Sports books profit from Tyson

Friday, Aug. 15, 1997 | 9:37 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- When Mike Tyson bit the ear of World Boxing Association Champion Evander Holyfield, Nevada sports books got fat. The Gaming Control Board reported this week that sports books won $4.5 million on the June 28 fight, where Tyson was heavily favored. "It looks to me like they came out OK on the fight," said Control Board spokesman Russell Guindon. The $4.5 million is 506 percent higher than the winnings of a year ago, when there were no major fights in Las Vegas. The state report said the sports books won 21 percent of the money bet, up from the 2.4 percent average win in the last 12 months on major fights.

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