How’s this for the opposite of a bad beat?
As part of a promotion to celebrate the launch of their online sportsbook’s availability in Illinois, DraftKings had a special offer for new customers in the Land of Lincoln on Monday night: bet up to $50 on the Lakers at -110, and the line would have the Lakers as 81-point underdogs.
That was literally a slam dunk, as the largest margin of victory in NBA history is 68 points – a 148-80 Cleveland win over Miami in 1991 – but the number had significance: it was a promotion on 8/24 and 81 is the career high point total of Kobe Bryant, who wore Nos. 8 and 24 for the Lakers.
As you might expect, Illinois took advantage, with Darren Rovell reporting that after the Lakers won by 20 – and really, they could’ve lost by anything less than 100 and paid out – DraftKings paid out more than $1 million in winnings. Not a large payout per person, as even the max $50 at -110 odds is a total payout of $95 (the initial wager, plus $45 for the win), but clearly, Illinois listened.
DraftKings offered the Lakers at 81-point underdogs last night against the Blazers to new customers in Illinois, who could bet up to $50 (-110). Lakers won by 20 and @DKSportsbook paid out more than $1 million in winnings.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell)
August 25, 2020 Of course, DraftKings, which presents WFAN’s new “Odds on Sports” show hosted by John Jastremski, can look at that promotion as both free publicity and a loss leader. And it’s certainly outlandish, as JJ has mentioned on his first five shows how the Lakers’ line as series favorites has gone from a dip of -240 after they lost Game 2 to more than -1000 before Game 4 to now unavailable as the Lakers lead three games to 1.
DraftKings was able to recently launch in Illinois thanks to a partnership deal with Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois, finally getting onto the betting scene in that state after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the possibility in march right as it was about to become legal.
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