Out of the millions of gamblers, only a few of them have stolen the show. These fascinating characters have captivated our attention with their impressive careers. Many have had books written & films created about their feats. Some of them have repeatedly won big while others have gotten away with epic scams. Either way, they embody the hustler mentality that you need to win big.
Even if you don’t agree with all of their tactics, there’s still a lot to learn from these legends. They went up against the odds & used their wit to beat the system. Lifting yourself out of poverty with nothing but cunning mental agility is the essence of true gambling.
Gamblers Helped Change History
There’s a big difference between playing the game & letting the games play you. Some can pull off wild success in the face of adversity, while others have a lot to learn. For this reason, we have compiled a list of the most famous gamblers in history. Prepare to learn & celebrate the rogue spirit of gambling!
3 of the Most Legendary Gamblers of All Time
1. Archie Karas
Archie is considered by many to be the greatest gambler of all time. This is due to the wild highs & lows of his gambling career. Born in Greece, Archie came to America with nothing but a dream. Archie was first introduced to gambling while working next to a pool hall in Los Angeles. After a few months of dominating the money games, he switched his focus to poker. This was a life-changing discovery & he ended up winning over $2 million. Unfortunately, his knack for gambling was both a gift & a curse. He has won fortunes & squandered them just as fast. By 1992 he was down to $50, but he didn’t give up. Archie headed to Las Vegas & started the longest winning streak of all time. By 1995 he was worth $40 million. This was achieved by dominating poker, pool & dice games. However, in just a few weeks of gambling, he lost everything. To this day he is still in Las Vegas, riding the never-ending highs & lows of the life of a gambler.
2. John Montagu
This is among the gamblers helped change history. He was more than just a gambler, he was a game-changer. The legendary British statesman was the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He played key roles in military & politics, & was also a notorious gambler. Even though his exploits are legendary, they are all overshadowed by his invention of the sandwich. Allegedly he would always ask to be brought slices of meat between two slices of bread during his lengthy gambling sessions. This new snack was a hit amongst his friends, who would order “the same as Sandwich”. Over time the sandwich exploded in popularity & became the legendary snack it is today.
3. Kerry Packer
This media mogul was infamous for his gambling escapades. Kerry was a cunning businessman who founded World Series Cricket. Even though his business forte stole the show, he was famous for making larger than life horse racing bets. He would always gamble the highest stakes possible. This led to him regularly winning & losing multimillion-dollar bets around the globe. This fast-paced high roller managed to stay on top until he passed away in 2005 at the age of 68.