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The Scripps Spelling Bee odds are your chance to wager on exciting novelty props for the annual competition. You can wager on dozens of props for the competition, including the age of the winner, where they are from, and the length of the winning word.
Most sportsbooks do not offer odds on a specific winner, but the novelty props for this event offer plenty of betting options. Keep reading to see the best props and my Scripps Spelling Bee predictions.
Best Scripps Spelling Bee Odds
BetOnline offers a variety of Scripps Spelling Bee betting markets, including:
| Scripps Spelling Bee Prop Bet | Favorite |
| Age of champion | 14 (-120) |
| Number of letters in winning word | Over 9.5 letters (-120) |
| Spell-off to determine champion | Yes (-160) |
| Winner to have braces | No (-350) |
| State the winner is from | Texas (+150) |
Top entertainment betting sites have dozens of Spelling Bee betting markets. One of the most popular novelty props at this event is the winner’s age. The 14-year-old contestants are the favorites at -120 odds.
The ages of this year’s contestants range from 9 to 15. However, younger contestants are at a disadvantage in terms of experience, and only one 15-year-old is competing in 2026. The combination of experience and numbers gives the 14-year-olds the edge in this market.
Other popular props include the number of letters in the winning word, whether there will be a spell-off to determine the winner, and whether the winner will have braces.
Age of 2026 Champion
- 14 (-120)
- 13 (+500)
- 12 (+500)
- 11 (+700)
- 10 (+1200)
Betting on the age of the contestant who will win the Spelling Bee in 2026 is one of the easiest ways to wager on the event.
Contests range in age from nine to 15, but the betting options range from 10 to 14 years old. There are only four nine-year-olds and one 15-year-old in this year’s 247-person field.
The 70 14-year-olds are the collective favorite at -120 odds.
Representing over 28% of the field, the 14-year-olds also have an experience advantage on their side. Years of practice and competition, including prior Scripps appearances, give the oldest spellers the best chance to win.
The 12 and 13-year-old contests are tied for the next-best odds at 5-1 each. Despite the odds, this year’s group of 13-year–olds arguably offers the best chance to produce a winner.
There are 82 spellers in the 13-year-old group, the most of any age group. Also, plenty of them have experience similar to the 14-year-old spellers, including competing in Scripps in recent years.
Number of Letters in Winning Word
- Over 9.5 letters (-120)
- Under 9.5 letters (-120)
Another popular market for the annual Scripps Spelling Bee is the length of the winning word. The over/under is set at 9.5 letters, with both options listed at 9.5 letters.
Here is a look at the winning words from recent years:
| Year | Winning Word | Number of Letters |
| 2025 | Éclaircissement | 15 |
| 2024 | Abseil* | 6 |
| 2023 | Psammophile | 11 |
| 2022 | Moorhen* | 7 |
| 2021 | Murraya | 7 |
* Winning word in spell-off
There was no competition in 2020 due to the pandemic, and 2019’s Bee had eight co-champions.
Two of the last five winners won with words over 9.5 letters long. Shorter words can often be more challenging, though, and the potential for a spell off can reduce the odds of a long word determining the winner. The last two spell-offs were won with words under 9.5 letters.
Spell-Off to Determine the Champion
- Yes (-160)
- No (+120)
Speaking of the spell-off, BetOnline has the odds of a spell-off determining the winner listed at -160. Or you can wager against a spell-off at +120 odds.
The spell-off was introduced in 2021, but the first one did not take place until 2022. If the officials decide to use a spell-off to determine the winner in the finals, then each speller has 90 seconds to spell as many words correctly as possible.
Spell-offs are used only when the competition is running low on time or when the final round concludes without a winner.
Winner to Be Wearing Braces
- Yes (+225)
- No (-350)
There are also Spelling Bee odds in 2026 on whether the winner will be wearing braces. The odds favor non-brace wearers winning at -350. Alternatively, you can bet on the winner having braces at +225 odds.
