We all dream about it as we carefully select the odds, select our team, place wagers, and watch with bated breath. Since the final whistle blows, we fantasize that it also indicates that the win of a life. Would not that be something?
For many lucky bettors, it’s more than just a sweet sports gambling dream. We have a look at a few of the most famous and biggest wins in sports gambling history.
Grandpa Makes a Future Bet to Beat Them All
Soccer is the UK’s hottest sport by far, and if Harry Wilson was born, grandfather Peter Edward was convinced the boy was destined for glory on the pitch.
So sure in fact that, in 2000 (when Harry was still a toddler),” Mr. Edwards went to the bookmakers and placed a #50 wager (about $67) the boy would play for Wales, his national team. The odds were a bit of a long shot at 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. In the 87th minute of this 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 wealthy man. The 13-year-old bet won his grandfather a clear amount of #150,000.
A Fast and Furious Future Bet
In 1998 Richard Hopkins had a similar foresight when he had been observing his son, Evan, race a young Lewis Hamilton in a go-karting track. Convinced the youthful Hamilton had a speedy future before him, Hopkins put three different bets on the climbing racing star.
The first was a #200 ($270) wager that Hamilton would win the Formula 1 until he turned 23, and also an additional #100 wager he could be World Champion by 25. Hopkins was so certain of his predictions, so that he put an extra third wager of #50 which Hamilton could attain 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 spot at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008, at 24. This meant that Hopkins’ third wager bagged him another #75,000.
All Mayweather’s Sports Bets
The most notorious sports bettor today is boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. Renowned for his enormous sports bets, he has been known to reap countless thousands (sometimes even millions of dollars) on single events. Since the highest paid sports star of all time, he has lots of spare cash to play with.
At the conclusion of the 4th quarter, Mayweather collected a cool $1.4 million!
His biggest bet so much was in 2014, when he bet a whopping $815,000 on the Denver Broncos to beat the New York Jets by a 7.5 point spread. A touchdown from the Broncos put them up by 14, clear of the necessary points. At the conclusion of the 4th quarter, Mayweather collected a cool $1.4 million!
The Legend That Is Billy Walters
No list of extremes in sports gambling would be complete without mentioning Billy Walters. Before Billy Walters was awarded his 5-year prison sentence and a $10 million fine for insider trading, Billy was the most notorious sports bettor of all time. His big bets were so feared by the sportsbooks he was banned from wagering.
Among the most remarkable 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 went with it, and it paid off. No one knows how much Walter raked in exactly, but we are pretty sure that it was a hefty sum!
Charles Barkley’s Super Bowl Win
Taking his seat in the sport gambling hall of fame is that the NBA legend turned sports announcer, Charles Barkley. While he is best-known because of his betting losses (reportedly totaling almost $30 million), it was his big win after the Super Bowl 36 that caused quite a stir.
By wagering half a million around the underdog New England Patriots to beat St. Louis Rams, and an additional $50,000 on the moneyline, Barkley won both stakes.
The controversy arose in the small truth that Barkley didn’t have enough credit in the Mandalay Bay sportsbook to pay the bet, and hadn’t signed a mark. Of course, the sportsbook were reluctant 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 the hero (or even the jealousy ) of your betting buddies? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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