chestnut will return to the place where he has dominated for two decades, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, and will attempt to break his own record and claim his 17th title as the hot dog eating champ at Nathan’s.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Parlay
- James Webb 2nd place (+230)
- Miki Sudo eating over 45.5 Hot Dogs (-115)
Hot Dog Eating Contest Pick: Two-Legged Parlay (+516) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
Friday, July 04, 2025 – 11:00 AM EDT at Coney Island
When, Where & Why?
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has become synonymous with Coney Island and the 4th of July. Last year, there was a noticeable void when champion Joey Chestnut was forced to skip the event due to a perceived lack of communication between the parties.
“I guess we learned from our mistakes, maybe,” Chestnut said. “Last year, both sides kind of dug in our heels. I was working with a company they didn’t think I should be working with, and I said, ‘No, it wasn’t against any part of our old agreements.’ We just kind of met in the middle [this year], and I think when communication breaks down, bad things happen.
“We started talking again, and we got it figured out.”
Chestnut had won the contest nine consecutive times and had held the title for a record-setting 16 times before signing with Impossible Foods and thereby causing the rift with Major League Eating and Nathan’s Hot Dogs. The rancor between the parties led to Chestnut being barred from the competition. Nevertheless, the fences have mercifully been mended for a celebrated return to the scene of Joey’s greatest triumphs.
Patrick Bertoletti was the 2024 Nathan’s champ by devouring 58 hot dogs, but he was merely a placeholder for the true king who has finally returned.
While we can tell you the reason why there is a Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest—people tune in from around the world to watch—we can’t tell you who will win, although the folks at Bet365 have installed Joey Chestnut at odds of -2000 to recapture the crown at Coney Island.
Although the exact time has yet to be announced, if 2025 is like many of the other contests before it, the schedule will resemble the following:
- 10:00 AM: Pre-show festivities, including musical and dance performances
- 11:00 AM: Women’s Contest
- 12:30 PM: Men’s Contest
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Competition Winner Odds
| Contestant | Price |
|---|---|
| Joey Chestnut | -1400 |
| Patrick Bertolleti | +1600 |
| Geoffrey Esper | +2000 |
| James Webb | +2000 |
| Any Other Contestant | +2500 |
| Nick Wehry | +3300 |
*All odds from Bet365
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut Makes Triumphant Return
In case you are wondering, Joey Chestnut, the king of hot dog eating, is not a 400-pound tub of goo; he is actually a fairly physically fit 41-year-old construction engineer and product of San Jose State University. He’s also a competitive eater, but wolfing down wieners is where he really shines.
While he took a brief reprieve from Nathan’s last season, Chestnut starred in a Netflix documentary with his archrival and former Nathan’s winner, Takeru Kobayashi, in a winner-take-all hot dog eating contest that had a $100,000 prize for the victor. Chestnut left no doubt as to who is the true king of hot dog eating, as Jaws broke his own world record with a gut-busting 83 hot dogs and buns devoured in 10 minutes.
Still, Chestnut is more than excited to make his return to the international stage, where he has vanquished so many opponents and even more hot dogs. “This event means the world to me,” Chestnut, 41, said in a message posted on X. “It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.”
“While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear, Nathan’s is the only hot dog company I’ve ever worked with.
Money to Be Made
Although I am not a fan of competitive eating, I sign up every year to watch the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, and this year will be no different. The odds on Chestnut to win are prohibitive, but fortunately, the folks at Bet365 have odds on the other contestants to win, sans Joey, and that’s where I intend to zero in.
Below are the top five eaters in Nathan’s men’s division with their results in parentheses and corresponding odds without including Joey Chestnut.
| Contestant | Price |
|---|---|
| Pat Bertoletti (58) | +140 |
| Geoffrey Esper (53) | +230 |
| James Webb (52) | +250 |
| Nick Wehry (51.75) | +1200 |
| King Yamamoto (46)/The Field | +1300 |
Psychologically, Bertoletti is already defeated. He knows Jaws has returned to claim his crown, and no one will stop him. That means it boils down to three men who can claim runner-up status at the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
However, if I’m going to put my money where my mouth is, then I am going to back Aussie product James Webb, who at odds of +250 should be able to get the job done and claim second.
In the women’s division, I have to hang my hat on the chalk and go with Miko Sudo eating more than 45.5 hot dogs and buns at odds of -115.
If we wrap this up in a parlay, $100 will get me over a nickel. Consider me down!
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Parlay
- James Webb 2nd place (+230)
- Miki Sudo eating over 45.5 Hot Dogs (-115)
Hot Dog Eating Contest Pick: Two-Legged Parlay (+516) at Bet365
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
