We all dream about it as we carefully select the odds, select our team, set wagers, and see bated breath. As the final whistle blows, we emphasise it also signals the win of a life. Would not that be something?
For some lucky bettors, it is more than just a sweet sports betting dream. We take a look at some of the most famous and biggest wins in sports gambling history.
Grandpa Makes a Bet to Beat Them All
Soccer is the UK’s most popular game by much, and if Harry Wilson was born, grandfather Peter Edward was convinced the boy was destined for glory on the pitch.
So sure in fact , in 2000 (when Harry was a toddler), Mr. Edwards went to the bookmakers and placed a #50 wager (roughly $67) the boy could play Wales, his national team. The odds were a bit of a long shot 2,500-1, but he was certain it would pay off.
Fast forward to October 15th, 2013, and 16-year-old Harry was sitting on the bench for Wales. At the 87th minute of the World Cup qualifier against Belgium, Harry was hauled in as a replacement for Hal Robson-Kanu.
Harry not only broke the record to become the youngest player to represent his country on the pitch, but he also made his grandfather a rich guy. The 13-year-old bet won his grandfather a clear sum of 150,000.
A Quick and Furious Future Bet
In 1998 Richard Hopkins had a similar foresight when he was watching his son, Evan, race a young Lewis Hamilton at a go-karting track. Convinced the young Hamilton had a speedy future before him, Hopkins placed three separate bets on the climbing racing star.
The first was a #200 ($270) wager that Hamilton would acquire the Formula 1 until he turned 23, and also a further #100 wager that he would be World Champion by 25. Hopkins was certain of his predictions, he placed an additional third bet of #50 that Hamilton could achieve both.
Hamilton made Hopkins #40,000 richer when he won the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 at the age of 22, and 50,000 wealthier when he clinched first place in the Brazilian Grand Prix at 2008, in 24. This meant that Hopkins’ third wager bagged him an additional #75,000.
All of Mayweather’s Sports Bets
The most infamous sports bettor today is boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather. Famous because of his massive sports bets, he has been proven to reap countless thousands (sometimes even millions of dollars) on single events. As the highest paid sports superstar of all time, he’s got lots of spare money to play with.
At the conclusion of the 4th quarter, Mayweather collected a cool $1.4 million!
His biggest bet so far was in 2014, when he bet a whopping $815,000 on the Denver Broncos to beat the New York Jets with a 7.5 point spread. A touchdown by the Broncos put them up by 14, clear of the necessary points. In the end of the 4th quarter, Mayweather collected a cool $1.4 million!
The Legend That Is Billy Walters
No list of extremes in sports betting would be complete without mentioning Billy Walters. Before Billy Walters had been given his 5-year prison sentence and a $10 million fine to insider trading, Billy was the most notorious sports bettor of all time. His enormous bets were so feared from the sportsbooks that he was banned from wagering.
Among his most impressive bets was on the 2010 Super Bowl, when he put down $3.5million on New Orleans Saints to beat the Indianapolis Colts. The Saints were the underdogs entering the game with the Colts looking unbeatable, but Billy’s figures and stats all pointed to the Saints as the favorites. He travelled with it, and it paid off. Nobody knows just how much Walter raked in exactly, but we are pretty sure it was a hefty sum!
Charles Barkley’s Super Bowl Win
Taking his seat in the game gambling hall of fame is the NBA legend turned sports announcer, Charles Barkley. While he’s best-known for his gambling losses (reportedly totaling nearly $30 million), it was his big win after the Super Bowl 36 that caused quite a stir.
By wagering half a million on the underdog New England Patriots to beat St. Louis Rams, plus an additional $50,000 on the moneyline, Barkley won the two stakes.
The controversy arose in the small fact that Barkley did not have enough credit in the Mandalay Bay sportsbook to pay the bet, and hadn’t signed a marker. Of course, the sportsbook were loath to pay out, but eventually gave in and Barkley banked his 800,000 win.
What is Your Biggest Win?
Ever make a wager that made you that the protagonist (or even the envy) of your betting buddies? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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