The vast majority of bets in bookmakers' offices are related to sports. Customers predict who will win the match, how many goals will be scored, who will score the most points, and so on. However, bookmakers don't limit themselves to traditional positions and often offer unexpected and bizarre options.
- Who will be killed next in a popular TV series?
- Will the president be impeached?
- In what outfit will the queen appear?
- Will the scandalous football player bite his opponent?
Interestingly, many enthusiasts enjoy making such prognoses. Often, players place substantial bets on these positions. Moreover, some customers surprise bookmakers themselves with unexpected wagers.
The curious cases in the history of this aspect of the gambling business are described in the overview article by Casinoz.
Ten Years Is Not Too Long for a Good Bet!
In 1989, a player from Wales placed a thirty-pound bet in the Ladbrokes bookmakers' office on the occurrence of the following events in the year 2000:
- The rock band U2 would still be performing.
- The TV shows EastEnders and Neighbours would still be airing on the BBC.
- Musician Cliff Richard would be knighted by that time.
The overall odds for the bet placed at Ladbrokes were 1:6479. As it turned out, U2 continued to give concerts and release albums, the mentioned TV shows continued to delight fans, and Cliff Richard was knighted.
As a result, the guy won over 194,000 pounds sterling, setting a new record.
A Bite That Made 167 People Happy
As mentioned earlier, the bet on a possible bite from an opponent was no joke. Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez is known for his lack of self-control. He often loses his temper and confronts his opponents. Sometimes, he resorts to using his teeth.
Taking note of this particular aspect of Suarez's temperament, a Norwegian bookmaker's website offered customers the opportunity to bet on whether Luis would bite someone during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The odds of 175:1 attracted 167 users who risked different amounts.
In a match between Uruguay and Italy, Suarez bit defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder. Cameras captured This action in close-up, allowing viewers worldwide to see the incident in detail. However, the referee overlooked the violation of the rules. Nevertheless, the bookmakers settled with all customers who had previously bet on Luis Suarez's sharp teeth.
Critics were quick to accuse the flamboyant footballer of intentional biting, but it is unlikely that one should blame the striker for conspiring with ordinary Norwegian betting enthusiasts.
Grandson, Make Your Grandfather Happy!
Many parents consider their children gifted, but grandparents and grandchildren are all geniuses, no matter what these little ones do! However, sometimes this love is not blind, and the belief in the brilliance of their offspring is entirely justified.
Elderly Welshman Peter Edwards watched as his one-and-a-half-year-old grandson kicked a ball in the backyard. He thought the boy had talent and had no doubt that a professional career awaited him. He bet fifty pounds with William Hill that the boy would one day play for the Wales national team. The bookmakers accepted the bet with odds of 2500:1.
In 2013, the rising star of Liverpool FC, Harry Wilson, debuted for the Wales national team in a match against Belgium. He became the youngest player in the history of the Welsh team and earned his grandad £125,000.
He Lost a Home Along with His Wife
In 2013, two residents of Uganda made a bet on the outcome of the match between Manchester United and Arsenal. Henry Dhabasani bet on Arsenal's victory, while Rashid Yiga was confident in Manchester United's triumph. The first risked his house, and the second - his Toyota Premio car.
A house against a car seems normal - a usual thing in such matters. But the men decided not to limit themselves to these valuable items and put their wives on the line. The bet was "notarized" by the elders of their community.
The match ended with a score of 1:0 in favor of Arsenal. Henry lost his house and one of his three wives. They say that when the final whistle sounded, he lost consciousness. On the same day, he was evicted from the building along with the remaining women and five children.
Who's the Ugliest Man?
Swiss John Heidegger was called the ugliest man in Britain. As an opera impresario and organizer of masquerades, he was proud of this "title" and fiercely protected the reputation of the chief grotesque.
Once, Lord Chesterfield promised to find an even less attractive person and brought a hideous woman to Heidegger. A dispute arose between the men, during which John snatched the lady's hat from her head and put it on himself. The poor lady fainted from such a terrible sight.
Chesterfield had to admit his defeat.
Will the World End?
In 2017, the bookmaker Paddy Power accepted bets on whether the world would end by the end of 2017 or 2018. Possible ways of humanity's demise were not considered in this position. You could only bet on whether the Apocalypse would happen.
Other operators, including Bet-at-Home and Vbet, offered similar options. We have no information about how many players made these bets. If there were any interested individuals, it's intriguing to know what they were counting on, as they could only receive their winnings after the end of the world.
Who Will Conquer Mars?
The bookmaker Vbet often accepts unique bets. For example, they offered customers to guess who would be the first to colonize Mars. The pioneers must land on the red planet before January 1, 2025.
Players could choose one of three companies (with their respective odds):
- Boeing – x5.5
- Blue Origin – x3.5
- SpaceX – x1.25
It's easy to guess why the odds for SpaceX are the lowest.
Funny Bets
To wrap up, let's remember a few more amusing bets made privately without the involvement of bookmakers.
- A person under the pseudonym Bullzoneparade promised to drink a glass of his urine if the football team Houston Texans defeated the opponents from San Diego Chargers. The guy had to fulfill the promise live on YouTube. Later, he claimed he drank a different "beverage," but he couldn't convince the audience otherwise.
- French weather forecaster Doria Tillier said she would present the weather forecast naked if the national football team could defeat the Ukrainian team in the World Cup qualifiers. Although the French team had to make up for two goals lost in the first match, they beat the Ukrainians, and Doria had to keep her promise in front of the camera.
- A fan of Bayern Munich pledged to undertake a five-hundred-mile pilgrimage from Bosnia to the Allianz Arena stadium if his favorite team won the Champions League. With this gesture, he wanted to demonstrate his respect for the players and coaching staff.
- Brian Zembic is ready to bet on anything and even learned to earn a decent income from his hobby. Perhaps his most famous bet was a breast enlargement surgery. In 1997, he bet with a friend for $100,000 that he would get implants and keep them for at least a year. Brian fulfilled the conditions of the bet but decided not to get rid of his new breasts. He wore them until 2016. Besides the $100,000 he won, he earned a significant sum showing off his silicone bust on TV shows.
- Zembic also won several bets where he had to live in unusual places. For example, he received $14,000 for spending a week in a bathroom and $25,000 for living in a box for a week.
We won't even talk about the countless tattoos made on bets and liters of alcohol consumed for the same reason. Something similar has probably happened in the life of every reader of Casinoz.
What Do You Think About Bets?
Do you make bets? Do you make wagers with friends? Or do you know any curious stories on this topic? Share them in the comments.
