The Most Famous Gamblers in the World

The world’s most legendary gamblers might be measured by their financial success, but they can also be determined by their impact on gambling overall. Whatever it is that puts them down in history, you are bound to have heard of some of these gambling legends.

 

In addition to providing in-depth casino reviews, Betsquare occasionally examines other aspects of the gambling world, like the fascinating stories of some of the most famous gamblers we’ve ever seen, including some of their biggest wins and exciting facts about their careers; let’s explore the subject in more detail.

Historical Gamblers

Which historical gamblers should you have heard of? Let’s look at names throughout history that have left an imprint on the gambling industry, for better or worse.

John Montagu (4th Earl of Sandwich)

Perhaps better known as the inventor of the sandwich snack, John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich who had a love for gambling. The sandwich’s creation supposedly results from Montagu not wanting to stop gambling for meals, so he would ask his servants for two slices of bread and thin meat instead while playing.

Casanova

Italian legendary figure Casanova was known as a womaniser of his day, but did you know he was also a gambler? Perhaps not a successful one, however, as part of his subsequent prison sentence was because of the gambling debts he incurred.

Wild Bill Hickok

The Western films older generations might be more familiar with are based on characters like “Wild Bill”, whose gambling career was deemed fruitful at the time but ultimately led to his death at the hands of Jack McCall while Hickok was playing poker. His legacy lives on as a poker hand was named after the cards he allegedly held: a pair of aces and eights, all black cards.

François Blanc

François Blanc, also known as “The Magician of Homburg” and “The Magician of Monte Carlo”, was more of a gambling businessman than a legendary gambler. When the principality of Monaco legalised gambling, Blanc was the first to set up a casino in Monaco following successes in his native France. That casino, the Monte Carlo casino, is perhaps the most well-known worldwide, thanks partly to Blanc’s investment in local infrastructure.

Charlie Wells

Was it luck, skill or some underhand method behind Charles Wells breaking the bank at his Monte Carlo casino table? Whatever the reason, he’s gone down in history for his exploits. His story will be told among gamblers for a long time, and the Englishman has had films and plays made in honour of his legacy.

Modern-Day Gamblers

Modern-day gamblers have refined gambling techniques. Some reputations are untouchable, while others are perhaps more infamous.

Archie Karas

Many know Archie Karas as “The Greek”; he claims to have the longest winning streak in casino history. He showed up in Las Vegas with only $50, yet managed to secure a $10,000 loan and then won an incredible $40 million in what has gone down in gambling folklore as “The Run”. Karas says he has bet more money in casinos than any other player.

Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey is an American gambler whose poker expertise is unquestionable, and he has amassed a fortune – over $4 million on the World Poker Tour alone. He has won a World Poker Tour title and 11 World Series of Poker bracelets. However, his reputation was mired when he controversially used edge sorting to win millions at baccarat tables in Britain and the US, only for the courts to rule in favour of the casinos.

Billy Walters

Billy Walters managed to build a net worth of around $200 million. For 30 consecutive years, Walters was the scorn of sports bookmakers; he’d bet on many games at any one time but with an emphasis on “small edge” wagers. Of the 39 years he spent sports betting, he only lost money in one year.

Chris Moneymaker

There isn’t a more apt name in gambling than Chris Moneymaker. His 2003 World Series of Poker victory was a colossal upset because he had to qualify through an online tournament, so nobody had even heard of him, let alone gave him a chance of winning. Nonetheless, Moneymaker stunned everyone by winning the tournament and pocketing $2.5 million.

Bill Benter

Many believe Bill Benter is the most successful gambler ever, thanks mainly to his propensity to analyse horse racing using computer software statistically. With the help of Alan Woods, Benter changed the outlook of horse racing betting by using mathematical equations to determine the most likely race winner; his formulaic approach is what many people still practice today.

Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus’ ploy scammed casinos out of millions. The ‘Savannah Strategy’ involved placing late bets or picking up bets once it was clear where the ball would probably land on a roulette wheel once the ball has started spinning, unbeknownst to the croupier; this act is now illegal and punishable in most casinos. He once said it was straightforward to do and, perhaps ironically, now assists casinos in preventing the type of scams he would undertake.

Professional Poker Players

Poker is a casino favourite for many. Whether you prefer playing online poker or at a land-based casino, you could incorporate many strategies and techniques to improve. Let’s explore some of the most well-known professional poker players.

Doyle Brunson

The late Doyle Brunson, nicknamed “The Godfather of Poker”, is forever enshrined in poker history as the first player to hit $1 million in poker competitions. Brunson is tied for third place for the most World Series of Poker bracelets and has authored numerous poker books to help budding players. Curiously, Brunson won the No Limit Hold’em event in consecutive years with the same hand: 10 and 2. 

Daniel Negreanu

Canadian Daniel Negreanu is the only player to have won WSOP Player of the Year twice and was recognised as the best poker player of the 00s by the Global Poker Index. What sets Negreanu apart from so many others is his ability to study the hands his opponents play and their mannerisms, and he uses these to measure their actions for future hands. Fun fact: Daniel Negreanu was featured as a poker player in the video for Katy Perry’s pop hit “Waking Up In Vegas”.

