Wednesday, Dec. 4, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Did he or didn't he? Only Donald Trump's Las Vegas bookmaker knows for sure. And, at this point, no one seems to know who that is.
New Jersey gaming mogul Donald Trump, in a story reported today in the New York Daily News, says he wagered $1 million on 20-1 underdog Evander Holyfield before his Nov. 9 victory over Mike Tyson in a heavyweight title boxing match at the MGM Grand.
However, a check with Las Vegas casinos and sports betting industry officials indicates that while everyone is careful not to call Trump a liar, no one is saying they lost $20 million to him in one fell swoop.
"All I can say is that it did not happen at Bally's," said Lenny Del Genio, longtime head of Bally's race and sports book who was reached in Seattle today.
"I would never say that Mr. Trump did not place the bet as he says he did. Such a bet would be astute wagering."
Del Genio says given the fact that the local sports book operators are a close-knit fraternity, he is surprised that someone wouldn't have come forward by now to say that Trump hit them for $20 million.
Del Genio said Bally's opened the line at Tyson at 18-to-1, and, with heavy action placed on Holyfield, the line moved to 12-to-1 to attract money the other way to try to avoid losing a lot of money, as many did.
Trump claims to be one of the folks who took advantage of the generous odds in favor of the challenger.
"I made the million-dollar bet even though I thought Holyfield would actually lose," the Daily News quoted Trump as saying Monday night during a benefit at Central Park's Wollman Memorial Rink.
"You don't put 20-1 odds against a champion. I have to admit that I was surprised when Holyfield won. I bet the odds."
The newspaper reported that bookmakers doubt the claim, and that Las Vegas gamblers said they hadn't heard about the wager, which the real estate tycoon said he placed in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants, an organization that establishes betting lines for many Nevada casinos, said it had not heard about the bet.
Del Genio said that regardless of whether such a bet was placed, "the story is great for Las Vegas. The bettors have to make a withdrawal once in a while -- get a taste of the sweets. Those who did make the bet are happy people and will come back to bet again."
Vinny Magliulo of the Caesars Palace sports book noted: "As time goes by, there are more and more legendary stories of that night. It's incredible."
The Daily News also said Trump's claim doesn't match a Montreal newspaper story that said he bet $1.7 million in a series of wagers with odds ranging from 12-to-1 to 25-to-1.
Holyfield knocked out Tyson in the 11th round of their World Boxing Association championship fight.
archive
