Kaylah Walton
In a devastating Game 7 showdown, the Edmonton Oilers fell short of claiming the Stanley Cup after an incredible comeback from a 3-0 deficit. However, the loss didn’t just sting the team; it also hit Drake hard, causing him to lose over $500,000 in bets as his notorious sports curse continues to wreak havoc.
The renowned rapper had placed a hefty bet of approximately $500,000 on the Oilers to emerge victorious in the NHL season. Unfortunately, their 2-1 defeat in the final game meant both Drake and the team missed out on a potential million-dollar payout after backing them from the start of the series.
Initially, it appeared that the Oilers were destined to be swept as the Florida Panthers took a commanding three-game lead. However, a dramatic turn of events unfolded, leading to one of the most remarkable sports narratives in history.
The Oilers clawed their way back to level the series at 3-3, teetering on the brink of becoming only the fourth team to overturn such a deficit in the playoffs and the second team ever to achieve this feat in the Stanley Cup Final, aiming to break free from Drake‘s curse.
Despite their efforts, the Panthers clinched a 2-1 victory in Game 7 with goals from Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart at the Amerant Bank Arena in Florida, securing their inaugural Stanley Cup title and denying the Oilers a sixth championship.
Understanding the Drake Curse
Drake has built a reputation for jinxing teams and athletes he supports, epitomized by the phenomenon known as the Drake Curse: if he’s rooting for you, your chances of success diminish.
In past instances, the 37-year-old artist backed the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals (who subsequently lost to the Boston Celtics) and supported Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk, leading to Fury’s first career defeat.
Despite his losses exceeding $1.5 million in 2024 alone based on his betting history, with an estimated net worth of around $250 million, financial woes are unlikely to trouble him anytime soon.