Phil Hellmuth

Nobody has collected as many WSOP bracelets as Phil Hellmuth; his 17 bracelets surpass anybody else. Dropping out of university to become a professional poker player was a bold move but one that paid off. Although he’s never won the World Poker Tour, he has amassed almost $30 million from live tournaments, won the World Series of Poker title in 1989, and is listed in the 21st spot on the all-time poker money rankings.

Vanessa Selbst

Although men have long dominated poker, Vanessa Selbst has proven that there is room for successful women at the poker table. Selbst is highly educated, and her live tournament winnings stand at almost $12 million. She has collected three WSOP bracelets, and she’s the only woman ever to be ranked at the top of the Global Poker Index.

High-Stakes Casino Gamblers

Some gamblers bet for marginal gains, an approach that can be fruitful in placing money on the most likely outcome. Others, however, want to bet vast sums for more significant potential winnings and are classed as high-stakes casino gamblers, like the players below.

Kerry Packer

Supported by a vast family fortune that could sustain his massive bets, Kerry Packer once wagered £10,000 per blackjack hand at a London hotel that lasted hours and resulted in losses close to £8 million. His luck eventually turned around, and he became a regular at the world’s most glamorous casinos. At one point, many considered him the highest-stakes gambler in the world.

Don Johnson

If Packer was somewhat foolhardy, Don Johnson was cunning and shrewd. To lure large bettors through the door following the global recession of 2008, casinos granted negotiated terms for high rollers; this meant Johnson could gain a favourable edge advantage in terms of outcome; these casinos no longer accommodate terms in games for players as a result and Johnson is viewed with scepticism from those casinos ever since.

Zhenli Ye Gon

Extreme wealth from allegedly illegal activities meant Zhenli Ye Gon had more than enough disposable cash to gamble whatever he wanted. The Venetian casino in Las Vegas thought it had benefited massively from his wild gambling habits. Ye Gon lost $85 million of his $125 million total losses at the Venetian, but the casino didn’t receive what was owed. His personal life led to suspicion and criminal charges.

Akio Kashiwagi

A high-profile dispute between Akio Kashiwagi and Donald Trump leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of both parties. Kashiwagi was an exceptional gambler who won handsomely in many casinos, including Trump’s. Still, when Trump invited Kashiwagi back for a “double or nothing” style session, Trump made it as hard as possible for him to win. Kashiwagi had $10 million in debt and still owed a lot before his death.

 

Sports Betting Icons

Sports betting is a huge industry today, covering hundreds of markets across countless sports. Many believe they are much more informed about sports betting to be better at it than casino table games, for example, but there are sports betting icons who are the best around.

Tony Bloom

European soccer fans might be familiar with Tony Bloom because he owns the English club Brighton & Hove Albion and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium. Bloom was born in England and has performed reasonably well in poker events, but sports betting is his forte, especially horse racing betting. As an owner of horses himself, he has rocked Irish bookmaker Paddy Power before with surprise runners; many believe he had big bets on the events himself because he was so sure of their ability.

Haralabos “Bob” Voulgaris

Haralabos Voulgaris, also known as Bob Voulgaris, is a Greek-Canadian gambler who also owns a soccer club – CD Castellón, in Spain; he uses his risk calculation skills as part of his ownership strategy. He made fortunes when betting on the NBA, winning $500,000 in one evening thanks to an LA Lakers victory. Voulgaris claims to have regularly bet $1m each day and had the help of a mathematics genius to ensure his bets were more likely to win.

Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder

When an entire TV show and its audience take your sports predictions as gospel, you’re within your rights to be known as well-informed. Jimmy Snyder. However, sports betting in the USA wasn’t legal when the show was broadcast, but that didn’t stop underground bookmakers from using his insight to determine their odds. Outrageous comments landed “The Greek” in all sorts of trouble, leading to him losing his job on American television.

 

Conclusion and Legacy

As we’ve discovered, not every gambler has played by the rules, and the consequences have led to turmoil in their personal lives. However, some are highly skilled at poker, incredibly knowledgeable about sports, or just downright lucky and are, therefore, considered legendary gamblers.

 

Whichever category they fall into, each of the aforementioned famous gamblers has left an imprint on the fabric of gambling, for better or worse. Casinos are much more attuned to cheating, and we’d encourage you to practice legitimate gambling skills rather than resorting to tricks.

 

One day, a player will probably come along and collect the most WSOP bracelets, amass the most amount of money by sports betting, or find an ingenious way to outmanoeuvre a dealer for a better chance of financial fortunes; a new player can create a noteworthy gambling legacy. Betsquare covers a variety of subjects throughout the gambling world, and we encourage you to read our casino reviews and articles on the website.

 

As some of the above stories suggest, gambling can be harmful to your well-being and financial situation. You must stay in control when betting, so check out our responsible gambling page here.