You may not be able to place a wager in New York or California just yet, but on Thursday, SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission Commander Jared Isaacman made what is being the called the first sports bet from outer space — and Tennessee’s St. Jude’s Hospital will be the beneficiary of any winnings.
According to a press release from BetMGM, where the wager was placed, Isaacman took the over (40.5) on the Thursday Night Football game between Washington Football Team vs. New York Giants, and subsequently put down action on the Philadelphia Eagles to win the 2022 Super Bowl. The bets were made via proxy at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas.
BetMGM will donate $25,000 to St. Jude’s Hospital, where the mission is to defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The facility, which has its main campus in Memphis, does not turn away patients who cannot afford treatment.
Eagles to win the Super Bowl a longshot
Isaacman put down $4,000 on each bet, and won the first one when the Washington Football Team and Giants scored a combined 59 points Thursday night. Isaacman’s net winnings, which will go to St. Jude’s, were $3,636.35. As of Friday morning, BetMGM listed the Eagles at +6600 to win the Super Bowl, and if they do, the ticket will pay out $254,000.
“History was made today,” BetMGM Director of Trading Jeff Stoneback said via press release. “I’ve been in the business for 35 years, and we never even took bets from outside the state of Nevada until four years ago. Now BetMGM is taking bets from the entire galaxy. It’s a great moment and an even greater cause, supporting St. Jude.”
Isaacman is a tech billionaire who is the owner and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a secure payments and point-of-sale solutions company. He is part of the first all-private mission to orbit Earth. Inspiration4 launched Wednesday and is scheduled to return to Earth Saturday.
Photos Courtesy of BetMGM
