‘Mattress Mack’ loses $4.1M on Cougars, bets $1.9M on Astros

Jim & #x 201c; Mattress Mack & #x 201d; McIngvale talks to fans throughout the grand opening celebration at Horseshoe Las Vegas hotel-casino, formerly Bally's, on the Strip, in Las Vegas, Friday, March 24, 2023. (Erik Verduzco/ Las Vegas Review-Journal)Sean McBurney, from left, regional president of Caesars Entertainment, Jim & #x 201c; Mattress Mack & #x 201d; McIngvale, Anthony Carano, president and chief operating officer of Caesars Entertainment, and Jack Binion, Las Vegas gaming legend and whose father opened the initial Horseshoe Club in downtown Las Vegas in 1951, position for a picture during the grand opening celebration at Horseshoe Las Vegas hotel-casino, previously Bally's, on the Strip, in Las Vegas, Friday, March 24, 2023.
The last time Mattress Mack was in Las Vegas, he left with a wheelbarrow loaded with cash after collecting the bulk of his record $72.6 million in winning wagers on the Astros to win the World Series.

Houston furnishings store owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale gave back a piece of his profits Friday night, when he was back on the Strip for the main grand opening of the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

McIngvale, 72, lost $4.15 million in wagers on Houston when the top-seeded Cougars were removed 89-75 by No. 5 Miami. And he wasn't even able to enjoy the 2nd half, though that may've shown painful.

He currently had a total of $4.05 million to win $35.4 million riding on Houston to win the NCAA championship when he positioned a $100,000 Texas-Houston money-line parlay at even money Friday afternoon at the Caesars Sportsbook at Paris Las Vegas.

Wearing a red Houston Cougars hat and warmup jacket, McIngvale, arguably the world's most popular sports gambler, stopped to sign autographs and pose for photos with lots of individuals as he made his method from Paris to the Horseshoe before ending his night at Caesars Palace.

He watched the first half of Houston's game intently at the Paris sportsbook, screaming "Come on Cougs!" as they erased an early 7-2 deficit. He didn't appear to observe a close-by bettor in an orange Hurricanes t-shirt who cheered loudly as Miami screamed and took a 29-23 lead in Mack's direction, "We're way too athletic for them.".

When Houston made back-to-back 3s to tie the video game at 29, Mack clapped his hands quickly and yelled, "Attaboy.".

The Cougars routed 42-36 at the half, when Mack headed to the Horseshoe for the grand opening event. He stated he wasn't going to keep track of the video game in the 2nd half and would simply wait on the last score.

" It's too stressful," he stated.

While awaiting the event to begin at the main entrance of the Horseshoe, a group of females from Houston in town for a 50th birthday celebration saw Mack and yelled. He strolled over to greet them and smile for pictures as, unbeknownst to him, the Cougars closed the space to 51-49.

But that's as close as they would get.

By the time the ceremony including remarks by Jack Binion - - whose father Benny Binion opened the original Horseshoe Club in downtown Las Vegas in 1951 - - and others concluded and confetti blew up, Miami had actually opened a 70-53 lead.

Mack said he had no idea what ball game was as he headed to Jack Binion's Steak for a panel conversation with Binion and Poker Hall of Famer Doyle Brunson.

" Did Alabama win?" he asked.

The Crimson Tide likewise were distressed, 71-64, by San Diego State as all four No. 1 seeds failed to reach the Elite Eight.

When the conversation ended, Mack finally examined ball game on his cellular phone and saw that he 'd simply lost $4.15 million. However he didn't flinch and took the loss in stride.

" I kind of resigned myself when the guys (in the crowd) weren't waving at me that they were losing," he said. "But they had a fantastic season, and they gave us a lot of thrills. Everybody in Houston enjoys the Cougars, and we will live to eliminate another day.

" I'm huge on NIL (name, image and likeness licensing for college professional athletes), and we're going to do it bigger and better next year.".

McIngvale promised 7 figures this season to the Cougars through his NIL deal and stated it was utilized to pay for families of players to attend the NCAA Tournament.

The bets on Houston were the most recent in a series of multimillion-dollar wagers to lower risk on promos at his Gallery Furniture shops. In this case, customers who made purchases of $5,000 or more would've gotten their cash back if the Cougars won all of it.

" I have a very brief memory. I always have," he said. "I'm on to the next promo.".

A few minutes later on, he put on an Astros jersey with "Mattress Mack" and the number 22 in gold on the back and headed to Caesars Palace, where he put $1.9 million in wagers to win $11.4 million on Houston at 6-1 odds to duplicate as World Series champ.

His latest promotion provides customers their refund on purchases of $5,000 or more if the Astros win it all.

" This is the golden age of Houston Astros baseball," he said. "Go 'Stros.".

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.