Gambling isn’t just poker or roulette. Some of the craziest bets ever had nothing to do with casinos. These unusual wagers pushed the limits of luck, skill, and creativity. Some bettors lost everything. Others walked away with fortunes gambling on 20Bet.
Betting on a Dead Snail
In 2014, two people bet on a snail’s speed. It took over 36 hours to cross a path. The winner got $500. Now that’s a slow race!
The Temperature Bet That Made Millions
In 1980, a man named John Archer wagered that Las Vegas would hit 117 degrees Fahrenheit. It seemed unlikely, but a freak heatwave pushed the temperature to exactly that mark. Archer collected a cool $100,000 from what started as a wild guess.
A Bet on Space Travel
Long before commercial space travel seemed possible, British gambler David Threlfall placed a bet in 1964. He wagered that a human would land on the moon before 1970. Bookmakers laughed at him. When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969, Threlfall made a lot of money.
The 50,000-to-1 Hole-in-One Wager
Golf bets are common. A British man made a crazy bet—50,000-to-1 odds that he’d hit a hole-in-one. Against all odds, he did it and won over $200,000!
The Unbelievable Tattoo Bet
Some bets leave a mark—literally. A man in New Zealand bet his friends he’d get a tattoo of a McDonald’s receipt on his arm. He followed through and won $2,000. Was it worth it? That depends on how much he loves Big Macs.
Betting on a Baby’s Name
Parents sometimes have trouble picking a name. One couple in the UK let their local betting shop decide. They wagered on “Arsenal” being their child’s middle name. They won, but their son now has to live with the unusual choice.
Can You Eat a Plane?
In 1978, a French performer named Michel Lotito said he could eat a whole plane. A skeptic bet against him. Over the years, Lotito consumed small pieces of a Cessna aircraft. He won the bet, but at what cost?
The Unlikely Champions Bet
A Leicester City fan placed a bet in 2015 that his team would win the English Premier League. The odds? 5000-to-1. Leicester stunned the world by winning the title. His $100 bet turned into $500,000.
Betting on James Bond
Before Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond, an anonymous bettor put money on him landing the role. At the time, he wasn’t a favorite. But when Craig was announced as the new 007, the bettor cashed in big.
The Titanic’s Fate
In 1912, a man in England bet that the Titanic wouldn’t finish its first trip. The ship sank, and he won. A shocking bet with a tragic ending.
The World Cup Animal Oracle
Paul the Octopus became famous for predicting soccer match results. In the 2010 World Cup, bettors started placing money on his choices. Incredibly, he got eight matches right in a row. His success made some lucky gamblers rich.
The Year of the Apocalypse
Some people bet on the world ending. Bookmakers have accepted wagers on doomsday predictions, including the Mayan calendar’s 2012 prophecy. Of course, those bets never paid out. The world, it seems, isn’t that predictable.