Billy Walters: A Stunning $3.5 Million Payout
We begin with a gentleman named Billy Walters. Known as one of the most successful gamblers of all time. The American enjoyed an astonishing 30-year winning streak. In 2009, after betting on the underdog New Orleans Saints in their Super Bowl XLIV showdown against the Indianapolis Colts, he won the highest sports wager of all time. Walking away with a whopping $3.5 million when the Saints triumphed 31-17.
Vegas Dave: Taking $2.5 Million on a Stake of $140,000
Dave Oancea, a well-known gambler in Las Vegas, won $2.5 million on a $140,000 wager on the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. The punter spread his wagers around 15 sports bookmakers since he couldn't place his bet at a single venue without it being a problem for the institutions. Although his bet raised many eyebrows at the time, it was a risk that paid off as the Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets.
Steve Whiteley: Collecting £1.5 Million on a Bet of Just £2
Whiteley, a former heating engineer, couldn't believe his luck when he hit the jackpot in 2011. He chose to wager £2 after travelling to the horse races and using a free ticket to get admittance. The 61-year-old accurately predicted all six race winners. What makes this story even more astonishing is that one of the horses chosen had previously lost all 28 races. If ever there was an example proving that small stakes can still win big, this is it!
Fred Craggs: Scooped £1 Million on a £0.50 Bet
Next, we take a moment to celebrate Fred Craggs. The fertiliser salesman wasn't really a gambler, but in 2012, he bet 50 pence on a risky eight-fold accumulator. The next day, the 60-year-old Yorkshire man returned to the bookmakers to learn that his incredible wager had been successful. He might have won even more had he chosen a no-limit bet, but walking away with a seven-figure amount has cemented his place in sports betting history.
Mike Futter: Took Home £800,000 Thanks to His Own Horse
Mike Futter will never forget the year 2003. Futter wagered various bets on his own horse, Monty's Pass, at odds ranging from 40/1 to 16/1. Futter was rewarded with a stunning victory when the Irish-bred horse won the famous Grand National race at Aintree by six lengths. He received £348,000 for owning the horse and more than £400,000 for winning bets. To this day, whenever there are crowds or races, people speak about his astounding triumph.
James Adducci: $1.2 million on a Gamble of $85,000
Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters triumph will be remembered for more than one reason. Not only was it his first significant victory in 11 years, but James Adducci also placed a massive wager. The 39-year-old from Wisconsin put an $85,000 bet on the golfer finishing first. Despite Wood's shaky record leading up to the competition, the gamble paid off. The payoff shattered the bookmaker's record for the highest single payout on a futures bet.
Charles Barkley: Won $800,000 on a $500,000 Wager
Charles Barkley is already a household name owing to his illustrious NBA career. In 2002, though, he gave folks another reason to speak about him. Despite their slim chances of winning, he bet on the New England Patriots to defeat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. Not only did Barkley walk away with $800,000, but the game also proved to be a watershed moment in the Patriots' history as their future fortunes improved.
Anonymous punter: Earns £585,000 on a £0.80 Bet
Next, we travel to Malta, where an anonymous punter had a memorable day in November 2011. A wager of 80 pence was used to create an astounding 19-match accumulator. All bets were successful thanks to Liverpool's late goal to defeat Chelsea, guaranteeing that this was a night to remember.
Darren Yates: A Stunning £550,000 on a £62 Bet
Yates placed a remarkable gamble in 1996 that catapulted him to stardom in the horse racing and larger sports betting realms. The "magnificent seven" triumph came when Yates successfully bet £62 on jockey Frankie Dettorri to win all seven of his rides that day at Ascot.
Mick Gibbs: Received £500,000 on a Bet of Just £0.30
Mick Gibbs, a roofer by trade, struck the jackpot when he staked £0.30 on a mind-boggling 15-leg accumulator. Despite the odds of 1.6 million to one, Gibbs won £500,000 for properly identifying a variety of winners between 2000 and 2001.
