You Bet Your Life

People bet on almost anything and bookmakers are always ready to oblige the silliest requests. Sometimes, though, the far out bets pay off.

People bet on almost anything and bookmakers are always ready to oblige the silliest requests. Sometimes, though, the far out bets pay off.

Alec Holden, from Epsom, London, placed a £100 ($200) bet with bookmaker William Hill in 1997 - at odds of 250/1 – that he would live to be a hundred. A few days ago, he celebrated his century with a £25,000 ($50,000) win.

The retired engineer said a daily diet of porridge and playing chess was the key to his longevity - as was remembering to keep breathing. To each his own: porridge…ugh. I derive my philosophy of longevity from a very old song. Life is just a bowl of cherries. Don’t take it serious: life’s too mysterious.

Rupert Adams from William Hill said: "When we started taking these bets, a hundred years old seemed to be an almost mythical landmark; and we were prepared to offer massive odds. But these age wagers are starting to cost us a fortune."

You bet your life, buddy. As a bookmaker, you should know there’s no such thing as a sure thing.

The retired engineer said a daily diet of porridge and playing chess was the key to his longevity - as was remembering to keep breathing. To each his own: porridge…ugh. I derive my philosophy of longevity from a very old song. Life is just a bowl of cherries. Don’t take it serious: life’s too mysterious.

Rupert Adams from William Hill said: "When we started taking these bets, a hundred years old seemed to be an almost mythical landmark; and we were prepared to offer massive odds. But these age wagers are starting to cost us a fortune."

You bet your life, buddy. As a bookmaker, you should know there’s no such thing as a sure thing.