'Mattress Mack' Goes For Largest Reported U.S. Sports Betting Payout Ever

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale just placed a $2M wager on his hometown Houston Astros to win the World Series at +1000 odds. The $20M potential payout, along with the original $2M ticket, would instantly become the largest reported single win in U.S. sports betting history. In a real sign of the times, the bet was even placed via a mobile app in Indiana.

This isn’t the first big wager the furniture giant has made over the years. He’s become a local Texas legend, thanks to some high-profile wagers that, he admits, are placed as an insurance policy against potential losses on his famous promotions. Mack will often offer free furniture to buyers, given a certain team—often Houston-based teams like the Astros or University of Houston—wins the big game.

Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale (L) in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

Mack famously lost more than $13M on the Astros across several sports books in 2019 when the heavily-favored team came up short against the Washington Nationals. Only he knows if he sold enough new mattresses that year to make up the difference. Considering his deep pockets and popularity amongst locals, one would assume the marketing plan worked like a charm. A little over a year later, he won $3.46M on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers catching 3.5 points against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

Mack’s big bet also highlights the dynamic nature of the sports betting industry, and why you, the customer, should take the time to research the different books and find the one that will go the extra mile for you. Not every book will take every bet, so you want to make sure you invest with a company that offers player-friendly odds and great customer service.

FanDuel Sportsbook has a history of giving the player the benefit of the doubt, even when they aren’t legally required to do so. When Jon Rahm famously withdrew from the Memorial Tournament while leading after 54 holes because of COVID, FanDuel paid out Rahm ticket holders, in addition to eventual winner Cantlay ticket holders. They’ve even issued special refunds for particularly bad beats, like when the Browns lost to the Ravens on MNF last December. Plus, they are known for some of the most competitive lines in the industry. Bottom line, if you’re going to gamble, you need to give yourself the best possible chance at success, and FanDuel can help.

FanDuel MLB WS Futures as of Wednesday June 23

If you want to tail Mack’s big bet with a futures bet of your own, you can still grab the Astros on FanDuel at a juicy 7-1 price. The Los Angeles Dodgers (+380), Chicago White Sox (+700), New York Mets (+850), and San Diego Padres (+850) currently round out the top five teams most likely to win the World Series according to FanDuel oddsmakers. Keep an eye out, too, for some dark horses like the Boston Red Sox (+2000) and Toronto Blue Jays (+3400) to potentially get hot down the stretch and make a run in October.

The later in the season a World Series contender gets hot, the better their chances. Mattress Mack’s Astros are the hottest team in baseball right now, but it’s only June. Go to FanDuel and shop around for even more baseball futures. Hopefully your team will get hot at the right time and cash a Mattress Mack-sized ticket for you.

New FanDuel Sportsbook users can make their first bet risk-free up to $1,000. If the bet loses, the FanDuel Sportsbook will refund you in site credit. New users can lock in this offer NOW by clicking this link.