The world of sports betting has seen some incredible stories-instances where people made such outrageous predictions that they seemed outright crazy. But sometimes, these wild bets not only bring fame but also huge winnings. Here are the TOP-5 most unusual bets in sports history!
1️⃣ Betting on a Son’s Future: 126x Payout 👶🏆
In 2000, a British man, Mickey Dadds, placed a £50 bet that his son, Harry, would one day become a professional footballer. Bookmakers set the odds at 126 to 1. And guess what? In 2021, Harry signed a contract with a professional team, earning his father a £6,350 payout! Was it true foresight or just a father who knew his son’s potential?
2️⃣ Fox vs. Greyhounds: The Unexpected Winner 🦊🐕
A famous case in Australia saw a bettor place a wager on a greyhound race—but on a wild fox! The fox accidentally ran onto the track and astonishingly outran all the dogs. Luckily for the gambler, the bets were already placed, and he claimed his full winnings.
3️⃣ Betting Against the Chess World Champion ♟
In 1978, a daring fan placed a large bet that world chess champion Anatoly Karpov would lose to an unknown player from an obscure country. The bet seemed ridiculous. However, during the game, Karpov fell ill and had to forfeit, resulting in an unexpected jackpot for the bettor.
4️⃣ The Million-Dollar Penalty Kick ⚽️💰
In 2001, an American made a bet with his friends: if he could score a goal from midfield blindfolded, they would pay him $ 1 million. Unbelievably, he nailed the shot! His friends had to cover part of the sum, while the rest was compensated through media attention and sponsorship deals.
5️⃣ Betting on Leicester City: A Fairytale Come True 🦊🏆
At the start of the 2015/16 Premier League season, Leicester City was given 5000-to-1 odds to win the title. Most considered them massive underdogs. However, one fan decided to take the £100 risk—and when Leicester shockingly won the league, he walked away with £500,000!
The moral of the story: sometimes the most absurd bets bring the biggest winnings. But it’s worth remembering that there’s always a lot of luck behind such cases. And what is the most unusual bet you would make if given the opportunity? Share your ideas in the comments! 🎲✨
In 2000, a British man, Mickey Dadds, placed a £50 bet that his son, Harry, would one day become a professional footballer. Bookmakers set the odds at 126 to 1. And guess what? In 2021, Harry signed a contract with a professional team, earning his father a £6,350 payout! Was it true foresight or just a father who knew his son’s potential?
2️⃣ Fox vs. Greyhounds: The Unexpected Winner 🦊🐕
A famous case in Australia saw a bettor place a wager on a greyhound race—but on a wild fox! The fox accidentally ran onto the track and astonishingly outran all the dogs. Luckily for the gambler, the bets were already placed, and he claimed his full winnings.
3️⃣ Betting Against the Chess World Champion ♟
In 1978, a daring fan placed a large bet that world chess champion Anatoly Karpov would lose to an unknown player from an obscure country. The bet seemed ridiculous. However, during the game, Karpov fell ill and had to forfeit, resulting in an unexpected jackpot for the bettor.
4️⃣ The Million-Dollar Penalty Kick ⚽️💰
In 2001, an American made a bet with his friends: if he could score a goal from midfield blindfolded, they would pay him $ 1 million. Unbelievably, he nailed the shot! His friends had to cover part of the sum, while the rest was compensated through media attention and sponsorship deals.
5️⃣ Betting on Leicester City: A Fairytale Come True 🦊🏆
At the start of the 2015/16 Premier League season, Leicester City was given 5000-to-1 odds to win the title. Most considered them massive underdogs. However, one fan decided to take the £100 risk—and when Leicester shockingly won the league, he walked away with £500,000!
The moral of the story: sometimes the most absurd bets bring the biggest winnings. But it’s worth remembering that there’s always a lot of luck behind such cases. And what is the most unusual bet you would make if given the opportunity? Share your ideas in the comments! 🎲✨