Man Wins Bet on His Life but Dies Before He Can Collect

British gambling laws are some of the most lenient in the world and the British are grateful for this. Gambling is a popular pastime in Britain and the government is able to tap into a very nice revenue flow, by regulating the industry accordingly. 

Internet gambling in the United Kingdom is very popular, and the nation provides players the world over with gambling services. One of the most popular of these services is represented by online sportsbooks in the UK. 

William Hill is a very popular sportsbook with establishments both on and offline. This bookmaker lost on a very intriguing bet recently, the result of an unfortunate but long predicted fatality. 

Jon Matthews, 60, of the UK placed a bet on his own life a few years ago. The late Mr. Matthews was diagnosed a while back with a grim form of cancer, mesothelioma, which is often associated with asbestos. Once he was diagnosed, Matthews went to the nearest William Hill bookmaker and placed a £100 wager on his own life. 

Eager to beat the odds, Matthews bet that he would beat the cancer and live to see June 1, 2008 with 50-1 odds. He was strong enough to beat the odds and place a continuation bet that he would see June of 2009, won, and was awarded £5,000. 

After winning his bet twice, Mr. Matthews decided to try his luck and place a third £100 bet at 100-1 odds that he would live to see June of this year. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the disease and passed away just a few weeks before his bet would have matured. He would have won a £10,000 jackpot had he won.