Pete Rose Could Make Bank From Ceremonial Wager He Placed On Reds After Ohio Legalized Sports Betting

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Pete Rose is one of the most legendary players to ever don a uniform for the Cincinnati Reds, and while he’s been enshrined in the franchise’s Hall of Fame, he’s been denied the spot in Cooperstown he’d undoubtedly occupy if he hadn’t been banned from the MLB for life for betting on games while managing the team.

The man known as “Charlie Hustle” has repeatedly lobbied Major League Baseball to remove him from the list of permanently ineligible Hall of Fame candidates, but multiple commissioners have rebuked the unsuccessful requests of a legend who still remains on the outside looking in.

Of course, the MLB has been more than happy to reap the benefits that come with being the official betting partner of FanDuel, and the Reds are just one of many teams that currently give fans a chance to get in on the action by visiting the physical BetMGM sportsbook located inside Great American Ball Park.

The plans for that operation were unveiled after the state of Ohio legalized sports betting in 2022, and when the bill officially went into effect at the start of 2023, Rose became the first person to place a legal wager within its borders after he bet on the Reds to win the World Series in a publicity stunt that was orchestrated at the Hard Rock Sportsbook in Cincinnati.

Rose told reporters “I don’t know a damn thing about odds” when he placed that bet, and it sure seemed like the $100 he threw down on his former team to win it all was a waste of money when you consider the Reds were listed at +10000 longshots ahead of a season where sportsbooks projected they’d win around 65 games.

However, anyone who took the over on that total is probably feeling pretty good right now, as the Reds are currently sitting atop the NL Central with a 41-37 record.

While they still have a long way to go before winning the World Series (their odds have “improved” to +8000), Rose’s wager is looking much less foolish than it once did, as what was supposed to be a ceremonial bet could end up netting him a $10,000 profit if the Reds can outlast the rest of the field.

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Again, it’s still a bit hard to believe that slip will end up cashing, but I have a feeling Rose will be laughing all the way to the bank if it does.