betting news stories on Newser

Crazy Cardinals Wager Wins Man $375K

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:37:01 CDT

Think the Cardinals were a longshot to win the World Series last night? One man who didn't mind 999-1 odds in September made two $250 wagers—and won $375,000, Yahoo Sports reports. His bet for the conference series won him $125,000, and his World Series wager turned into...

Why Gamblers Can't Walk Away

Nick McMaster — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:55:00 CST

Scientists have unlocked a key to obsessive gambling—the lure of the near miss. In search of the reason gamblers keep playing even after strings of horrible losses, Cambridge University researchers examined the brains of gamblers. They found that a near miss—putting a bet on a horse that finished...

Chuck Todd Chickens Out on Goatee Bet

Kevin Spak — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:29:49 CDT

Chuck Todd isn’t shaving off his goatee, despite having lost a baseball bet to Jake Tapper. The NBC talking head has taken the coward’s way out and will donate to charity instead. Todd was supposed to shed his trademark goatee if the Dodgers lost the NLCS; had they won, his...

Maybe Sports Betting Can Save Newspapers

John Johnson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:01:13 CDT

With newspapers sinking deeper into trouble by the day, Maureen Dowd explores the idea of saving the day with a little vice. Specifically, allowing papers to rake in money by setting up online sports betting on their websites. Dowd herself isn't pushing it, but she has fun kicking it around...

Blocked From White House, Shaq Loses Bet

Matt Cantor — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:39:05 CDT

Shaquille O’Neal bet a friend he’d be let in the White House if he simply showed up—and he lost the wager, the Washington Post reports. “The rule was I couldn't use any of my political connections," Shaq said. "Couldn't show a badge. I couldn't call anybody. They took my...

Palin 2012 Odds See a Sharp Rebound

Rob Quinn — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:51:49 CDT

Gamblers were rushing to place online bets as soon as they got wind of Sarah Palin's resignation, Keith Thomson writes at the Huffington Post. The odds of her winning the nomination in 2012 shot up sharply the day of the resignation. They then shortened amid a surge in betting as...

Terminally Ill Man Picks a Winner: Himself

Drew Nelles — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:55:02 CDT

A terminally ill British man collected about $8,200 today after betting he’d stay alive, the BBC reports. After being diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer in 2006 and told he had just months left, 59-year-old Jon Matthews made £100 bets he’d stick around until June 1, 2008, and June 1, 2009—...

You, Too, Can Pick a Winner

Wesley Oliver — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:37:02 CDT

Put down that mint julep: The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow, and you still don’t have a horse to bet on. But you do have a prayer, because Christina Settimi of Forbes, with help from horse racing expert Dean Keppler, outlines a winning strategy. With $118 million wagered, novices have a...

Super Bowl Inspires Super Wacky Wagers

M. Morris — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:38:00 CST

Propositions, or "prop bets," can add some spice to a Super Bowl blowout even as they leave oddsmakers shaking their heads. "They're a pain in the ass," a Las Vegas bookmaker tells ESPN the Magazine. "But it keeps non-fans interested for the entire game." Under Nevada law, the wagers must...