10 Most Unbelievable Stories Of Gambling Victories

Doesn’t it seem like we all know somebody that just has all the luck in the world? Perhaps it’s an old childhood friend that was able to get everything he wanted and ended up being extremely successful. Maybe it’s your grandparents that visit the casinos every week and eventually land a few thousand bucks. We’ve all heard some crazy stories, but there have been some insane high-stakes events, card counting, and extreme runs of luck for some people. Here are some of the stories we found that you won’t believe are true.

Ping-Pong Trickery

Amarillo Slim took advantage of tennis player Bobby Riggs’ huge gambling personality. He bet him that he’d win a game of ping-pong against him for $10 grand, assuming he’d supply the paddles. When Slim came to the event, he brought cooking skillets as the paddles. He blew Riggs out in the match.

Moon Betting

In 1964, a British wagering company gave the odds of 1,000-to-1 that a man would walk on the moon in the next seven years. Actor David Threlfall took that bet for roughly $15 despite the very long odds as no one believed it would happen.

Sean Connery’s Gambling Run

For whatever reason, 17 must be a lucky number for Connery. He kept playing it on a roulette wheel and eventually it hit for him three straight times. Those odds are approximately 50,000-to-1. Then again, there are worse odds to ever star in a James Bond film, so this doesn’t seem as crazy.

Grandfather Bets On Grandson

Peter Edwards put down $80 that his grandson would play for the Welsh soccer team back in 2013. Sure enough, during a World Cup Qualifier, he made an appearance against Belgium and the grandfather took home $200,000.

Winning Lots Of Craps

Patricia Demauro played craps in Atlantic City for just the second time ever. She ended up winning after 154 consecutive throws after buying in for $100. Demauro wouldn’t disclose how much money she won in total.

Blackjack King Wins Millions

Don Johnson set up a strategy by finding tables that were generous when it come to splitting hands. He manipulated the system by getting a guaranteed payback whether he won or lost, meaning he got a partial refund. He ended up walking away with $15 million, where he was eventually banished in most casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

MIT Students Won At Card Counting

21 was a fictional portrayal of a true story. MIT students were able to count cards without being caught by working as a group and signaling counts. They eventually reeled in millions of dollars before telling their story.

Breaking In Different Ways

Charles Deville Wells was able to break the bank when playing at the casino, which is known as winning every chip. He was a notorious cheater, but didn’t cheat during the long game he played. However, that cheating would come back to him as he eventually lost a lot of his winnings and was arrested multiple times for fraud.

Paralyzed After Jackpot Win

Cynthia Jay won nearly $35 million at a Megabucks slot machine in Las Vegas. Not even two months later, she was hit by a drunk driver while driving in her car. The accident killed her sister and paralyzed her from the chest down.

Three-Year Winning Streak

Archie Karas went to Las Vegas with just $50 in 1992, although you shouldn’t feel bad for him — he lost $2 million in a high-stakes poker game. After getting loaned $10,000 he was able to win it back and more, and he ended up winning around $40 million with repeat trips. Hilariously, he lost it all with more return trips to Vegas, only to win a few million once again.