Being a sports bettor, Floyd Mayweather Jr. should appreciate the fact that his last fight was the biggest-bet boxing match in Nevada history.
According to figures released Friday morning by the state’s Gaming Control Board, an estimated $65 million was wagered on Mayweather’s win against Conor McGregor on Aug. 26. Mayweather, who closed as a minus-500 favorite at the South Point sports book, defeated the fatigued UFC star by TKO in the 10th round at T-Mobile Arena.
A few Las Vegas bookmakers predicted the handle would hit $100 million, but that number was sensationalized. The sports books do not report specific handle figures on boxing, which falls into the “Other” category, but it’s possible to make an accurate estimation.
“We estimated — from the books we talked to, and that was about 90 percent of the books — there was in excess of $62 million wagered on that fight,” said Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The state reported an all-time August handle record of $301 million for all sports, with a record win of $34 million for the month.
The state’s previous handle record for a boxing match was from the Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao decision at MGM Grand Garden in May 2015, a fight that drew $50 million. The biggest boxing matches still fall well short of the NFL’s title game. A state record of $138.5 million was wagered on the Super Bowl in February.
Mayweather-McGregor attracted six $1 million wagers in Las Vegas — two at MGM Resorts books, two at the Wynn and one each at the South Point and William Hill books — and all were on the favorite.
MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said he handled around $20 million on the fight, with the win in the $1 million neighborhood. Rood said the final ticket count at MGM’s books was 17,273 to 1,531 in favor of McGregor.
Mayweather said he was retiring with a 50-0 record, but his routine has been to retire and make comebacks when the price is right.
Related stories:
Nevada handle could hit $100 million on Mayweather win https://vsin.com/nevada-handle-could-hit-100-million-on-mayweather-win/
A record $315 million bet on March Madness in Nevada https://vsin.com/another-record-315-million-bet-on-march-madness-in-nevada/
Super Bowl handle of $138.5 million is another Nevada record https://vsin.com/super-bowl-handle-of-1385-million-is-another-nevada-record/
