Canadian bettor bags $725,274 from Seahawks’ controversial win

Ontario, Canada (4E Sports) – While fans are lambasting replacement officials for botched calls, a Canadian has several reasons to thank them, 725,274 to be exact.

Ontario native Gino DiFelice bagged $725,274 on a $5 bet on the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Green Bay Packers via a controversial decision by replacement officials several days ago.

Replacement officials declared Golden Tate’s catch as a touchdown despite repeated replays showed that Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings appeared to have been intercepted the Hail Mary pass by Russell Wilson.

Seattle’s win gave DiFelice a perfect 15-for-15 ledger on his sports betting ticket. Canadian citizens are allowed to bet on sports events in wagers run by Canada’s provincial governments.

DiFelice’s winnings are the third-highest ever awarded in the Pro-Line game. If the Packers had won the game, he would have had to split the winnings with five other people.

DiFelice said he came up with the winning ticket with the help of his 12-year-old daughter Mia. He regularly submits three tickets, one with games he picks, one with the help of his daughter and another with the aid of his 10-year-old son, Marco.

“The winner was the ticket my daughter consulted me on. The funniest part is, the ticket I made all of the picks myself, I only got four right,” he said.

Knowing that he had all 14 picks right on the ticket after Sunday’s games, DiFelice said he was too nervous to watch most of Seattle-Green Bay’s showdown.

“I watched the last 1:48 and that’s about it,” DiFelice said, adding he watched the game with his wife and nephew. “I couldn’t watch the rest of the game. I had the ticket sealed in an envelope and nobody knew until after the game until I told them.”

After the game, DiFelice said he carefully ripped open the envelope to avoid tearing his ticket.

“When the play was under review I couldn’t believe what was happening. When the call was made, I went nuts. I ripped open the envelope to show them. They couldn’t believe it,” he said.

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