Phil Mickelson: Netted $560,000 on a $20,000 Wager
Even before the 2000 NFL season began, professional golfer Phil Mickelson had great expectations for the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl. After Baltimore's 6-2 victory the previous season, Mickelson organised a betting syndicate and placed $20,000 at odds of 22/1. This won him $560,000. What makes this instance of the largest sports betting winnings so remarkable is that it was done without the assistance of an accumulator.
Anonymous punter: Makes $305,375 on a $5 Bet
One Las Vegas individual had a fortunate year in 2016. The bettor successfully picked 12 basketball wins on a parlay card over the course of one weekend, including the Detroit Pistons and the Golden State Warriors. The entire payment was $305,375.
Anonymous punter: Scores £200,000 on a £100 Bet
The fairy-tale of Leicester City winning the English Premier League in 2015 will not be forgotten. Many were astounded by the 5000/1 underdogs' success, but one anonymous punter had his day made. His £100 stake ensured he would celebrate one of the largest football betting wins of all time at £200,000!
Anonymous punter: Triumphed with a $250,000 on a $8,500 Bet
In 2017, an unknown bettor had a profitable NFL weekend after cashing in on five legs of an $8,500 parlay. The fifth leg was won by the Detroit Lions, who overcame the New York Giants 24-10. With a final payoff of roughly $250,000, this bettor must have felt elated after notching up one of the finest betting victories ever.
Vegas Dave: Landed $200,000 on a $20,000 Bet
Another entry for Dave Oancea focuses on the wager he made at UFC 193. Despite the fact that the pre-fight odds favoured Ronda Rousey, the legendary Las Vegas gambler successfully backed Holly Holm to win. She accomplished this after knocking Rousey out with a kick to the head. Oancea earned $200,000 after betting on odds of 11-1.
Richard Hopkins: Races to an Extraordinary £165,000 on Several Bets
When British father Richard Hopkins brought his son Evan racing in 1998, he couldn't help but observe go-kart driver Lewis Hamilton's extraordinary skill. Following this, he decided to lay a series of wagers on the success of the budding star. This began with a £200 wager on Hamilton winning a Grand Prix before the age of 23. It was followed by a £100 wager on Hamilton winning the World Championship before the age of 25. Finally, he bet an extra £50 on both projections coming true at odds of 1,500/1. When Hamilton won his first Formula One World Championship a decade later, Hopkins received a whopping £165,000.
Mick Gibbs: Scored £157,000 on a £2.50 Bet
In this, Mike Gibbs' second appearance, we revisit his victory in 1999. In this case, Gibbs predicted nine football games throughout Europe and won an amazing £157,000 on the accumulator bet.
Peter Edwards: Received £125,000 on a Wager of £50
At the age of 16, Harry Wilson became a successful football player. Only 15 years ago, his grandpa, 62-year-old Peter Edwards, predicted the unthinkable and wagered that his grandson would one day represent Wales as a professional player. His grandfather was overjoyed when his prediction came true. One of the most important betting wins, as well as one of the most inspiring.
Nicholas Newlife: Won £101,840 on a Stake of £1,520
After seeing Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2003, Nicholas gambled on his future success. The punter won big when Federer won his seventh Wimbledon title over a decade later. However, Newlife sadly died in 2009 and was never able to enjoy one of the largest betting victories in history, which was instead donated to the charity Oxfam.
Gerry Mcllroy: Grabbed £100,000 on a £200 Bet
In 2004, Gerry Mcllroy boldly bet 500-1 that his son, golfer Rory Mcllroy, would win the British Open within ten years. Rory's golfing prowess resulted in Gerry receiving a £100,000 payment. He won the tournament by two strokes against Sergio Garcia of Spain and Rickie Fowler of the United States.
So that brings us to the end of some of the greatest victories in sports betting history. They not only provide us with wonderful stories, but they also demonstrate that it is possible for a normal individual, through pure chance and/or sports prediction talent, to achieve something spectacular. We wish you luck in 2023.