Betting on the Family

 If you don’t believe that it’s possible to bet on nearly anything in Britain, you probably haven’t heard of Harry Wilson. When Wilson was just 18 months old, William Hill gave his grandfather Peter Edwards 2,500 to 1 odds that the lad would eventually play for the Wales national football team.

In the Autumn of 2013 at the age of 16, Harry became the youngest player to take the field for the team.

While that certainly made Wilson the pride of Wales, his grandad won £125,000 for putting his faith in a football-loving toddler and was able to retire early. Harry enjoyed 10 years in the Liverpool Youth Squad but is yet to make his Anfield debut.

While there are countless novels, films, and programmes that weave various forms of gambling into their storylines, sometimes real life is far more compelling.

Throughout the course of history, gambling has spawned more than its share of interesting tales and anecdotes. Whether we’re dealing with sketchy characters at shady Las Vegas casinos, members of the Royal Family, or just about anyone else, betting gives us a window into the human condition.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to be entertained or want to hear a cautionary tale, you’ll want to read these legendary gambling stories from Britain and beyond.