Share

Vegas bookies dreading McGregor upset

Las Vegas - Las Vegas bookmakers are nervously sweating on the outcome of Saturday's Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor superfight, which has already become the most heavily bet upon fight in the gambling city's history.

The vast majority of bets placed on this weekend's bout have been for McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts superstar who is facing Mayweather in what will be his first ever boxing contest.

With Mayweather a 2/9 favourite, punters in Las Vegas have gravitated towards McGregor, whose odds have dropped to 5-1 with some bookmakers.

Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill US's director of trading, told AFP that bets on McGregor were outstripping wagers on Mayweather by a ratio of 17 to 1.

"It's been insane," Bogdanovich said. "We've got a massive decision on our hands because the McGregor money just keeps pouring in. It's been fun.

"It's bigger than any fight we've ever booked in the state of Nevada. It's almost like a Super Bowl."

Bogdanovich said the fight had appealed to casual fans tempted by a big payday if McGregor somehow manages to pull off what would be a monumental upset.

"The people that are betting is revealing -- it's your meter-maid, it's your butcher, it's your garbage man, your every day Joe is involved in this fight," Bogdanovich said.

"They're willing to bet a little to win a lot. They think that if they put up their $100 they get $500 back and that appeals to them. We knew it would appeal to them, we just didn't think it would appeal to that many. We underestimated exactly how many people would be backing Mr McGregor."

Bookmakers face seven-figure losses if McGregor defeats Mayweather, with one estimate predicting $48 million losses.

Bogdanovich said the oddsmakers would absorb the hit.

"It's no big deal. If we lose, we pay, and we open up for business the next day," he said, confident that the tale of the tape still favoured the bookies.

"We're in a pretty good spot I think. Mayweather is probably the greatest pound for pound fighter ever, he's 49-0 and he's fighting a guy who's 0-0 and who's never been in a 12-round boxing match. The challenge is so big.

"You're asking someone's first boxing match to be against a legend. That's a tall order."

One of the most popular novelty bets is for McGregor to lose by disqualification, he added.

"A lot of people believe that McGregor will get frustrated and eventually snap and do something Tyson-like," Bogdanovich said, referring to former heavyweight Mike Tyson's infamous 1997 chomp on Evander Holyfield's ear.

Some of the biggest individual wagers include a bettor who placed $300,000 on Mayweather to win. The bettor would net $60,000 if the American is victorious, according to William Hill.

Another anonymous bettor placed an $880,000 stake on Mayweather at one casino, a wager that stands to recoup $160,000 if successful, according to US reports.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE