Phil Naessens

Betting Analyst Years of Experience Icon

18+ years experience

Betting Analyst

18+ years experience

Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu Greece. He’s the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the tennis betting podcast, This Week in Tennis.

Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications including SB Nation, FanSided and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. Phil curates the Chip and Charge Tennis Newsletter and pens a weekly tennis column called “10 Things About the ATP Tour," for Passing Shot Productions.

His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro men’s and women’s hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.

Favorites

Team: New York Rangers
Sport to bet on: NFL
Sports movie: Remember the Titans
Sports snack: Ice cream
Covers feature: Scores & Matchups

I hit a 23-1 long shot betting on a horse while waiting to pick up my grandmother from bingo at the Showboat in Vegas. What makes it memorable is I wanted to bet just 10, but mistakenly handed the ticket writer $100. Pride made me roll with it and needless to say, I paid for supper that night. Horse name: No Commitment, first race, Santa Anita, October 18, 1992.

Best Betting Memory

2013 Wimbledon First Round. I was the resident pro at the Corfu Holiday Palace in Corfu, Greece, it was raining, so I stopped in the bar for a beverage. The bartender starts asking me about tennis matches, and little did I know he was filling out a parlay ticket. We hit 16 out of 17 and our only loss was when Rafael Nadal was upset in the first round by Steve Darcis. UGH

Worst Beat