We all think our kids are the best in the world, and we do everything we can to help them succeed. But have you heard about the parents who actually bet on their children to go on to sporting success?
Every now and again when someone makes their debuts for their country, a news story appears revealing that their parents have cashed in on a bet placed years ago. According to this article on the BBC, a spokesman at Ladbrokes reckons that betting on a child’s future success is one of the most common bets they take. So just in case you’re tempted to head off to find a football bookmaker and do the same, I thought we’d look at a few examples of when this has happened.
Chris Kirkland
One of the most famous examples is the father of ex Liverpool goalie Chris Kirkland, who bet nearly £100 on Chris to play for England before the age of 30. At odds of 100-1 he had a windfall of almost £10,000 in 2006 when Chris made his first international appearance.
Harry Wilson
It was Harry’s granddad who cashed in when the youngster made his Wales debut in 2013. His £50 bet at 2500-1 made him a cool £125,000. Now that would have been a big celebration in the Wilson household!
Kai Fiefield
William Hill say they were flooded with enquiries about betting on Kai to one day play for England, after the then 7 year old had trials with Barcelona. So if you don’t think your own kid will make it, you can always bet on someone else’s!
So if you reckon your pride and joy has what it takes to achieve the ultimate sporting success, why not see what odds an online bookie will offer you on it. For a small punt (and of course you should only bet what you can afford) it could be cause for a double celebration if the dream does come true one day…
Want to bet on my Daughter to play for England before she is 21.
Great, good luck. Do let us know if you can get anyone to give you odds and what they offer.