THROUGHOUT history, people have placed bets on everything from sporting events to political elections to even who will be the first to cross the finish line in a snail race. But some bets have become legendary and have probably left a lasting impact on the betting world. Below we present the 5 most famous bets of all time.
John Hill’s Return to Life – 1871
John Hill, better known as “The English Jockey“, was a famous horse rider in the 19th century. In one race, Hill fell from his horse and became unconscious. His friends were convinced he was dead, but one of them, William Day, was convinced Hill could be saved. He placed a £100 bet that Hill would regain consciousness. He then used a variety of methods, including cardiac massage and the use of electricity, to wake Hill up. And he did – Hill woke up and Day made £200.
The English Jockey
Charlie Wells – Monte Carlo – 1891
Charlie Wells was an English gambler who in 1891 visited Monte Carlo, the most famous gambling city in the world. Wells had only 4,000 francs but managed to win an incredible 1 million francs within three days playing roulette. It was an incredible success, and Wells became known as “The Man Who Broke the Bank of Monte Carlo“.
Bobby Riggs vs Billie Jean King – tennis match – 1973
Bobby Riggs, a former tennis champion, challenged Billie Jean King to a tennis match, claiming that a man would always beat a woman in tennis. King accepted the challenge and defeated Riggs in one of the most famous tennis matches of all time. King’s victory over Riggs became a symbol of feminism and the fight for gender equality.
Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs
John Hennigan bets that he will not leave the hotel
John Hennigan, better known as the winner of the 2018 World Series of Poker, made a $100,000 bet with his friends that he wouldn’t leave his hotel for six months. The bet included that he would not leave the hotel, but would be able to use any form of hotel service, including restaurants, pools and the casino. Hennigan managed to win the bet and used the money to buy a new house.
Ashley Revell and the bet on red
Ashley Revell, a young British man, decided to risk everything he had, selling all his possessions to raise money for a bet on the red in one of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas. The bet was $135,300, and Revell decided to put everything on the red in the roulette. Luckily for him, the ball landed on the red number and Revell won $270,600.
Ashley Revell
Betting has always been a part of human nature and is often used as a way of having fun and testing one’s limits. However, it is important to remember that betting can be very risky and there is always the possibility of losing money or something else of value. Therefore, it is important to bet only as much as you are ready to lose and not to exceed the limits of your own possibilities. Regardless, these five most famous bets of all time have left an indelible mark on history and will remain an inspiration for future generations.
