May is arguably the best month of the year for sports betting. Summer sports are up and running, while winter sports are reaching the end of their campaigns.
Football seasons are drawing to a close with finals taking place on a weekly basis across Europe.
Along with the six headliners below, the World Table Tennis Championships, Preakness Stakes, and Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships are also taking place in May 2025.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are the two oldest thoroughbred stakes races to have been held annually at the same venue.
The Derby is the oldest sporting event in the United States to have been held every year since its first edition.
It might not be the most lucrative horse race in the world with a total purse of $5 million, but the Kentucky Derby is as prestigious as any race.
PGA Championship
Xander Schauffele is the holder of the PGA Championship and one of the favourites to top the standings in 2025.
Due to be played between 15th and 18th May at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club, the PGA Championship is returning to North Carolina for the first time since 2017.
World number one Scottie Scheffler was a runner-up in 2023 and finished eight shots behind Schauffele last year.
Three-time winner Brooks Koepka is expected to be in contention going into the final round, while Rory McIlroy will be hoping for his first major in over a decade after success at the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014.
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek will be looking to defend the men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, at the 2025 French Open.
Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev in an epic, five-set final last year. Świątek has dominated at Roland Garros with four titles in five years.
The 2025 edition of the French Open takes place between 25th May and 8th June.
Look out for players honing their clay-court skills at the Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, and other events in April and May.
End of Premier League season
Could the outcome of Premier League betting for relegation come down to the final day? The last four matchdays of the 2024/25 Premier League season fall in May, with all 20 teams kicking off at the same time on 25th May.
Champions have often been crowned on the final day, including several in recent years. There have been some phenomenal escape acts from teams threatened by relegation on the last Sunday of the season.
It’s inevitable some European places will still be up for grabs throughout the final gameweeks in the second half of May.
EFL Playoffs
The dates for the EFL Playoff finals are as follows:
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Championship: Saturday 24th May
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League One: Sunday 25th May
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League Two: Monday 26th May
The two-legged playoff semi-finals will also take place in March, with two ties in each league. The finals are played under the Wembley arch, giving fans a chance to watch their team at the national stadium.
It’s a weekend of jubilation and heartbreak. Some can celebrate promotion in the capital, while others will face a long, melancholic journey home.
UEFA Finals
All three UEFA finals are scheduled in May:
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Champions League: Saturday 31st May, Allianz Arena, Munich
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Europa League: Wednesday 21st May, Estadio de San Mamés, Bilbao
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Conference League: Wednesday 28th May, Wrocław Stadium, Wrocław
The winner of the Conference League automatically qualifies for the Europa League.
The Europa League winner automatically qualifies for next season’s Champions League. Liverpool, Barcelona, and Inter are among the Champions League favourites.
Tottenham and Chelsea are the Europa League and Conference League favourites, respectively.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Adobe*
