Sports books benefit from uncashed Cubs tickets

For years, Las Vegas sports books profited as bettors lost their wagers on the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series. When the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016 for the first time in 108 years, the books won again.

That’s because countless Cubs backers didn’t cash their betting slips, opting instead to keep them as souvenirs.

“You wouldn’t believe how many people came to the counter and debated whether they wanted to cash their ticket or keep it as a souvenir,” Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller said.

The deadline to cash tickets varies from book to book. When CG Technology’s 180-day deadline expired in May, more than 1,000 betting slips on the Cubs went uncashed. At an average bet of $26 at 4-1 odds, CG Technology sports book director Jason Simbal said the company kept more than $100,000 on uncashed tickets.

Because of gaming regulations, sports books must retain winning tickets after they’ve been cashed.

While Simbal said there weren’t any significant wagers left uncashed, Miller said two $600 bets on the Cubs at 5-1 odds weren’t cashed at the Golden Nugget.

“They used them for souvenirs. It’s crazy,” he said. “

Todd Dewey Name (team)

Kyle Freeland (Rockies) Yu Darvish (Rangers)

Tyler Chatwood (Rockies) Gerrit Cole (Pirates) J. Hellickson (Phillies) Andrew Cashner (Rangers) Carlos Carrasco (Indians) Edinson Volquez (Marlins)

Name (team)

Tyler Glasnow (Pirates) Bartolo Colon (Braves) Sonny Gray (Athletics) Robert Gsellman (Mets) Zack Wheeler (Mets) Michael Pineda (Yankees) Zach Davies (Brewers) Joe Ross (Nationals)

Team

U/O U/O U/O Avg/r Avg/r