Sports

Multi-million $wing in MNF debacle

As much as $1 billion shifted from pockets of Packers bettors to bookies and Seahawks backers, following the phantom Seattle touchdown that rocked pro football Monday night, gambling analysts said yesterday.

Bettors, with action on the controversial game between Green Bay and Seattle, overwhelming had their money on the Packers, multiple bookies from Las Vegas to London told The Post.

Analysts estimated that between $200 million to $1 billion would have been paid out, worldwide, to bettors who took Green Bay, giving between 3 and 4 points.

But when replacement refs ruled that Seattle’s Golden Tate caught the game-winning touchdown pass with no time left, it turned into an unexpected payday for bookies and the relatively few gamblers who took Seattle and the points.

Video replays appeared to show Green Bay’s M.D. Jennings coming down with the Hail Mary pass, before Tate belatedly got a hand on the pigskin, resulting in a dubious simultaneous-possession ruling.

“I spoke to the offshore guys and many of the nation’s big bookmakers and I’d estimate the incorrect and atrocious call to end the Green Bay-Seattle game caused over $1 billion to change hands,” said famed sports analyst and oddsmaker Danny Sheridan.

This latest zebra error turned an apparent 12-7 Green Bay win into a chaotic 14-12 Seattle triumph.

“Over the years, there’s been all sorts of controversial things. But for the NFL, I can’t remember something this big,” said Aron Black, line manager for bet365.com. “You’re talking about a massive, massive amount of money — it’s mind-boggling.”

Bettors who lost their wager were reeling yesterday.

“I’m sick!” said former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a famed gambler who dropped a “month’s mortgage” on the Packers.

“Look I’ve lost a lot of games over the years — a player making a great play, a last-second field goal and that’s all fine. But I’ve never been robbed. I was virtually robbed at gunpoint, that’s how it felt.”

The loss put Green Bay into an immediate playoff hole.

The Packers had been a 7-to-1 pick to win the Super Bowl on Bovada.lv before Monday night, but now with a 1-2 record, Green Bay is a 17-to-2 pick.

“Never have I seen such an egregious call that represented such a huge swing in money,” said Bovada.lv sportsbook manager Kevin Bradley. “It’s unfortunate that the referees, and not the players, are determining outcomes of NFL games.”

Bookmakers said they almost felt bad — almost — about winning all that Green Bay money.

Jay Kornegay, sports book chief at the at The LVH casino, said a handful of Packers bettors asked if they could be refunded. “No” was the fast-but-compassionate response.

“It was a horrible, horrendous call, but I can’t be subjective in this matter [and give a refund],” Kornegay said. “There’s no doubt the books needed Seattle [to cover]. But I can honestly say this: We never want to win like this. We want definitive results.”

The lockout of regular referees and the laundry list of errors by scab officials hasn’t slowed attendance, TV ratings or betting action — not yet at least.

“The integrity of the game is what we’re most fearful about in terms of betting,” said Vegas oddsmaker Pete Korner, owner of The Sports Club, a consulting firm that helps sports books set lines.

“If your computer program tells you Team A is the play of the week, is that computer program going to quantify for the officiating? The officiating [by replacements] has now come into play and everyone is aware of it.”

Additional reporting by Steve Serby