Mail
Print“Most of the customers in the sportsbook were not happy with the final call.” —John Avello, Wynn sportsbook director
ESPN’s Darren Rovell put together a great piece this morning after speaking with several sportsbook directors—both in Las Vegas and offshore—about the impact of the horrific call by the replacement referees at the end of the game.
The final estimate? About $150 to $250 million shifted worldwide as the Packers—who closed as 3.5-point favorites—went from winning (and covering) to losing in vomit-inducing fashion when Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate “caught” the game-changing Hail Mary (wink wink, Seahawks fans).
Seahawks 14, Packers 12.
From Rovell’s story:
Jeff Sherman, assistant director of the race and sports book at the Las Vegas Hotel, says he estimates that the game shifted $15 million in Nevada alone and also concurs with Avello that the worldwide number, including offshore sports books and in Europe, is worth about 10 times more.
Those who take bets online estimated the shift in money was even greater.
Mike Perry, spokesman for betting site Sportsbook.ag, told ESPN.com his estimate in the money swing on the call at the end of the game is closer to between $200 million and $250 million.
Perry said that 70 to 80 percent of the money on his site was put on the Packers, which is in line with the percentage bet in Vegas. At Mandalay Bay, the sportsbook took in about $500,000 in total bets, with about 85 percent of the money on the Packers.
