With the upcoming Super Bowl set to take place in the gambling mecca of Las Vegas later this month, we delve into the story of Mattress Mack and his most significant wager in NFL history.
In recent years, with sports betting now legal in 38 out of 50 states, there has been a surge in high-stakes bets placed on NFL games, particularly during the marquee matchups. Among the bettors, one name stands out – ‘Mattress Mack’, a notorious gambler hailing from Texas, known for his sizable bets on his home teams across various sports.
During the AFC Divisional match, Mattress Mack, a 72-year-old Texas resident, placed an astounding $500,000 bet on his home team to triumph over the Baltimore Ravens on their turf. However, luck was not on his side, as Baltimore emerged as comfortable winners against the 9.5 point underdog Houston Texans. This unfortunate turn of events meant that the mattress store owner missed out on a potential $1.7 million in winnings.
Interestingly, Mattress Mack holds the record for the largest wager ever placed on an NFL game by a prominent sportsbook. He placed an astonishing $4.5 million bet with Caesars Sportsbook on the Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl LVI. What makes this bet even more remarkable is that he had already staked $5 million on the Bengals, who were considered +170 underdogs by most NFL bookmakers at the time.
Unfortunately, the outcome of the bet did not match its audacity, as the Bengals faltered on the grandest stage against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. Despite leading for the majority of the game, Cincinnati’s hopes were dashed by a fourth-quarter touchdown from the Rams, resulting in both the Bengals and Mattress Mack suffering defeat.
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s loss on the Super Bowl was a staggering $9.5 million, making it the largest single loss in NFL history. Surprisingly, McIngvale has announced that, for the first time in years, he will not be placing a wager on the Super Bowl. Despite initially planning to back the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the season, McIngvale ultimately decided against it, despite jokingly blaming Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for his past losses.
It seems that the combination of his disappointing experiences with Houston this year and his checkered history of success in betting on the NFL season finale has persuaded Mattress Mack to abstain from making a pick this year.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, 11th February 2024
Time: 3:30 PM PST
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV Broadcast: CBS
Odds: San Francisco 49ers -120 | Kansas City Chiefs +100