Best of betting in 2022, the year Mattress Mack won $75M on the World Series

The bombastic gambler got the last laugh after a dirty fight with Phillies fans.

Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale (foreground) and Houston Astros players gather before the World Series victory parade on November 7.

By Ed Barkowitz Published December 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM

The wildest betting history of 2022, dozens of contenders have had their fair share of Philadelphia. Baseball, F-bombs and loud arguments are a recipe that has been passed down for generations here.

The country's most famous sportsman is trying to settle a dispute with Phillies fans during the World Series. But after Game 3, his engine was hot. The bombs were flying and Jim "Mattress Mac" McInvale nearly hit the fan when he heard his beloved Astros referred to as a bunch of Phillies fans. But Mac had the last laugh.

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The Phillies were 1-1 after two straight games and the fans were feeling good. They were doing too well. Mac and his championship record in Houston were in jeopardy. But just a few days later, the Astros pitched a no-hitter in Game 4 and won the World Series. The bombs turned into frustrating praise.

In 2022, McInvale went from a colorful Texas furniture salesman and wild-card player to amassing the largest legal sports betting payout in U. S. history and a serious threat to sportsbooks. He turned $10 million bets at various odds at various sportsbooks into a $75 million payout when the Astros beat the Phillies. MGM gave him a cart to carry his cash.

"Most of the Phillies fans were cool with it. I got into some arguments with a few, but by defending the Houston guys, it was the biggest brand-building thing I've ever done. I said (at the going away party), everything's going to be OK. My daughter said it was the best thing that ever happened to her. My other daughter, a psychiatrist, was horrified. But it all worked out."

Caesars alone paid Mac $30 million.

Mac owns a furniture store near Houston and uses the sportsbook to offer discounts and refunds to customers. The promotions continued through the postseason, and he was forced to halt the sales after the Astros clinched the American League championship on October 23.

"We paid it all back ($75 million), but it was our biggest branding move ever. We'd do it again in a heartbeat in New York."

Despite the World Series, Mack has landed some players in 2022. He bet $6 million on Alabama in last season's national football championship game and $9. 5 million when the Bengals lost to the Rams in the Super Bowl. He won $12 million when Kansas won the men's national title in April, then lost $2. 6 million a month later when the Epicenter finished second in one of the biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history.

It's been another interesting year for sports betting, especially for those lucky enough not to be in the red.

The longest yard

FanDuel nearly lost millions on a variation of a game it offered during last January's playoff game between the Buccaneers and Eagles. Tampa Bay covered a 2-5 point spread (he did, check), Rob Gronkowski scored a touchdown (he did, check), Mike Evans scored (he did, check), and Scott Miller had an 8-5+ yard receiving game (no check). Miller caught one pass for 8 yards. One more yard would cost FanDuel about $10 million, according to Darren Rovell of the Action Network. What hurt the players was that Miller tried rushing. He ran for 9 yards.

This & that

1. They won the National League Championship Series on August 1, 25-1.
2. The Eagles overcame ups and downs to go 9-5 and 13-2 to advance to the final game of the regular season. But the Caesars still have a division championship to win. The line is 3-5. The Birds are 3-2 against the NFC East with one game remaining (January 7th or 8th vs. NYG).
3. On November 22nd, Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win over Argentina was said to be the biggest upset in World Cup history. Saudi Arabia was between +1800 and +2000 on the moneyline. Argentina went on to win the World Cup, making the Saudi victory even more puzzling.
4. On December 21st, Eastern Illinois beat Iowa as a 31. 5 point underdog in men's basketball. The moneyline was around +1200. You can see how big a "dog" Saudi Arabia was.
5. Circa's NFL Survivor Pool in Las Vegas drew 6, 133 entries at $1, 000 each. Three contestants remained. Such in-season contests are not yet permitted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Four contestants were in the field over the weekend, but one was knocked out when the Steelers scored a last-minute touchdown over the Raiders. That will leave a mark.

1. Rich Strike, who won the Kentucky Derby at 80-1, was the second favorite behind Donerail (91-1, 1913). When a customer backed out for a replacement horse in a scratched trifecta on Ethereal Road, Borgata ticket writer Anita Poma recommended Rich Strike, who hadn't entered until the day before the race. The trifecta hit 21-3-10, and a $2 bet made 29. 40.
2. One player won a parlay on Fanduel on which player would score the first basket in six NBA games on January 25, including Joel Embiid vs. the Pelicans. $8 turned into $333. Play parlays carefully. For novice bettors, it's like a lottery. Big wins are rare.
3. Kyle Schwarber lost to Albert Pujols in the first round of the All-Star Game home derby. One player bet 54. 000 at Caesars with Schwarber to beat Pujols.

