• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Reba McEntire Repeated ‘the Brave’ in the National Anthem, Sending Prop Bettors Spiraling

  • Reba McEntire’s ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ disrupted the betting world.
  • By repeating ‘the brave’ at the end of the song, she passed the over/under line for the song’s length.
Reba McEntire Super Bowl
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Reba McEntire accidentally caused an uproar in the betting world with her Super Bowl national anthem performance.

The over/under on the length of the song is always a popular prop bet, and by adding an extra “the brave” at the end of her rendition, McEntire pushed the clock past the set line of 90.5 seconds. Some argued the song ended when she finished the lyrics, others when she finished singing.

Sportsbooks aren’t sure how to handle it.

John Ewing, PR manager at BetMGM, first said the under hit, then said the operator paid bettors on the over and the under.

DraftKings and FanDuel didn’t align—DraftKings Network published an article supporting the under, while FanDuel’s staff agreed it was the over. Adding to the chaos, that article has since been unpublished.

Wagering on events outside of game play such as the national anthem isn’t allowed on major U.S. sportsbooks. The national anthem prop bet was available on these platforms for bettors only in Ontario, but U.S. bettors found ways to participate through alternative platforms like offshore sportsbooks.

The same situation occurred in 2019 when Gladys Knight added a second “the brave” to her performance. Like BetMGM, sportsbook BetOnline.ag paid out on both sides of the line. That was the first Super Bowl since sports betting became legal again for some fans in ’18, so the stakes weren’t quite as high.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 9, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Katie Taylor (left) and Amanda Serrano (right) pose in front of Jake Paul during a press conference ahead of their boxing match at Madison Square Garden.

Serrano vs. Taylor 3 Set to Be Biggest Women’s Boxing Match in..

“I’m just sick of the whining and complaining from your team.”
Jeff Kaplan

Letting PE Invest in Family-Owned Teams Is a ‘Watershed’

Liquidity gives owners greater flexibility to manage salary cap.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.

Thunder Favored, but Bettors Backing Pacers Big in NBA Finals

The most bet-on exact series outcome is the Thunder winning in five.
Fanduel
March 4, 2025

FanDuel Retains Sports Betting Crown With $14B in 2024 Revenue

The FanDuel parent company posts big increases in revenue and net income.
May 8, 2025

FanDuel Misses Projections As Betting Favorites Dominate 

FanDuel is hit by customer-friendly betting outcomes during March Madness.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
February 20, 2025

Americans Bet $148 Billion on Sports in 2024, Up 23.6%

Both overall handle and revenue rose by more than 20% last year.
DraftKings app
February 14, 2025

Lawsuit Says DraftKings VIP Program ‘Preyed On’ Gambling Addicts

The company’s being sued for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
August 20, 2024

Beloved ‘Backyard Sports’ Brand Says It Will Relaunch After Decade Hiatus

“Backyard Baseball” was a turn-of-the-century computer hit. 
DraftKings
August 2, 2024

DraftKings Announces Consumer Tax Starting Next Year

The company’s stock fell 5% Friday morning.