A very reliable source who knows the ins and outs of Vegas said possibly as much as $2 million (P110 million) in bets were placed by Filipinos during last Saturday’s Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales boxing match at the MGM Grand.
"People might not believe it but I think that was easily achieved last Saturday," said the source, a big-time Filipino businessman, who showed The STAR a wad of tickets from Sports Book, the MGM Grand’s official betting station.
The tickets, he said, only represent bets from those he knew, those late comers for the fight. And yet it amounted to millions of pesos. There were bets for $20 to $50, $100 to $500 and more for a thousand, a couple for $5,000 and one for as much as $7,200.
"Pahabol na lang ito. And we’re talking here of just a number of people," he said. "A lot of money, in fact, came in from the Philippines. Their bets came in through wire transfer, which will only cost you P600. Malakas din ang naging pustahan dun sa atin."
Pacquiao emerged as the overwhelming favorite in the betting. Hours before the fight, he was already - 200 in the betting, meaning you have to shell out $200 for Pacquiao just to win $100.
"Doblado na kay Manny ang pustahan nung huli. Kaya nag-lakihan na din ang pusta ng iba," he said. "Hindi din umubra ang Mexican money. Madaming tumaya kay Manny."
He said a former politician, one of so many Filipinos who traveled thousands of miles just to watch the fight at the MGM Grand, placed the biggest bet among them.
"Malaki talaga ang tinaya," said the source. He asked the figure not to be mentioned.
A businessman from the South lost $1,000 on Pacquiao but just took it in stride.
A number of congressmen, he said, may have lost big time, too. But he made mention of just four.
"Maglalagay na nga sana ng $5,000 ang bawat isa nung una. Pero nagbago ang isip kaya tumaya na lang ng $1,000 each," he said.
There were a lot of loyalty bets, too, including one for $11,000.
"Kahiyaan na kasi na hindi tumaya kung kilala kang mananaya. Kaya kahit masyado nang llamado si Manny, nag-loyalty na lang ang iba," he continued.
Too bad, Pacquiao lost the bout.
An American who also lost $500 on the Filipino fighter said he wouldn’t mind losing for Pacquiao.
"I really don’t mind losing my $500. With the way Pacquiao fought, I really don’t mind," he said.