We all dream about it as we carefully select the odds, pick our staff, set wagers, and see bated breath. As the final whistle blows, we fantasize it also indicates the win of a life. Wouldn’t that be something?
For many lucky bettors, it’s more than only a sweet sports gambling dream. We take a peek at some of the most well-known and greatest wins in sports gambling history.
Grandpa Makes a Potential Bet to Beat Them All
Football is the UK’s hottest game by far, and when 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 put a #50 bet (roughly $67) the boy would play for Wales, his national group. The chances were a small 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 seat for Wales. In the 87th minute of this World Cup qualifier against Belgium, Harry was pulled in as a replacement for Hal Robson-Kanu.
Harry not only broke the record to become the youngest player to represent his nation on the pitch, but he also made his grandfather a wealthy guy. The 13-year-old bet won his grandfather a tidy amount of 150,000.
A Fast and Furious Future Bet
In 1998 Richard Hopkins had a comparable foresight when he was observing 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 rising racing star.
The first was a #200 ($270) wager that Hamilton would win the Formula 1 until he turned 23, and an additional #100 wager that he would be World Champion by 25. Hopkins was so certain of his predictions, so that he put an additional third bet of #50 which Hamilton would attain both.
Hamilton made Hopkins #40,000 richer when he won the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 at age 22, and 50,000 wealthier when he clinched first spot in the Brazilian Grand Prix at 2008, in 24. This meant that Hopkins’ third wager bagged him an additional #75,000.
All Mayweather’s Sports Bets
The most infamous sports bettor now is boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather. Renowned for his massive sports stakes, he’s been known to reap countless thousands (sometimes even millions of dollars) on single occasions. Since the highest paid sports superstar of all time, he’s got lots of spare cash to play .
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 by a 7.5 point spread. A touchdown from the Broncos put them up by 14, clear of the vital points. At the end of the 4th quarter, Mayweather gathered a cool $1.4 million!
The Legend That Is Billy Walters
No list of extremes in sport betting would be complete without mentioning Billy Walters. Before Billy Walters was awarded his 5-year prison sentence and a $10 million fine to insider trading, Billy was the most notorious sports bettor of time. His big stakes were so feared by the sportsbooks that he was banned from wagering.
Among his 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 match with the Colts looking unbeatable, but Billy’s stats and figures all pointed to the Saints since the favorites. He went , and it paid off. No one knows just how much Walter raked in precisely, but we’re pretty sure that it was a hefty sum!
Charles Barkley’s Super Bowl Win
Taking his seat in the game betting hall of fame is 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 following 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, plus a further $50,000 on the moneyline, Barkley won the two stakes.
The controversy arose in the small fact that Barkley did not have sufficient credit in the Mandalay Bay sportsbook to cover the wager, and had not signed a marker. Obviously, the sportsbook were reluctant to pay out, but eventually gave in and Barkley banked his $800,000 win.
What’s Your Biggest Win?
Ever make a wager that made you that the protagonist (or even the jealousy ) of your betting buddies? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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