Gambling can evoke different feelings, from hatred to love. It depends on many factors like upbringing, hobbies, and environment.
The people we want to talk about today were interested in casino games and possessed a talent. That was one of the keys to their success. They also practised a lot to master skills. Some did that at land-based casinos, while others practised online playing on mobile at iOS or Android casinos in Australia.
So in this article, we want to focus on the most successful gamblers who won enormous sums in the past and remain popular these days.
Tony Bloom
Also known as “Lizard”, Tony Bloom always perceived gambling as one of the most significant things in his life since childhood. When he was 10, Tony mastered fruit machines in the arcade. He used his pocket money to win more.
When Tony was a teenager, he was no longer playing slots. Bloom got a fake ID he used to play poker at a land-based casino.
Tony knew: “to be a successful gambler, you must either be lucky or a mathematician”. While at the university, Tony studied mathematics (in Manchester). He didn’t take advantage of his knowledge until he understood that taking numbers to gamble can make him a millionaire.
Not only is Bloom known as a poker legend, but he is also known as one of the UK’s top bettors. Now Tony owns one of the biggest gambling consultancy companies in Britain. It makes millions of pounds each year.
He is currently worth $1,7 billion and owes his wealth to his poker career. In addition to millions in his account, Tony is the chairman of the Brighton & Hove Albion football club.
Bill Benter
Bill Benter is probably the most successful gambler of the century. He started his gambling career when he moved to Las Vegas (aka Sin City) when he was 22. Bill was not an ordinary player. He was a talented mathematician (or even a mathematics nerd) who got captivated by Edward Thorp’s book, “Beat the dealer”. After reading this book, Bill started showing up more at casinos, trying to understand blackjack.
Once Benter met Alan Woods, a professional Australian Gambler, at the casino. He offered him a job to count cards, and Bill started making $80,000 yearly.
Unfortunately, Bill was banned from many Las Vegas casinos (yes, he was that good). Soon he moved to Hong Kong with Alan Woods. There he began his newfound career, horse racing. Bill was the first who developed a software-assisted betting algorithm that helped him analyse and win bets in horse races.
Now Bill is said to make $100 million annually, often making from $5 to $10 million in a single race day. He’s currently worth $1,3 billion.
Edward Thorp
Edward Thorp is a mathematician, statistician, and investor who has made a fortune through gambling. He is considered to be the richest gambler in the world, with a net worth of over $800 million.
Thorp first came to prominence in the early 1960s when he developed a system for beating the house at blackjack. His book, Beat the Dealer, detailed his findings and was a bestseller. Thorp’s system involved counting cards and making bets based on the count. He proved that his system worked by winning over $1 million at casinos around the world.
Thorp’s success at blackjack led him to develop other systems for gambling. He has since written several books on gambling, including “The Mathematics of Gambling” and “A Man for All Markets”. Thorp has also been a successful investor, making millions through his investments in hedge funds and other ventures.
Thorp is currently retired from gambling and investing, but his legacy continues to influence both fields. His work has inspired other gamblers and investors to achieve great success.
Zeljko Ranogajec
What is worse than getting banned from all casinos in one country? Getting banned from all casinos in two countries, Zeljko was so good at the tables that he got the house pissed in two different countries.
With a vast knowledge of banking, finance, and tax laws, the young man was unstoppable when he started playing blackjack and counting cards at the Wrest Point Casino.
Despite Zeljko being banned from many casinos, the man continued to refine his betting system and eventually began using it to place bets on other sports, including cricket and tennis. He has also been known to bet on financial markets. He made a fortune through his investments.
The man currently has a net worth of $610 million. Besides, he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame in 2011.
