With little to no sports to bet on these days, people went crazy betting on reality TV and the king of them all was Survivor. Twenty years after the first group of castaways competed for the $1 million prize, season 40 was comprised entirely of past winners and to make it even better, sportsbooks offered Survivor odds for you to wager on.
Survivor 40: Winners at War, concluded May 6 and crowned series favorite, and now two-time champion, Tony Vlachos its champion, to claim the $2 million grand prize (the first time in series history). Vlachos outplayed many series favorites for this all-winner cast including “Boston” Rob Mariano, and the only other two-time winner Sandra Diaz-Twine.
Who was the Favorite to Win Survivor 40?
Tony, the winner of season 28, was the -175 favorite to win Survivor 40: Winners at War coming down the stretch. Tony edged close friend Sarah Lacina (+300 to win before the final episode) in a fire-making challenge to secure his spot in the final tribal council. Tony rode his dominant social game to secure 12 of the 16 votes over Natalie Anderson whose comeback story from edge of extinction came up just short, and underdog Michele Fitzgerald. Anderson and Fitzgerald were +700 and +162 in the Survivor betting odds heading into the finale.
Why was Tony the Favorite to Win Survivor 40?
Tony is a police officer from New Jersey, and was playing Survivor for the third time. He won his first season - Survivor Cagayan: Brains, Brawn and Beauty, by effectively using his police skills to further his game, his “Spy Shack” to overhear others has become famous among fans of the show. And the "Spy Shack" definitely came into the play once again in season 40.
While being a bit eccentric at times, Tony is also calculating and charismatic, and is usually able to create strong bonds and trust with a few other tribemates. And it showed, as he ended the season with zero votes being cast against him. On top of it all, Tony is physically fit and is a strong competitor in immunity challenges, tying the Survivor record with four individual immunity wins. Tony was largely overlooked early on in season 40 and it was a big mistake for the other players, as it allowed him to get comfortable and maneuver quickly.
It should be noted as well, that Tony became a very heavy chalk (-) favorite about halfway through the season. There were apparent leaks on the internet that had Tony winning the competition, which could impact how much juice Tony carried and is something to look out for when betting pre-taped reality tv.
Odds to Win Survivor 40: Winners at War
| Contestant | Odds to Win Survivor 40 (Prior to May 6 finale) |
|---|---|
| Tony Vlachos | -175 |
| Michele Fitzgerald | +162 |
| Sarah Lacina | +300 |
| Denise Stapley | +600 |
| Natalie Anderson | +700 |
| Ben Driebergen | +800 |
| Tyson Apostol | +1,200 |
| Wendell Holland | +1,400 |
| Adam Klein | +1,600 |
| Sophie Clarke | +2,800 |
How to Bet Survivor 40 odds
The most common odds sportsbooks will post for a reality TV show like Survivor is a basic who will win the season future. Which is exactly what it sounds like. You bet on who will win the grand prize for that given season. This is also sometimes called an outright winner. Another way to wager on Survivor odds is to pick who will be the next contestant to be voted off their respective tribe.
Where can I Bet on Survivor 40?
Several online sportsbooks offer bets on Survivor. Betting on the winner is usually posted a few weeks before the season begins. The odds will close when the season starts, but will often reopen with updated odds following each episode after a player is voted off the island (eliminated from the game). Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live.
