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Steve O
07-29-2004, 12:18 PM
So you figure a parlay is a sucker bet?

Maybe you should consider the payoff on two winning parlay bets made by a 52-year-old California man earlier this month.

The lucky bettor made about $80,000 on two parlays he made on July 3 with British-based bookmaker bet365.com. The first bet was a 12-team parlay for $25, the second was nine-teamer for $100.

The first bet earned the man more than $36,277. That shot up by 50 percent to over $54,000 courtesy of bet365's bonus offer.

The second bet earned the man nearly $19,000. That was boosted 35 percent to more than $25,000, again thanks to bonuses.

Both bets involved Major League Baseball games. Here is the breakdown of each ticket:


10-teamer:
Colorado -140 and Over 13.0 +105 (vs. Detroit)
Houston -160 and Over 8.0 -110 (vs. Texas)
St Louis -155 and Over 8.5 -105 (vs. Seattle)
San Diego -183 and Over 7.5 +115 (vs. Kansas)
Pittsburgh -125 (vs. Milwaukee)
LA vs. Anaheim Over 9.0 -130
Minnesota vs. Arizona Over 10.0 -110
Oakland vs. SF Over 9.0 +105

Nine-teamer:
Boston -176 (vs. Atlanta)
Texas vs. Houston Over 10.5 -115
Pittsburgh -153 and Under 9.0 +105 (vs. Milwaukee)
Cincinnati -160 (vs. Cleveland)
Detroit vs. Colorado Over 13.0 -105
San Diego -200 and Over 7.5 (vs. Kansas)
Minnesota vs. Arizona Over 11.0 +105

So, does this sort of thing happen often?

"Too often!" said John Coates, Chief Executive of bet365. "It maybe happens a couple of dozen times a year that we have parlay payouts (to small stakes) in excess of US$20,000."

bet365 has one customer in the Bahamas who has hit six 10-teamers in the last 10 months, in baseball, college football and college basketball. The payouts have ranged from $30,000 to $75,000.

In July, the bettor was right on 11 plays in a 12-team parlay, narrowly missing out on a $170,000 payout.

mrsports
08-14-2004, 01:12 PM
as a general rule parlays are a sucker bet. sometimes people win them, but the house would be happy if it had nothing but parlay betters. imagine having to win only one bet, and your opponent had to be perfect.

in baseball however the player gets actual odds, whereas in basketball and football the player gets less than true odds. althought it is difficult to win a baseball parlay at least you get compensated properly when you do.

hope i didn't insult anyone's intelligence here. good luck to all.