Whether you’ve watched the entire series once or a bajillion times (I’d set the Over/Under on times I’ve watched it at 5,000 and take the Over), you know there are quite a few betting scenes and storylines in The Office. Many of these moments, while being humorous for general viewers, are entirely relatable to sports bettors. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable betting scenes in the series.
The Season 3 episode Safety Training has an entire storyline dedicated to betting. While Michael Scott sets out to prove that depression is more dangerous than the Dunder Mifflin warehouse baler, his workers are going on a betting frenzy in the office.
They bet on everything from the Over/Under on how long Kelly Kapoor will talk about Netflix, with props on how many romantic comedies she’ll mention and how many times she’ll say “awesome,” to whether or not Creed will notice his apple is switched out with a potato (he doesn’t). They also take bets on how many jelly beans are in the jar on Pam’s reception desk.
Kevin Malone, a professional accountant, as Oscar Martinez notes, bets there are 10 in the jar. This is also great because Kevin’s love for betting is what started the whole thing in the first place and there are a whopping 49 jelly beans in the jar.
It begins when Kevin makes a bet with Jim in the warehouse about how many people a year get their arms cut off in the warehouse baler. Again, Kevin loses this because he bets $5 on Over 50 and the answer is 10.
“Ever since March Madness ended, I am so bored,” Kevin said, in another moment most bettors feel in their souls.
“I don’t know how the whole betting thing started, but it’s fun,” Pam says, in yet another moment many sports bettors, I’m sure, can relate to (sometimes).
And, of course, this episode also has Kevin’s memorable advice, “If someone gives you 10,000-1 on anything, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar, I am going to be a very rich dude.” This occurs when Michael is about to jump off the roof due to the “stress of my modern office” and Pam asks Jim, “What are the odds this is in any way real?” and Jim said, “I’d say 10,000-1.” And Kevin basically attacks Jim asking to put $10 on those odds. Not thinking of the reality of the situation or Michael’s safety, of course.
Casino Night in Season 2 is a memorable episode for many reasons, but one is that we see Kevin’s love for gambling on full display. He explains that he’s played poker on a bigger stage than many, saying, "I won the 2002 $2,500 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw Tournament at the World Series of Poker in Vegas. So, yeah, I’m pretty good at poker." Before admitting later on after losing to Phyllis Lapin, “I suck.”
In Season 7’s Garage Sale episode, there is yet another great Kevin betting moment when Kevin, Andy Bernard, and Darryl Philbin play a Dallas board game and “make it interesting.” Kevin starts losing when Darryl and Kevin play by rules they’re making up on the spot. However, Kevin does win this one in the end when he secretly takes the betting money all three put in a jar. Because that is Dallas.
And, my personal favorite, in Season 1’s The Alliance, the Party Planning Committee can’t decide what color streamers to get for Meredith’s surprise birthday party. Even though her birthday isn’t until next month but the party is that day because Michael wants to boost office morale.
“I suggested we flip a coin,” Pam said. “But Angela said she doesn't like to gamble. Of course, by saying that, she was gambling that I wouldn't smack her.”
Betting on the Super Bowl coin toss prop would be a double no thanks for Angela.
Which one is your favorite?
Lucy is a sports betting content producer with Audacy and BetQL. She has worked with WEEI and Audacy as a writer, radio producer and podcaster. Lucy lives in Boston and loves Tom Brady and prop bets. Follow Lucy on Twitter at @LucilleBurdge.
