Sports Bettor Sean Perry Refuses Chop in $9.2 Million Circa Survivor Pool

Poker pro turned sports bettor Sean Perry is drawing ire after refusing a chop in the Circa Survivor contest, and boasting about his edge on social media. But is that what actually happened?

Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

Most of the world may not know who Sean Perry is, but he's causing a furor in gambling communities right before Christmas with some fairly Grinch-like behavior. 

The Sporting News reported on December 15 that Perry — then one of 13 remaining entrants in the massive Circa Survivor NFL pool — had said no to partially chopping the $9.267 million prize pool after the other 12 had agreed to the proposal. 

The Las Vegas Review-Journal then interviewed Perry, with the pro gambler fanning the flames on Twitter, boasting about his edge in one of Vegas' premiere football betting contests.

But among the aftermath of Perry's media spotlight has been a claim that this report isn't actually how it all went down. 

No chop in Circa Survivor

The proposed chop deal — often used as a hedge in gambling-based tournaments where remaining entrants are mutually interested in splitting the prize pool — would have reportedly seen each of the 13 players paid out $400,000 while keeping the remaining sum to play for — roughly $4 million. 

Perry was reported to have been the lone holdout, and took to Twitter (or "X", whatever) to share his interview with the Review-Journal, and defend his position in the brash style he's become known for:

I’m the greatest bettor there is and I know it…why would I ever chop when I’m going to just win the damn thing!!! https://t.co/vk9ZOVF3jt

— sean perry (@itsvegassean) December 22, 2023

Perry continues to polarize

Perry, a lifelong gambler and son of professional poker player Ralph Perry, has been a divisive figure in the community for years, infamous for his outspoken and often arrogant nature.

Despite some impressive recent poker tournament results ($6,847,297 on Hendon Mob, 218th all-time), he often attracts more attention with self-aggrandization and has drawn ire from many card players. 

The reaction to Perry's interview — and subsequent piling money into a suitcase at a sportsbook with the hashtag "imnotchopping" — was generally negative. Poker pro Asher Conniff was among the most vocal:

"Possibly the single corniest, most insufferable human I've ever met. Absolute clown in every sense" - Asher Conniff, via Twitter

While there's something to be said for a gambler who's confident in their edge and willing to take big risks, Perry's decision and public responses certainly haven't come across as diplomatic.

— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) December 19, 2023

Story disputed

While Perry drew more attention to himself, the angle that this could all be fake news started to come to light. 

On Thursday evening, a Twitter account for Winners Circle Proxy Service — a Vegas-based firm claiming to represent other surviving entrants — sought to set the record straight that Perry wasn't a solo holdout:

We represented 4 of the remaining 13 last week and we can confirm that 2 of them had not agreed to a chop.

— Winners Circle Proxy Service (@WCProxyService) December 22, 2023

Regardless of how the failed chop went down, we'll know in a few weeks if Perry's successful in his gambit for Circa's massive bounty. Week 15 saw three players eliminated, so Perry's decision has already proven to be +EV.  No matter the result, the remaining players no doubt have some extra motivation to outlast him, and his haters have even more evidence to lean on.