As American Idol Season 23 gears up for its highly anticipated finale on Sunday night, Louisiana native John Foster finds himself both in the spotlight — and slightly in the shadow — when it comes to Vegas-style betting odds.
Despite his steady climb through the competition and a dedicated fanbase cheering him on from his hometown of Addis, Foster is not the oddsmakers’ top pick to win it all. BetUS.com.pa, a Costa Rica-based offshore sportsbook known for dabbling in entertainment markets, has released its current betting lines. The odds show Jamal Roberts as the overwhelming favorite, listed at -300. That means Roberts is seen as having a 75% chance of winning, and anyone betting on him would have to risk $3 just to earn a $1 profit.
In contrast, Foster holds the second-best odds at +200 — roughly a 28.5% implied chance of victory. Fellow finalist Breanna Nix trails behind with +350 odds, suggesting a 22.2% probability.
It’s important to note that these numbers are less about predictions and more about betting behavior. In fact, recent seasons have proven that being the odds-on favorite doesn’t guarantee a win. The top pick from BetUS was eliminated in the episode immediately following the release of odds during the past two seasons.
And odds aside, betting has no influence over the results. As always, the American Idol champion is determined entirely by public votes cast during the live finale, airing Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m. on ABC. Each viewer can cast up to 30 votes — across the show’s app, website, and via text — all within the window of the live broadcast.
While sportsbooks commonly offer odds on entertainment events like the Academy Awards, American Idol is a less typical betting market — and BetUS remains the only outlet offering these odds. Though the site is accessible from the United States, it is not regulated like domestic platforms such as Caesars or DraftKings, so bettors are advised to proceed with caution.
Regardless of what the numbers say, Foster’s fans in Louisiana and across the nation are still rallying behind him. And in a competition driven by viewer votes, anything is still possible.
