Brazil fan loses car-loan money in bet

A die-hard Brazil supporter who says he is “living paycheque to paycheque” is hoping his bank will be lenient after he gambled part of his car-loan money on what he believed was a “sure win”.

Jimmy* said he placed a $34,000 bet on Brazil to beat Norway, convinced the five-time champions would not disappoint him. Instead, Brazil’s 2-1 World Cup loss yesterday has left him short on his monthly car-loan payment, which is due this week.

“I put down $34,000. It might not sound like a lot to some people, but to me that is serious money,” Jimmy said. He said he had managed to put aside $46,000 towards the loan payment and was hoping to use the bet to make up the difference while leaving himself with a little extra cash for the week.

“It is about $80,000 for the month and mi did already have most of it,” he said. “Mi say if Brazil win, mi can pay the car loan, buy gas, and still have something in mi pocket. Instead, mi just make life harder for myself.”

He said the bet would have returned close to $68,000 if Brazil had won.

“That was why mi take the chance,” he said. “Mi nah try fi get rich. Mi just trying to stretch the money little bit.”

But what he thought was a smart move quickly turned into regret.

“When Brazil never take control early, mi start feel nervous. Them miss the penalty, but mi still say Brazil always find a way,” Jimmy said. “But when Haaland score, mi feel my stomach drop. When the second one go in, mi know seh everything done and mi just waste mi money”

He said the bet was placed online as part of a small accumulator, but Brazil was the team he trusted most.

“Mi have one or two other games on it but in my mind, Brazil was the safest leg. A that hurt mi the most,” he said.

Looking back, Jimmy admitted that his confidence came more from loyalty than careful analysis.

“Because it is Brazil. That is the honest truth. Mi wasn’t even thinking too deep,” he said. “Mi see Brazil name and mi trust the history, the players, the jersey, everything. Mi never give Norway enough respect.”

He said one friend warned him before the match not to touch money that was already tied to a responsibility, but he brushed off the advice. That same friend was the first person to message him after the final whistle, and the jokes have been relentless.

“One man tell mi seh Norway repossess mi car,” he said. “Mi couldn’t even defend Brazil because mi shame.”

But behind the teasing, Jimmy said the situation is serious. He is now short on his loan payment and may have to borrow money or cut back on groceries and gas to make up the difference.

“The bank nuh care seh Brazil lose,” he said. “Mi know if mi call the bank and say Brazil lose, dem probably laugh after mi. But mi would still explain seh this is a one-off bad decision. Mi nuh somebody who normally dodge mi payment or play with mi responsibilities just ease off a the interest likkle.”

He said he is not asking for the loan to be forgiven, only for a little time to fix the mistake.

“Mi make a foolish move and mi trying to fix it before it turn into something bigger,” he said.

Another bettor, Jason Miller, said he also lost $5,000 on Brazil.

“Still hurt, because that coulda buy gas or lunch for the week,” Miller said. “But when you hear Brazil, you feel like it safe. People don’t bet against Brazil easily.”

Owen Grant, a regular at a betting spot in Portmore, said most punters around him had backed Brazil before the match.

“Some people never even know much about Norway, but dem know Brazil, so dem put money there,” Grant said. “The first goal quiet the place. The second goal kill it. After that, people start laugh, but it was nervous laugh because plenty ticket dead.”

For Jimmy, the lesson is simple: never gamble with money that already belongs to bills.

“Mi still love Brazil, but Brazil don’t know me,” he said. “Dem gone home, and mi still have car loan to pay. That is the lesson.”

*name changed to protect identity