Tech billionaire places first ever bet from space

Last week, sports betting reached a new frontier – outer space – as tech billionaire Jared Isaacson placed a $4,000 bet on the Super Bowl from the first ever all-private outer trip space mission.

The mission commander of SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission, made the first sports bet from outer space with the BetMGM sportsbook at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As legal sports betting rapidly expands across the country, Mr Isaacman, Founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, teamed up with BetMGM to launch sports betting into a new orbit.

The two wagers were placed from space via a proxy bettor, Darren Rovell of The Action Network, at the BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“History was made today. I’ve been in the business for 35 years, and we never even took bets from outside the state of Nevada until four years ago. Now BetMGM is taking bets from the entire galaxy. It’s a great moment and an even greater cause, supporting St. Jude,” commented Jeff Stoneback, director of trading at BetMGM.

According to the company, all Mr Isaacman’s bets placed from space will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

BetMGM has also donated $25,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, it says.

"This is a truly historic moment. Thanks to Shift4 Payments for the incredible honor of asking BetMGM to participate. On top of the excitement of bets being made from space, we’re even more thrilled to be able to contribute and raise awareness for a great cause in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital," added Matt Prevost, CRO of BETMGM.