An estimated 80% of American teenagers wear braces at some point, but nearly half the field consists of spellers who are too young to be considered teenagers. Also, being a teenager does not guarantee that the speller will have braces.
Simply put, the “no” option is favored in part because only a fraction of contestants have braces, reducing the likelihood that the winner does.
State of the Winner
- Texas (+150)
- California (+300)
- Florida (+500)
- New York (+550)
- Pennsylvania (+800)
- Not from the USA (+1100)
The Scripps National Spelling Bee attracts contestants from all 50 states. There are also spellers from US territories, such as Guam.
Texas has the best odds of producing a winner at +150 odds. There have been 17 winners from Texas, the most of any state by far. Its high population and history of previous winners make the Lone Star State an obvious favorite.
Ohio has produced nine winners, but the Buckeye State barely cracked the top 10 in this prop at 16-1 odds.
California, which has eight previous winners, has the second-best odds at +300. Florida (+500), New York (+550), and Pennsylvania (+800) round out the top five. The odds of the winner being from outside of the 50 US states are available at 11-1.
How the Scripps National Spelling Bee Works
To qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, prospective spellers must meet several requirements, including:
- Be in the 8th grade or younger
- Be 15 years old or younger
- Cannot be a former champion
A speller’s school must enroll in and pay a $199 fee to be eligible. Then, the school has to hold a spelling bee. The winner of the school spelling bee progresses to regionals for a chance to earn a spot in the national competition.
Once in the National Spelling Bee, competitors progress through a series of rounds that include spelling, vocabulary, and written exams.
If a spell-off is needed, then each remaining contestant is given 90 seconds to spell as many words correctly as possible. Whoever spells the most words correctly, or has the highest percentage of correctly spelled words, is the winner.
History of Scripps National Spelling Bee Winners
See the table below for a quick look at every Scripps National Spelling Bee winner since 2020.
| Year | Winner | Age | Winning Word | From |
| 2025 | Faizan Zaki | 13 | Éclaircissement | Texas |
| 2024 | Bruhat Soma | 12 | Abseil* | Florida |
| 2023 | Dev Shah | 14 | Psammophile | Florida |
| 2022 | Harini Logan | 14 | Moorhen* | Texas |
| 2021 | Zaila Avant-garde | 14 | Murraya | Louisiana |
| 2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Spelling Bee Betting Tips
Read these tips before betting on the latest Scripps Spelling Bee odds.
- Bet on older spellers: 87 of the previous 110 winners have been age 13 or older
- Prior experience is important: 59 winners, and every winner since 2019, has had prior experience in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Only three winners this century have won in their first appearance.
- Shop for value: Finding the best value on props is the best way to maximize your Scripps betting bankroll. Compare props and secure sportsbooks to ensure you get the best possible payouts.
Check out our Scripps National Spelling Bee betting guide for more helpful tips.
Our 2026 Scripps Spelling Bee Picks
My top predictions for the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee are:
- 13-year-old wins (+500)
- Winning word is under 9.5 letters (-120)
- No spell-off to determine the winner (+120)
- Winner has braces (+225)
- The winner is from California (+300)
54 previous winners were 13 years old at the time of their win, the most of any age group. The 13-year-old age group also has the most contestants with 82 spellers, giving them the numbers advantage in this year’s Bee.
I also think the winning word will be shorter than 9.5 letters, as has been the trend in recent years. Spell-offs have happened twice in the last four years, but I do not think one will be needed this year. The odds on the winner having braces (+225) and being from California (+300) offer the best value.
Where to Bet the Spelling Bee
BetOnline is the best place to find 2026 Scripps Spelling Bee odds. It offers over a dozen props for this year’s event, including my favorite: the winning word is under 9.5 letters (-120).
Create your BetOnline account today to shop the latest Spelling Bee betting markets. New members who make a qualifying deposit can claim up to $250 in free bet funds to wager on this year’s Bee.
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