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Every day, millions upon millions change hands in the world of gambling and barely anyone bats an eyelid. But every so often, a story comes up regarding this crazy world that can put a smile on your face, or leave you thinking "I wish that was (or I'm glad that wasn't) me". Here are 8 particular instances where gambling has hit the headlines.
2004: The Invisible Winner
If someone told you they'd spent their Saturday staking a few quid on six outcomes, and emerged with a shed-load of cash, you'd think "lottery winner", right? Not so in the case of one anonymous gentleman from Bournemouth, who walked away with nearly £900,000 in 2004.
The punter threw down £4 on a bet known as the Tote Scoop Six, and successfully managed to pick all six winners correctly. While the cumulative odds for all horses were 105,729-1, the eventual winnings for the clean sweep came to £878,939 - at the time the largest individual win in betting shop history. What's more, he had the potential for extra joy the next week, with the ability to win a further £983,495 if he picked a winner at Sandown Park the week afterwards. Whether he managed this or not, only he (and most likely his bank manager and bookmaker) knows.
2005: Death before Taxes
Nobody likes Inheritance Tax, but one cheeky punter found a way to beat it in 2005, even though it would lead to a losing bet. At the age of 91, Arthur King Robinson was not long for this world, but he was determined to ensure that the government didn't pinch any of his money after he'd gone. King Robinson learned that if his passing occurred before the 6th of December 2005, his estate would be liable for £3000 in inheritance tax. If he were to die after that date, the sum would be freed and go to the estate following his death.
The solution to this? Mr. King Robinson placed a bet of £500, with odds of 6-1 that he would die before that date. As those odds would produce a winning of £3000, the tax would be completely paid off without harm to the estate, if Mr. King Robinson passed away. As it happens, he survived beyond the date and lost the bet, but much like the bookmakers William Hill who took it, you have to admire his ingenuity.
2006: Money to Burn
Just imagine if you could make several years worth of your expected income, all thanks to a few horses and football teams. Firefighter Jason Evans managed just this in 2006, as a result of two accumulator bets. Evans set up two bets, one with an £11 stake, in which he successfully predicted the results of 11 horse races and two football matches. Meanwhile, he had also slipped £23 on the results of 9 horse races that same day.
Both bets paid off, and Evans walked away with £153,476 for the former bet, and £81,329 for the latter. Bookmakers Paddy Power claimed that the odds on this bets coming off were around 10,000-1, and informed Evans that he was their biggest ever UK winner. Evans' plans for his winnings were to pay off his mortgage and buy his wife a car. Do you think he was maybe tempted with another cheeky little flutter as well?
2006: Xabi from the half-way line
In July 2005, Liverpool fan Adrian Hayward had a dream that then-Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso would score a goal from inside his own half at some time during the 2005/06 season. Hayward decided to place £200 on his premonition coming true, at staggering odds of 125-1.
Fast forward to January 2006, Kenilworth Road, where Luton Town and Liverpool have played out an epic FA Cup tie. The Reds have come back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3, but Luton have a corner in the dying moments of the game. For a spot of extra height in the box, Luton's keeper came rushing forward in an attempt to score the equalising goal that would force extra time. He failed, and Liverpool cleared the ball, with Alonso taking possession. The Spaniard decided, against the better wishes of his captain Steven Gerrard, to hoof the ball towards goal from within his own half. And it went in. Liverpool won 5-3, and would go on to lift the cup that season, while Hayward celebrated a windfall of £25,000. What's more, Alonso would do it again in September 2006, against Newcastle United.