A welcomed comeback
Legendary gambler Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is one step closer to winning a record $75m payout after the Houston Astros’ win over the Seattle Mariners Tuesday.
Houston, currently second to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the odds to win the World Series, used a three-run walk-off home run to win game one of the American League Divisional Series (ALDS) over the Seattle Mariners, 8-7. They now just need to win two more games to reach the championship series, the final round before the World Series.
the largest payout in sports betting history
McIngvale placed a $10m wager on the Astros back when they had +750 odds, which have since moved to +270. If his historic bet hits, he will earn the largest payout in sports betting history.
Mattress Mack cheers on the Astros
“Mattress Mack,” owner of Gallery Furniture, was in attendance for Tuesday’s ridiculous comeback victory.
The Astros trailed 7-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Cleanup hitter Alex Bregman managed to cut the deficit with a two-run blast in the eighth, and left-fielder Yordan Alvarez dealt the decisive blow with a 438-foot three-run homer in the dying moments.
McIngvale’s reaction captured the emotions inside Minute Maid Park.
The 71-year-old is also showing support for his favorite team by running a promotion at Gallery Furniture, promising free mattresses for customers spending at least $3,000 if Houston goes on to win the World Series. His massive wagers usually coincide with these promos, as the sales he generates from them partially offset gambling losses. He looks at losing bets as a marketing expense.
The Astros have made three of the last five World Series but have not won since 2017. The team is also regarded as the villains of the league after they were caught cheating by using cameras to illegally steal signs from opponents during the playoffs.
None of that will matter to McIngvale, however, who is in line for the biggest payday in sports betting history. His estimated net worth of $300m would also increase by 25%—not a bad day at the office!
History as a gambler
The name “Mattress Mack” rings loud and clear across the world of sports gambling. The almost-mythical figure is constantly placing enormous wagers across the world of sports, and is revered for his outlandish confidence.
Earlier this year, McIngvale had a string of unsuccessful bets involving the New England Patriots and Alabama Crimson Tide. He also put $4,534,000 on the Cincinnati Bengals to defeat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl at +170, marking the largest mobile bet of all time.
Although his bets all missed, he got his get-back just two months later when he successfully predicted the Kansas Jayhawks to win March Madness. That win earned him $15m to reinvest into his gambling fund.
believed to be over $15m in the hole
According to estimates, McIngvale is over $15m in the hole across his lifetime as a sports gambler. If his latest prediction pulls through, that number will quickly transform into $60m worth of profit.