Super Bowl LVIII pitched two great teams against each other in a clash for the football ages. With a backdrop of ‘Taylor and Travis’, seven-figure sports bets and in-stadium appearances, some of poker’s finest were pitchside as the Kansay City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. Who won or lost in the poker industry? We’ve got the over and under.
Sean Perry Drops a Million on 49ers
Sports betting is a tricky business. It’s also big business, especially for poker players who have a bankroll big enough to wager decent chunks of their income on the spin of an elliptical ball. The 58th Super Bowl represented the chance of a lifetime for some sports bettors, with the Kansas City Chiefs backed by many to negotiate each knockout round with an almost mystical ability to come back from the brink of elimination to win again and again.
The Chiefs were, of course, the reigning holders of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, having won it in 2023 when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles. They came back from behind that day too, winning the final quarter by 17 to 8 points, ending up 38-35 winners. This year, they were taking on the San Francisco 49ers and so tight was the moneyline that poker players and the betting public alike were split.
Sean Perry came down on the side of the 49ers, believing none of the ‘fate’ talk of Travis Kelce’s girlfriend being in attendance. Said girlfriend being Taylor Swift, multi-million selling artist and Time Person of the Year. Swifties gathered around their televisions in their millions as Kelce and the Chiefs triumphed 25-22, winning in overtime as Perry lost all of his $1 million on the 49ers.
After dropping a milly, Perry took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to break the news to his sports betting fans.
I love you all??? pic.twitter.com/RxSQa71FUQ
— sean perry (@seanperrywins) February 12, 2024
Previously the third best player in the poker world – as recently as 2021 – Perry is a huge player in poker, winning high roller events time and time again in the PokerGO Studio. After such a loss, will he be tempted back to the poker felt on a more regular basis? It doesn’t seem likely if he truly is $4 million up for the month.
Liu and Barbero at the Field
Several poker players attended the biggest sporting show on Earth. Excited before the game was Nacho Barbero. The Argentinian, who had the best year of his poker career so far in 2023, had no trouble getting tickets that were virtually pitchside.
Superbowl #LVIII ? @ACR_POKER pic.twitter.com/QpZ2BKMQZx
— Jose Ignacio Barbero (@nacho_barbero) February 11, 2024
High Stakes Poker crusher and popular professional Xuan Liu said what many were thinking in the ground, being ‘eye-level’ with her true MVP, Taylor Swift.
At eye level with @taylorswift13, cheering on the @Niners & waiting for @Usher #SuperBowlLVIII pic.twitter.com/6xgPymI9W5
— Xuan Liu (@xxl23) February 12, 2024
Jeff Platt was just happy that the bestselling musical artist in the world was as pleased to be downing beer with the rest of the crowd, having hot-footed it from the Tokyo stop of Eras tour.
This is awesome. https://t.co/ONy6kYllEk
— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) February 12, 2024
Platt’s co-host for No Gamble, No Future on PokerGO remarked that perhaps the venue should always be the Allegiant Stadium in Sin City.
Vegas is the greatest city in America. The Super Bowl should be here every single year.
— ? Hanks (@BuffaloHanks) February 11, 2024
Moneymaker Thanks Swift for ‘Family’ Vibes
Many viewers of this year’s Super Bowl came from parts of American families that had never before witnessed the spectacle.
One such family that finally made it more than one butt-groove in the sofa cushions went by the name Smith. You probably know them better as the Moneymakers.
Ty @taylorswift13 for making this the best Super Bowl ever. My wife and daughter had never watched a game of football w me. We all watched the game together and had an awesome time. Better than being at the game
— Chris Moneymaker ⭕ (@CMONEYMAKER) February 12, 2024
As Patrick Mahomes won his third Super Bowl, on watched all of the 2003 WSOP Main Event winner’s family, in a heart-warming post. Thousands of similar posts sprouted up. The Swift Effect had boosted the global audience and as Swift’s partner Travis Kelce, Tight End for the winning team of the Chiefs said in a post-match interview, he was delighted to see Swifties join the legions of Chiefs fans for the night and possibly beyond.
After the match, one poker player couldn’t resist laying down a price for the bet even Sean Perry might have been considering seriously in the aftermath.
Kelce and Swift to be engaged by end of February.
2-1— Matt Glantz (@MattGlantz) February 12, 2024
Maybe not for a million bucks, but there will be takers.
You can bet on that.
