Los Angeles Rams Running Back Wins Over $500k Playing Poker in Las Vegas

A Los Angeles Rams running back won over half-a-million dollars playing poker at Caesars Las Vegas.

Ronnie Rivers, 24, won $514,837 playing three-card poker while in town to celebrate his and his mother’s birthday. Local television station KTNV reported that Rivers produced a royal flush between his three cards and the dealer's three cards to secure the “Mega Progressive Jackpot.”

Rivers, an undrafted rookie, signed a one-year, $705k deal last summer but ended up taking home roughly $515,670, per Spotrac. In this instance, one hand of poker was worth an entire NFL season.

Rivers was a five-year member of the Fresno State football team. He graduated with 3,417 yards and 40 rushing touchdowns, including two 10-touchdown seasons. 

The ex-Bulldog was not selected in the 2022 NFL Draft but was later picked up by the Cardinals. He then had a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks before landing on the Rams.

Rivers ran the ball nine times for 21 yards across two appearances, both of which were for the Rams. Eight of the nine carries and all 21 yards came in a 31-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in 8.

It’s not every day that a sport dominated by millionaires sees an annual salary doubled with one casino win. Caesars congratulated the young Ram on his massive win on their social media channels. 

.@CaesarsRewards guest and @RamsNFL player Ronnie Rivers hit the Mega Progressive Jackpot this weekend winning $514,837 on 3-card poker!

21+. Gambling problem? Call 800-522-4700. pic.twitter.com/EVjQISUiUG

— Caesars Palace (@CaesarsPalace) February 6, 2023

Rivers is not getting caught up in the emotion of his life-changing win and is already planning on putting the money towards a house. Not a bad way to celebrate the family's birthdays.

Rivers is due to make $870,000 with the Rams in his sophomore season. He has a chance to become a more prominent member of the backfield committee, as the Rams finished the year seventh-worst in total rushing yards. Lead back Cam Akers only had 786 yards and a 4.2-yard per carry average, which was 27th amongst running backs. 

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is also dealing with multiple potentially devastating injuries, headlined by a spinal cord contusion that caused numbness in both of his legs. Even with Baker Mayfield ready to step in, there is a strong chance the Rams will look to run the ball more next season.

While Rivers is celebrating his big payout, another NFL bettor—an NFL fan, not an actual NFL player—is lining up a $1.8 million payout.

A BetMGM bettor wagered $1 million that the Philadelphia Eagles will beat the Kansas City Chiefs in  Super Bowl LVII  at -125 odds, which would pay $800k in profit.

One @BetMGM bettor is ALL IN on the Eagles.

The bet would win $800K. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/IkjSabPcrp

— NBC Sports EDGE Betting (@NBCSportsBet) February 5, 2023

Interestingly, the high-roller opted for the Eagles’ moneyline instead of laying the one-and-a-half-points to boost the odds to -110, which would result in an extra $109,090.91 in profit. The number “one” is insignificant in NFL betting since it is not a common scoring denomination, aside from an extra point.

On top of that, exactly one of the 56 Super Bowls that have been played has been decided by one point—that was Super Bowl XXV, which ended New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19. The Bills’ kicker, Scott Norwood, pushed a last-second 47-yard field goal wide of the uprights.

In addition, only eight Super Bowls have been decided by three or fewer points, and seven of them were exactly three points—the one exception being Super Bowl XXV. Perhaps the bettor ignored the precedent simply because they could not live with themselves if the Eagles became the second one-point Super Bowl winner.

The game itself opened as a pick’em but is at Eagles -1.5 on most major sportsbooks. Philly has not played Kansas City since Week 4 of the 2021 season when they lost 42-30. Patrick Mahomes threw for 278 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception, while Jalen Hurts posted a career-high 387 yards to go with two touchdowns.

The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. local time Sunday in State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona.