According to BetMGM, the bout between the YouTube sensation and the 58-year-old Tyson, who exhibited signs of age-related challenges, became the most heavily wagered boxing or mixed martial arts event in the sportsbook's history. The volume of bets placed was three times greater, and the total amount wagered was four times higher than any previous combat sports event at BetMGM.
Craig Mucklow, vice president of trading at Caesars Sportsbook, noted that the fight attracted interest comparable to that of an NFL Monday night game.
“We anticipated significant interest in this matchup, as the betting patterns indicated it appealed to a wide range of customer demographics,” Mucklow stated. “Those who remember a prime Mike Tyson experienced a wave of nostalgia, while younger fans were predominantly backing Jake Paul.”
Johnny Avello, director of sports operations at DraftKings, confirmed that the fight was also their most-bet boxing match.
“Bettors were eager to see Tyson back in the ring, even at 58, and wanted to be part of this moment with a true sports icon,” Avello remarked. “We’ll have to wait and see who Jake Paul faces next, but his events have consistently generated significant excitement and record-breaking activity on our platforms.”
While the betting figures cannot be directly compared to those from historic fights, as many of Tyson's most significant bouts took place before the legalization of sports betting outside Nevada in 2018, the event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, still attracted a remarkable amount of wagering.
At BetMGM Sportsbook, most bets were placed on proposition outcomes, with the most popular wagers being on Tyson to win by knockout, decision, or a first-round KO.
Despite Paul being a -175 favorite, 67% of the tickets and 53% of the total money wagered at BetMGM favored Tyson.
“Paul's victory was a favorable result for the sportsbook,” stated a senior representative from BetMGM.