TAMPA, FL — In the closing minutes of Super Bowl LV, Yuri Andrade became the most famous person on the field not named Tom Brady. Dressed in a neon pink "Vitaly Uncensored" swimsuit, Andrade dodged security in a sprint that went viral instantly. Shortly after, a legend began to circulate: Andrade had supposedly outsmarted the house by betting $50,000 on his own stunt to net a $374,000 profit.
Too Good to Be True
The story captured the internet's imagination, painting Andrade as a gambling mastermind who used a friend as a decoy to ensure he could "hit" his own prop bet. However, the house always wins—especially when the gambler brags about the scheme on the radio.
The offshore sportsbook Bovada quickly caught wind of the "suspicious activity". Betting sites typically cap novelty bets like "will there be a streaker" at much lower amounts—often as low as $1,000—to prevent exactly this type of manipulation.
The House Shuts it Down
Once Andrade began publicly claiming credit for the bet, Bovada launched an investigation. In a statement, the sportsbook announced they would be voiding all wagers linked to Andrade or anyone with prior knowledge of the stunt.
While Andrade’s friends and family may have successfully placed smaller individual bets, the massive $374,000 "score" remained a fantasy.
The Final Bill
Instead of a life-changing jackpot, Andrade ended his night with a trespassing charge and a night in the Hillsborough County Jail. He was released after posting a $500 bond—a far cry from the hundreds of thousands of dollars the internet gave him credit for winning.
Ultimately, Andrade got the 15 minutes of fame he was looking for, but the sportsbooks made sure he didn't get the cash.
