Gambling Guide
Millions of questions, millions of dollars: The mad bomber bettor is at it again
Jan 25, 2018, 8:54 pm
Nick Foles and the Eagles will be carrying a $3 million monkey on their backs. Philadelphiaeagles.com
The morning of Nov. 1, baseball enthusiasts and fans woke up with the anxiety of a World Series game seven matchup. One game for all the marbles, in a series many were saying was the best in history.
In the gambling universe, many bettors scrambled to get their wagers in for the biggest baseball game of the season. A sense of excitement and anxiety was also being felt, as gambling degenerates waited to catch wind of what the "Let it ride " World Series gambler was going to bet in the final game.
A perfect 6 for 6, after game 6 was his record in the World Series. The devilish things the unknown gambler did to casinos was sinister. Rolling over his winnings game after game and being on the correct side left the mystery man with 14 million questions prior to Game 7. His wager on game six was said to be 8 million making his bankroll somewhere around 14 million.
With the betting world waiting to hear his next move, millions of questions were still yet to be answered. What did we know about the mysterious gambler?
European
Had to spread out bets in different casinos
Under 30 years old
Experienced UFC bettor (some say he was undefeated)
With the casinos preparing for the massive wave of action that would at some point be hitting the line, suspense grew. After an eternity of waiting, finally, it was time, and the verdict was in. The Million Dollar "Let It Ride" bettor made his best bet yet, and chose to walk away. He took his winnings and wandered off leaving us in bewilderment. Now, what were we to do, make a bet on our own?
Let's fast forward
Known to be an elite UFC bettor, the enigmatic figure has resurfaced. In anticipation of UFC 220 last week, RJ Bell was the first to confirm that one of his trusted sources said they took a 100k bet on Francis Ngannou to win the heavyweight title. Things didn't go so well as the inexperienced Ngannou gassed early and the sportsbooks finally were able to claim a victory against the European conqueror known as the "Let it Ride" bettor.
The talk thus far leading up to the Super Bowl is the "Million Dollar Bet" that was placed on the Eagles. By now you may have caught word of the "Big Bet" placed on Philidelphia to win the Super Bowl. Several different stories are going around as sources are not giving out names or the bet amount. We heard it first from Jay Rood before it happened on The Numbers Game on VSiN Live. He stated that he was anticipating what could be his biggest bet in SuperB owl history, which was $2 million on the Colts in 2010. The Final score Saints 31- Colts 17 and the books cashed the enormous ticket.
On Wednesday morning, the MGM casino confirmed that a "multi-million" bet had been placed on the Eagles. They failed to specify if it was money line or on the spread and what the actual amount was. What we do know is on Wednesday afternoon, the line dropped from New England -5.5 to- 4.5. The money line odds at MGM properties also dropped from +180 to +170. As we discussed previously, the objective of the book is to generate action on both sides. With so much money coming in on one side the spread had to be adjusted accordingly in hope of welcoming Patriot backers.
Every day more information is surfacing and according to RJ Bell, the bet he placed was 3 million, which would break the all-time record. Not only that, but many are saying he is looking to get more action with other sportsbooks before the big game kicks off Next Sunday.
Stay tuned for another chapter as we take a ride on the wild side.
For any questions or comments follow me on twitter at @JerryBoKnowz
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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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