1. The Chiefs were leading 21-3 at the two-minute warning in the first half of the AFC Championship. Cincinnati won in overtime. Thanks for the donation
2. In February, the Eagles were 33-1 on Fanduel to win this year's Super Bowl. They're 5-1 as of this week.
3. When Washington acquired Carson Wentz in March, their Draftkings odds of winning the NFC title dropped from 25-1 to 20-1, and their Super Bowl odds dropped from 50-1 to 40-1. Now the Commodores are 40-1 to win the conference and 90-1 to win the SUPE.
4. The Borgata took the biggest bet in baseball over the summer. Bettors actually put in a run or five and broke out in a big sweat when the Dodgers bullpen turned a 4-0 lead into a 4-2 lead with two outs in the ninth inning. L. A. hung on and the bet was cashed.
5. It was the first time that the top six teams of AP's men's basketball, including the first place Gonzaga held at St. Merry (+475) on February 26, had lost on the same day. However, three of the other five teams were an aligned underdog, so the dividend was only $ 3. 737 when BETMGM had a 10 dollar parle to all six teams. From No. 2 to No. 6 were Arizona, Overn, Pudu, Kansas, and Kentucky.

Best advice

Lex Bayers, a gambling person in playup USA, gave this wisdom in early May.

"This is where baseball works well." Dodgers, who are likely to win 100, lost 3 races and two in Pittsburg on Pirates, which is likely to lose 100.

"If you can't accept it as Better, you should stop baseball.

In fact, L. A. lost 111 wins and 51 in 2022. Pittsburg has 62 wins and 100 losses.

The Brady controversy

The fact that Tom Brady decided to return in March and return to the 23rd season was resonated by the Sports Betting window.

Buccaniars increased the probability of winning this year's Super Bowl to 50 to 1, mainly based on the gone of Brady, who had announced his retirement on February 1.

Several sportsbooks, a few days before Brady was not saved, saw an aggressive bet on the Bucaniars victory. At Las Vegas's South Points, 50: 1, 30: 1, 25: 1, were unpublished.

There was nothing to be a threat, but the sportsbook did not like the coincidence.

Buccaniars settled about eight wins and one loss from the opening. He has been upset by mediocre results this season, has returned to about 30 wins and 1 loss, and the Division champion may also miss the playoffs.

Suspended animation

Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville, despite being on the NFL betting game suspended list while leaving the team in 2021 in 2021. Ridley can apply for reinstatement on February 15. The annual salary of $ 11. 11 million, which was supposed to be obtained in 2022, will shift to 2023 and will be borne by Jaguars.

Jets's Miles Austin Assistant coach, who ended his career in Eagles in 2015, was suspended for violating the NFL gambling policy. Unlike union players whose bets are prohibited only in NFL games, coaches, such as coaches, are banned in all sports. Austin's violation is unknown.

Jets has been reported in New Jersey, where he practices and plays, to $ 1. 1 billion in November sports gambling.

Take it to the Banc

The NBA draft in June was a benefit for many sharp players, especially for Duk e-sized Paolo Banchero, the first place. However, it was nothing but a headache species for Bucks. ESPN's crack reporter, Adrian Voinarowsky, also dropped.

"Overwon) Jabari Smith was initially popular at the height of 20 to 1 with Banchero." Gonzaga University's Chet Holmgren is the second place in the second place.

"I opened with 9-1 BANCHERO on Monday of the draft week. As soon as I opened the market, all the first four bets were bet on Banchello. He moved to 7-1. I am 7 to 1. At the end of Monday, (Banchero) was down.

"On Wednesday night, while WOJ reported that Smith was ranked first, Banchero was the most popular.

Gable believes that those who have Banchero will be classified into three categories:

1) People who strictly bet on Sunday night / Monday.

2) A small group with very good information. < SPAN> The June NBA draft was a benefit for many sharp players, especially for Paolo Banchero of Duke University. However, it was nothing but a headache species for Bucks. ESPN's crack reporter, Adrian Voinarowsky, also dropped.