Not all sports bettors use a cookie-cutter approach to betting. Some love doing it for leisure, while others dream of turning sports betting into a career.
If you’re wondering whether or not sports betting can be a million- or even billion-dollar job, the good news is yes. You can find a bunch of sports betting millionaires across the globe.
Infamous for being addictive, sports betting involves risking your hard-earned cash on the outcome of sporting events. You’ll need intelligence, excellent number skills, and boldness to become successful in this area.
Sports betting takes the willingness to endure failure and rise above it. For some people, it’s more than just a hobby. So, get ready to meet some of the world’s sports betting millionaires below.
Has Anyone Got Rich From Sports Betting?
As stated previously, the gambling arena has witnessed a bunch of sports betting success stories. But while getting rich from sports betting is possible, it’s not a piece of cake.
To get rich from sports betting, you have to make the hard decision of turning it into a full-time job. But the challenge doesn’t end there. You have to invest a lot of precious time to become one of the best sports bettors in the world. And before deciding to quit your day job, note that only a tiny percentage of sports bettors make a profit.
Sports Betting Millionaires
There are a lot of ways to make a living from sports betting. We’ll discuss that in the latter section. For now, get to know some of the world’s sports betting millionaires and learn a thing or two from their stories.
Bill Benter
A gifted mathematician, Bill Benter has become one of the world’s sports betting millionaires thanks to horse racing. It all started when he and his partner Alan Woods saw an opportunity in the Hong Kong horse racing market. They spent several months learning advanced statistics and the ins and outs of horse racing. As you already know, that betting trip to Hong Kong turned out to be incredibly lucrative for Bill.
Tony “Lizard” Bloom
Lauded as Britain’s wealthiest bettor, Tony Bloom now owns the betting consultancy firm Starlizard. Raking in $3.3 million through tournaments, Lizard upped the game when he concentrated on football betting behind the walls of his betting firm. Rumor has it that he won tons of games amounting to winnings of roughly £1 million for a weekend football match and earning to the tune of £100 a year on average.
Billy “The Great White Shark” Walters
Depicted by Nevadan odds-makers as “the Great White Shark,” Billy Walters is arguably the most dangerous and feared sports bettor worldwide. Over the course of four decades, he amassed approximately $300 million through real estate, the stock market, and sports betting (primarily on American Football and Basketball).
Jeff Ma
Next, and perhaps the most interesting one, on this sports betting millionaires list is Jeff Ma. His sports betting success story is so good it inspired the film “21” and the book Bringing Down the House. Jeff is famous for being a part of the MIT Blackjack Team from 1993 to 2001, profiting approximately $2 million. His outstanding ability to stay calm under pressure and leave his emotions at the door helped him succeed.
Jonas Gjelstad
A decorated sports bettor and poker player, Jonas Gjelstad started his football betting journey when he was four. Several years later, he has earned almost $1 million from value betting in just a single year. His biggest bet win dates back to the 2014 World Cup, where he placed $1,000 and cashed out $60,000. Now, Jonas is working as CMO for the company he co-founded with his childhood friend Martin.
Bill “KrackMan” Krackomberger
Boasting more than two decades of expertise in making and selling pick options, Bill is Las Vegas’s bookie in Sin City. He has become one of the world’s sports betting millionaires, credits to the swagger with high spending. But if you’re going to ask him about his advice to having multiple million-dollar victories, he says keep your expectations realistic.
Jon Price
Armed with a mathematics degree and solid background in statistics, Jon Price smartly found his way to the list of sports betting millionaires. He prefers wagering on a single game result but has also won big bets on futures gambles. Price purchased an 8-seat private jet with his winnings.
Matthew “Moneyball” Benham
After graduating with a physics degree from the illustrious Oxford University, Matthew Benham went from banker to sports betting millionaire and professional sports club owner. He started his betting journey in the early 2000s when he worked as a trader for Tony Bloom’s Premier Bet. But things didn’t turn out well, so he had to say goodbye and launch the highly successful SmartOdds, which boasted over $15 million in yearly revenues.
James “Jeopardy!” Holzhauer
At only 34 years old, James Holzhauer made a name in sports betting with a jaw-dropping 32-Jeopardy game winning streak. That series of victories earned him more than $2.4 million. The secret? Employing fundamental sports betting principles.
Although James doesn’t have careers like other sports betting millionaires, he’s promoting sports betting as a skill-based job.
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale
Nicknamed “Mattress Mack,” Gallery Furniture CEO Jim McIngvale has a declared asset of $300 million. But despite making it to the elusive list of sports betting millionaires, he, later on, suffered several losses amounting to millions of dollars.
Zeljko “The Joker” Ranogajec
Ultimately, the Aussie Zeljko Ranogajec could be the wealthiest one in this sports betting millionaires list. Nicknamed “The Joker,” he reached his billionaire status via casinos and sports betting. He’s earning roughly $1 billion a year, and his One Hyde Park apartment sold for over $170 million.
How Can I Win Sports Betting?
Most sports bettors end up losing money in the long run. And it’s no secret that sports betting millionaires aren’t the majority.
Getting rich from sports betting is no easy task, but it’s not impossible either. For starters, you can work on specific areas to boost your winning chances. You can develop particular skills that would put you above the average sports bettor. Here are some proven tips to help you win more in sports betting.
Choose the Right Bookie
The sky’s the limit when it comes to sports betting. Whether you’re into sports betting or playing real money casino games online, you have no shortage of options. However, not all sports betting sites are created equal. The key to winning more in sports betting is to find a bookie that stands out above the rest and caters to your specific needs.
Understand Value
In sports betting language, a valuable bet offers odds on a result that pay better than they realistically should. But that doesn’t mean it’s a surefire recipe for success. Understanding which wager has value can make a lot of difference. However, it is just a part of the equation.
Devise a Proper Betting Strategy
If you want to advance your sports betting millionaires list bid, don’t wager on impulse. Come up with a tactic on how to bet, which data to use, and how to find good betting markets. When betting on basketball, football, and soccer, analyze team or player records. Read data about form, injuries, and other helpful pieces of information.
Sport betting millionaires come from all walks of life. But one thing they share in common is they earned their status. All of them experienced more trials and errors than they could count before finding the winning strategy.
