- Mar 19, 2006
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Dying man bets on own
life and wins
Even the betting agency is on
Matthews' side
Updated: Monday, 01 Jun 2009, 9:37 AM EDT
Published : Sunday, 31 May 2009, 6:03 PM EDT
Matthews was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006 and given months to live. He placed two bets with betting agency William Hill that he would still be alive in June 2008 and June 2009. The bets were for ?100 each (approximately $160) with 50-to-1 odds.
A William Hill spokesman said Matthews thought that the bet would give him an additional incentive to battle his cancer. "I think I'm the first person in the world to bet on my own life," Matthews said.
Whether or not the additional incentive helped, Matthews survived to June 2008 and won ?5,000 -- a little over $8,000. And on June 1, 2009, Matthews -- still very much alive -- will collect another ?5,000. He's already placed a bet that he'll live to see June 2010, this time with 100-to-1 odds.
Even the betting agency is on Matthews' side. "Never in 30 years in the business have I been so pleased to pay a winning client ?10,000," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe. "With, I trust, a further ?10,000 to come next year." Matthews said he plans to donate some of his winnings to charity, including Macmillan Cancer Support , a cancer charity.
life and wins
Even the betting agency is on
Matthews' side
Updated: Monday, 01 Jun 2009, 9:37 AM EDT
Published : Sunday, 31 May 2009, 6:03 PM EDT
- By ANTHONY BARTKEWICZ, special contributor
Matthews was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006 and given months to live. He placed two bets with betting agency William Hill that he would still be alive in June 2008 and June 2009. The bets were for ?100 each (approximately $160) with 50-to-1 odds.
A William Hill spokesman said Matthews thought that the bet would give him an additional incentive to battle his cancer. "I think I'm the first person in the world to bet on my own life," Matthews said.
Whether or not the additional incentive helped, Matthews survived to June 2008 and won ?5,000 -- a little over $8,000. And on June 1, 2009, Matthews -- still very much alive -- will collect another ?5,000. He's already placed a bet that he'll live to see June 2010, this time with 100-to-1 odds.
Even the betting agency is on Matthews' side. "Never in 30 years in the business have I been so pleased to pay a winning client ?10,000," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe. "With, I trust, a further ?10,000 to come next year." Matthews said he plans to donate some of his winnings to charity, including Macmillan Cancer Support , a cancer charity.
