A Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada will pay out nearly $1 million to just one bettor with Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani winning the American League MVP Award. On March 19, a Nevada bettor placed a $30,000 bet on Ohtani to win the award at 30/1 odds. On Thursday, Ohtani was named the AL MVP, in a unanimous vote.
Ohtani, a finalist for the American League MVP Award along with Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Marcus Semien, was named American League MVP on Thursday night. With Ohtani winning the award, the bettor will win $900,000.
“It’s going to be the biggest loss on that type of market ever,” William Hill (now Caesars Sportsbook) assistant director of trading Adam Pullen told ESPN. “It’s going to stick out as a line item, when you see award betting and a big minus.”
In February, the Angels slugger/pitcher opened at 60/1 odds to win the MVP and there was a significant amount of interest. There were more bets placed on Ohtani to win the award than any other players at the majority of sportsbooks.
In late June, Ohtani blossomed into the favorite and was listed at -5000 odds at BetMGM by the time August rolled around.
By the time Thursday evening’s announcement came around, Ohtani will winning the American League MVP Award felt like a foregone conclusion. After all, the Angels star blasted 46 home runs and knocked in 100 runs while also posting a 9-2 record to go along with a 3.18 ERA on the mound.
