It isn’t even July, but Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has already put his money where his mouth is for his beloved Houston Astros to win the World Series. The Houston furniture store owner has more than $3 million on the line and he is just getting started.
On June 22, McIngvale bet $2 million on the Astros at 10-1 with Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill in Indiana. The bet would pay a net $20 million, making it one of the largest sports betting payoffs in U.S. history.
McIngvale also has $1 million on the Astros at 10-1 with FanDuel in Indiana, $250,000 with DraftKings and $100,000 with The Score sportsbook in Colorado, where odds are 16-1.
Here’s where the fun begins. Customers who spend at least $3,000 at his Gallery Furniture store will get their money back should the Astros win the series. Of course, the method to his madness is that McIngvale will win $35.6 million and free publicity.
As of June 22, the Astros rode a nine-game winning streak and have the best record in the American League. So, the bet is not a long shot.
“The Astros have six good pitchers and a lot of great hitters, so we’ll see what happens,” McIngvale told ESPN on Wednesday. “I thought at 16-1 and 10-1 it was definitely an overlay, so I’m in it to win it. Go Stros.”
According to Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, 13 teams have attracted more bets to win the World Series than the Astros.
“This wager certainly makes baseball season a little more exciting for us, and we’re looking forward to seeing how that plays out,” Eric Hession, co-president of sports for Caesars Entertainment, said in a company release.
McIngvale had more than $11 million in play on the Astros to win the 2019 World Series. Houston lost to the Washington Nationals.
He lost $1 million wagering that the Houston Cougars to win the NCAA men’s basketball tournament earlier this year. But he won $2.7 million on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knocking off the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in February.
“I’m sure I’ll be placing more [on the Astros] as we go on to the end of the season and hopefully get to the playoffs,” McIngvale said. “I’m not done yet, but I’m about 80 or 90 percent done.”
