There might be six weeks left to the NFL regular season, but one sportsbook is already paying out those who bet on Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to win the MVP award.
PointsBet, which takes bets in New Jersey, announced Wednesday that it is paying out all bets on the now-favored Jackson to win, which amounts to five figures in losses for the book.
Jackson’s odds peaked at 75-1 over the summer at PointsBet. After Week 2, Jackson fell to 25-1, then 12-1 by Week 3. Last week, he was at +250 and this week at +130.
“We’ve really enjoyed watching Lamar Jackson make the impossible look easy every Sunday,” said PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken, in a statement. “Considering some of his recent performances and looking ahead at the Ravens' remaining schedule, it’s pretty clear to us that Lamar is simply a freight train that won’t be stopped. He is steaming toward well-deserved NFL MVP honors as he racks up the yards, rewrites the record books and redefines the quarterback position. Given that, we think it’s only fair to reward all of our clients who had the foresight to place their bets on the right long shot.”
PointsBet said that Jackson makes up 13 percent of its MVP bet liability, the second-most behind Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
If someone other than Jackson wins — Russell Wilson is currently the second favorite — PointsBet will pay out those bets, in addition to the Jackson wagers.
Jackson has thrown for 2,258 yards and 19 touchdowns, while only having five interceptions. A noted dual threat, Jackson has also rushed for 788 yards with six touchdowns on the ground, leading the Ravens to an 8-2 record.
PointsBet paying out the bet early should excite one bettor, who can win $285,000 via bets made at a variety of New Jersey and Vegas shops if Jackson does indeed win the award.
