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human
[Star Wars] Why could Anakin not free his mother with the podracer money?

 I have always wondered why Anakin and Qui-Gon Jinn were not able to buy Shmi from Watto after they sold their winning podracer. We're aware that in the economy of Tatooine at that time, a single slave was somewhat comparable to the price of a podracer as evidenced by the second bet placed by Jinn. He offered the podracer Anakin built against the builder, but Watto was reluctant. The bet ultimately went through and Jinn bested Watto ensuring Anakin's freedom. Anakin returns to his mother and presents her with the sizable amount of money they received from selling his podracer. The very same podracer that finished first in the Boonta Eve podrace! Surely this was enough to buy Shmi? We know Jinn wished to free her because he attempted to bet for her freedom. Watto just lost several bets and surely would have wanted the extra money to purchase a new mechanic for his shop, but no records suggest Jinn even offered. Why not? If Shmi had come along Anakin may have never started down the path to the darkside at all.
gpt
The podracer profits went towards the cost of the replacement hyperdrive parts. Qui-Gon tried to get Shmi in the deal as well, but Watto refused, instead wagering which Qui-Gon could take with a roll of the dice ("Blue, the boy. Red, his mother."), and as much as he wanted to take Shmi with them, he had no choice.