Most Successful Gamblers Of All Time

For centuries, people have been gambling in one way or another. Many people have placed bets on different sorts of things even before the advent of casinos. To list all the various gambling activities people have engaged in over time is actually impossible as there are an overwhelming number. 

Despite the long history of gambling, it is expected that certain bettors must have stood out and broken records that are hard to top. Experts at Zaza have conducted their research and have compiled a list of the most memorable ones.

1. Edward Thorp

Gambling history cannot be revised without mentioning Edward Thorp, a math professor who took part in many gambling related exploits in his time. Many punters are familiar with “Beat the Dealer,” a book Professor Thorp wrote on card counting, and that book is treated as a book of laws for punters who love to play cards. 

Thorp is a card-counting legend and won so much money at casinos that he had to resort to disguising himself so casinos could back off him. His book also demonstrated how to beat the house edge when playing blackjack mathematically. From blackjack to baccarat and even roulette, Thorp was known to be a genius at many casino games. And that is why he gets the first place on this list, according to https://zaza.tips.

2. Billy Walters

Walters is to sports betting as Thorp is to card counting. His genius is one that cannot be brushed aside as luck as he maintained a winning streak for over thirty years. Walters was able to change his story from that of a poor lad raised in Munfordville and Louisville Kentucky to a rich man who had lots of money at his disposal at the casino. In the 1980s, Walters used computer analysis to help predict sports outcomes. Using this approach Walters had only one losing year in 39 years, along with a impressive 30-year winning streak. 

3. Phil Ivey

In the world of poker, Phil Ivey is a well-known name and not for just any reason. This man made sure that his name would be one to be remembered for centuries by winning multiple World Series of Poker bracelets. His tournament wins are just countless and it is no surprise that he is regarded as one of the best punters in history. 

It is not everyday that you hear about someone winning tens of thousands in just one night at the casino. However, Ivey did that casually and won over eleven million dollars in a game of baccarat. In his times at the casinos, Ivey had several jackpots and countless wins, which also made him one of the richest gamblers in history.

4. MIT Blackjack Team

This list would have been incomplete without this team that shook casinos around the United States for years. The MIT Blackjack team included student from MIT, Harvard and other leading colleges. They became so popular that they even started an organization and a few movies (21 is the most well-known) were produced about the legendary team that went about the United States, counting cards perfectly and making cool cash. Ever since 1979, the group of students have been coming together and recruiting talented players as they played in casinos and earned millions together. 

5. Chris Moneymaker

It is safe to say that his name speaks for him, as it certainly does. When you hear the name “Moneymaker,” you just know that this is someone who knows how money works and just how to get it. In 2003, Moneymaker won the main event in the World Poker Series and broke the internet. He remains a poker legend for that achievement as he helped increase the popularity of online poker sites at the time. In his poker career, Moneymaker has made about four million dollars and is still very much in the game.