Anyway, to bet bigger amounts on very low odds is one strategy that is actually understandable. I did it. Majority of us certainly did it. After all, how are you going to make money with odds as low as 1.008 if you don't bet big? But I agree with you that the problem really is that he/she overdid it by risking $1.4 million. But it also depends on how rich he/she is. To his/her wealth, it might not really be "overdid."
The few times I bet on something other than poker, I prefer the opposite, to have low odds but that if I win, I get a big prize. The strategy that he used in this case, although safe there is always a risk of loss, and to be able to lose so much to win so little does not call my attention. Besides it is more boring. If you win, it's normal, and if you lose, you'll shit your pants.
Low odds means low prize but higher chance of winning. High odds means high prize but lesser chance of winning. I mean, you can't have low odds like the one mentioned in the OP and get a big prize for it. That $1.4 million bet could have only won $11,200.
Anyway, I agree that besides the risk there's also little money you could get out of it. Not worth it. And, yeah, it's boring. But it's money bettors are after. So when the first half ended with a 24-0 score, the bettor must have thought this is sure win. He/she was wrong.