Famous Gamblers
People throughout the ages have always been fascinated by those who are BIG gamblers. Somehow they make us wish that we were able to risk it all and win big too. Here is a list of some people who lived to gamble:
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky was a Russian novelist and a pathological gambler. In 1866 he wrote his famous work “The Gambler” in an attempt to bring him out of financial loss.
John Montague 4th Earl of Sandwich
Montague was a British politician and hardened gambler, and this is where he gained most of his fame. He never liked to leave the gambling table, when he and other gamblers became hungry, he would tell his servants “bring me a slice of meat between two slices of bread”. Thus the birth of the sandwich.
Archie Karas
In a 6 month period, Karas turned and borrowed stake of $10,000 into $17 million. He is an inveterate gambler and loves to be referred to as the undisputed champion of gambling. He Claims “I’ve gambled more money than anyone in the history of this planet.”
Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel
He was an American gangster, who was behind the large-scale development of Las Vegas. The novel The Godfather and its film adaptation, the character of Moe Greene is heavily based on Siegel.
Nick “The Greek” Dandelos
He is certainly America’s most famous gambler. In the summer of 1949 Nick the Greet approached Johnny Moss to a high-stakes poker marathon. The marathon lasted 5 months with only breaks for sleep and the 2 men played every from of poker imaginable. Moss ultimately won “the biggest game in town” with an estimated $2 million. When the Greek lost his pot, he arose from his chair, bowed slightly, and uttered the now-famous words, “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.”
