A gambler lost $1.5 million on Polymarket betting England would eliminate Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Another won over $1.6 million by betting $770,000 on Argentina to advance. And a third bet $11.3 million on Spain to beat France, turning a near $11 million loss into an $8 million profit.
The $11.3 Million Swing
The biggest single bet of the semi-finals came from a gambler who put $11.3 million on Spain to beat France. Spain lost, meaning the bettor was down nearly $11 million. But the same gambler had also bet on Spain to win the tournament, and that position paid off — netting about $8 million in profit after the loss. It's a wild swing, even by Polymarket standards.
Drake's Curse?
Rumors swirled that rapper Drake placed a $450,000 bet on England to defeat Argentina, plus an extra $150,000 on Harry Kane to score. He may have also bet the same amount on France to knock out Spain. If those bets happened, they didn't work out. That adds to the 'Drake's curse' meme — earlier this month, he wagered $1 million in Bitcoin on Conor McGregor, who lost in the first round at UFC 329.
The platform has seen a flood of action during the World Cup. With Argentina now in the final, bettors are already placing money on the outcome. The next big test for Polymarket will be the final itself, where Argentina faces the winner of the other semi-final. Expect more whale-sized bets before kickoff.
