The Biggest & Craziest Casino Bets Ever Placed

Ashley Revell – The Man Who Sold Everything

In 2004, Ashley Revell, a young Brit, made global headlines when he decided to sell everything he owned, including his clothes, and take the cash to Las Vegas.

·     Total bankroll: $135,300.

·     Casino: Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

·     Bet: He placed it all on red at the roulette table.

The ball spun. The crowd held its breath. It landed on red 7. Revell doubled his money to $270,600 in a matter of seconds.

Instead of pressing his luck, he cashed out and left.

Verdict: Revell’s story became a modern legend. It was reckless, brave, and crucially, he walked away a winner.

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William Lee Bergstrom – The Suitcase Man

In 1980, William Lee Bergstrom walked into Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas with two suitcases: one full of $777,000 in cash, the other empty.

He placed it all on a single bet at the craps table, the famous “Don’t Pass” line. The dice rolled, and he won.

·     He walked out with his winnings and disappeared.

·     Bergstrom returned several times over the years, making ever-bigger wagers.

·     His luck eventually ran out: in 1984, he lost $1million in a single roll.

Verdict: Known as the “Suitcase Man,” Bergstrom embodied the extreme highs and lows of big betting.

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Kerry Packer – Australia’s Billionaire Rollercoaster

Australian media mogul Kerry Packer is perhaps the most feared and admired casino gambler of all time.

The Wins

·     Packer once won £7 million at a London casino in one night.

·     In Las Vegas, he was reportedly to have won $20–40 million in a single baccarat session.

The Losses

·     He just as easily lost it all, once dropping $28 million in a night.

·     Yet he was generous: during one winning streak, he tipped his dealers $1 million to share.

The Legend

·     Famously, when a Texan bragged in a Vegas casino that he was worth $60 million, Packer reportedly replied: “I’ll flip you forit.”

Verdict: Packer’s bets were so huge that some casinos refused to let him play. He was the ultimate high-roller, capable of bankrupting a pit in a single night.

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Archie Karas – The $40 Million Run

No list of crazy bets is complete without Archie Karas. Arriving in Las Vegas in 1992 with just $50, Karas borrowed $10,000 and began one of the most astonishing streaks in gambling history.

·     In a matter of months, he turned that loan into $17 million.

·     At his peak, he had amassed $40 million, beating legends of poker and dominating casino games.

But his insane appetite for risk meant it didn’t last. By 1995, Karas had lost it all.

Verdict: Karas’s run is the stuff of legend — the ultimate example of wild gambling highs and lows.