3 Of the Biggest Casino Bets of All Time
Sometimes, a casino bet is so big or so outrageous that it's
almost unbelievable. These three bets were so huge they became legendary.
Professional and amateur gamblers alike have one thing in
common: They love the thrill of a big payoff. This love of the game can
sometimes lead players to make bets that most people would consider too crazy
to be real. Here are a few of the biggest casino bets of all time that are so
big they will leave you speechless.
Ashley Revell's All-Or-Nothing Roulette Bet
In early 2004, Ashley Revell decided that he was going to
make a major life change and sell all of his possessions. The young, British
man proceeded to sell his television, car, bicycle, electronics and every bit
of clothing he owned, then close out all of his bank accounts and create a
single, enormous poker bankroll of $135, 300.
Revell had a grand plan, however. He flew to Las Vegas and
decided to start his new life by placing his entire bankroll, and essentially
his entire life, on a single spin of a roulette wheel. Luck was with him that
day, though, because he won the bet and walked out of the casino far richer than
when he walked in.
William Lee Bergstrom, a.k.a The Suitcase Man
William Lee Bergstrom was a Texas-born high roller that
still holds the record for one of the single largest bets ever placed in a
casino.
In September of 1980, Bergstrom decided to try his luck at
Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. He brought two suitcases: One was
empty, and the other contained $777,000, which he considered a lucky amount.
Back in the 1980s, the casino owner's policy was to honor any wager, no matter
the size, as long as it was the player's first bet.
Bergstrom took advantage of this rule and bet the entire
$777,000 sum on the Don't Pass line of a dice game and won, resulting in a
doubling of his winnings. Because he placed his bet anonymously, he is also
sometimes known as The Phantom Gambler. Bergstrom repeated this process of
wagering an outrageous sum of money on a single roll of dice and ended up
winning $538,000 and $117,000 on two other occasions.
Archie Karas' Lucky Streak
Archie Karas was an unemployed waiter who was completely
broke and down on his luck. In the hopes of turning things around for himself,
he borrowed $10,000 from a good friend and took his money to Binion's Horseshoe
Casino. Unlike Bergstrom, Karas decided to use his bankroll at the casino on a
poker competition.
Fortunately for Karas and the friend who loaned him the
money, his luck did indeed turn around that day. Karas managed to beat 15 of
the best poker players in the world. Then, still riding high, he moved on to
playing craps and racked up even more winnings. By the time he was ready to
cash out, Archie Karas walked out of Binion's with $17 million. Not too bad for
a $10,000 investment!
