He was seeking easy money, not to improve society. Nor was he joking. Didn't look like a joke, didn't sound like a joke. Looks like a scam, was a scam. Not a joke.
Matt's "bet" was obviously a 100% trollish prank. Only those with a compulsive gambling problem would want to believe it was somehow (herr durp, maybe pirate is seekretly backing him???!!!1?) legitimate.
Just as with pirate, people were warned, repeatedly and loudly, not to take him seriously. But they didn't listen.