Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture in Houston, who puts down big money to incentivize customers to spend $4,000 or more at his store with the promise of a refund if the home team wins the championship, made one of his worst wagers ever this past week.
asserted
team → put → wagers
The Post exclusively reported on Tuesday that Mack put down $516,000 on the Astros to win the World Series at “roughly 24/1” on Kalshi this past week (to win $13 million), but Houston completely fell apart, getting swept by the White Sox in the Wild Card round.
asserted
Houston → report → round
That trade lasted just 48 hours.
asserted
trade → last → ?
On Tuesday, Mack said the trade was to cover $4 million in sales, which they had been marketing for the last two months and expected to triple those numbers.
asserted
they → say → numbers
“We already have $4 million in liability on the promotion,” Mack said in a phone interview on Tuesday.
asserted
Mack → have → Tuesday
“We’re projected around $12 million in liability if they keep going and get on a roll; they’ve done it before, we’re happy to jump on the ride and bring our customers with them.
asserted
we → project → them
The reality is the Astros – and their fanbase – were not even close to a team that would compete with the best in the league, or even middle of the pack.
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that → compete → pack
Houston, 81-81, had the worst record of any playoff team in MLB history.
asserted
Houston → have → history
Mack did not respond to a request for comment on whether or not he was profitable in this endeavor.
asserted
he → respond → endeavor
Still, the Astros fanbase had serious disdain for the team and the franchise’s overall direction.
asserted
fanbase → have → team
If Houston fans, who reportedly left the stadium 20 percent unfilled for the two Wild Card Series games against the White Sox, didn’t buy tickets, the promotion likely wasn’t a big moneymaker as it had been in years past.
uncertain
it → leave → years
Astros players didn’t even enjoy playing in Houston at Daikin Park this week, so it’s unlikely that the fans were chomping at the bit for a shot at some free furniture.
asserted
fans → enjoy → furniture
“I’m not going to lie to you, I was pretty pissed off in the dugout when I came in, about the boos,” reliever Bennett Sousa said to reporters after Game 1, citing fans booing them throughout the game.
asserted
Sousa → go → game
“This team has laid a lot on the line to be in this position to give the fans a playoff game — a playoff series.
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team → lay → game
We want their support.”
asserted
We → want → support
Unless Mack was able to land the plane on $8 million in sales in 48 hours and get some serious support, he’s coming in as a legitimate $516,000 loser in this scenario and well below his stated sales projections.
asserted
he → land → projections
Historically, Mack has been a big money bettor and lost before, but there’s usually been accompanying sales to justify the expensive betting losses.
asserted
Mack → lose → losses
In 2019, when the Astros lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Nationals, he lost $10 million on the Astros (wagers that would have paid out $90 million in sales), but he made about $20 million in revenue on that promotion.
asserted
he → lose → promotion
Unlike this year, he’s had big sales to accompany the misses.
asserted
he → have → misses
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When he lost $9.5 million on the Bengals to win the Super Bowl in 2022, the promotion reportedly brought in $20 million in sales, which were roughly up over 250 percent over two weeks.
uncertain
which → get → weeks
Earlier that year, Mack lost $6.1 million on the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the College Football National Championship, which he said at the time was “both a hedge and a bet I like.”
asserted
I → lose → time
Though Mack still claimed after the fact that he made money on that promotion.
asserted
he → claim → promotion
It is unclear how he views this promotion, but a 48-hour and out on a trade on the Astros is certainly one of the more expensive 48-hour losses we’ve seen from him.
uncertain
we → view → him
This would’ve been a $516,000 cheaper endeavor if the Astros didn’t make the playoffs at all, though that’s the life of a sports bettor.
asserted
that → make → bettor
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting.
asserted
he → trust → betting
During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons.
asserted
he → showcase → market
While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
asserted
return → bet → 2022
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