Most successful casino players with great gambling successes

Brick-and-mortar casinos offer plenty of glamour, an attractive selection of games and the chance to win big. That’s why many gamblers visit casinos hoping to hit the big time. Although the house usually wins in most cases, some players in the past have hit the jackpot when gambling. The Orb’s gambling news team presents the ten most successful casino players of all time.

Bill Benter

William “Bill” Benter is a remarkable example of perseverance and success. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1957, he earned his physics degree from the University of Bristol in 1977, demonstrating his dedication and intellect.

His journey to success began in Las Vegas, where he strategically honed his card-counting skills, using Edward Thorp’s bestseller ‘Beat the Dealer’ as a guide.

Benter’s seven years in Las Vegas were so successful that he was banned from all casinos in the gambling metropolis. In 1984, Benter went to Hong Kong to work on a new project. There, together with his business partner Alan Woods, he developed special software that was supposed to predict the results of international horse races.

Benter’s success not only made him one of the most successful gamblers of all time, with a fortune of one billion US dollars, but also revolutionized the gambling industry. His innovative approach to casino and sports betting, along with his entrepreneurial ventures, has made a lasting impact on the industry.

Zeljko Ranogajec

Zeljko Ranogajec is one of the most successful casino players in the world. Born on May 22, 1961, in Hobart, Tasmania, this Australian honed his gambling skills while still a student. He initially played keno and placed bets on horse racing.

His expertise and analytical skills have contributed to an estimated net worth of around 600 million Australian dollars, with his gambling winnings playing a significant role in his overall wealth.

Ranogajec eventually decided to leave his studies at the University of South Wales to pursue gambling full-time. His remarkable winning streak led to a ban from all major casinos in Australia. Ranogajec also proved to have a very lucky hand at the Keno lottery. He hit one of the lottery’s biggest jackpots, winning around 7.5 million Australian dollars.

William T. Walters

William T. Walters (nicknamed Billy Walters) is one of the most successful casino players of all time. Over the years, he has won over $100 million. Walters was born in Munfordville, Kentucky in 1946 and grew up in modest circumstances.

He earned his money as a baker and at a petrol station before becoming a professional gambler in 1981.

Particularly noteworthy is his 38-hour roulette marathon, during which he won $3.8 million. His sports betting is no less successful. In 2007, he won a total of $2.2 million betting on a football game.

Patrik Antonius

In addition to numerous gamblers from the USA, some Europeans have caused a sensation at the casino with spectacular wins. Patrik Antonius from Finland is by far one of the most successful professional poker players. In 2005 and 2012, Antonius won two highly endowed tournaments, and secured prize money totaling 2 million US dollars.

However, 2018 was to be an even more successful year for him, as he won a total of $8 million in prize money. Antonius is extremely successful at poker in brick-and-mortar casinos and online poker.

He won an online tournament for high rollers, which earned him a profit of over $1.3 million.

In his entire career as a professional poker player, Antonius has won over 13 million US dollars. Today, Antonius, who originally comes from Helsinki, lives in luxury in Monte Carlo.

Edward Thorp

Edward Thorp was born in Chicago in 1932 and is a true legend among the most successful blackjack players. None other than Edward Thorp developed the world-famous card counting technique and took it to a new level.

His adaptability and ingenuity were evident when he was banned from well-known casinos in the USA. Undeterred, he donned a disguise and continued his winning streak.

He also published his own book (Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One), in which he shared his knowledge with other blackjack players. This book is still a bestseller today and provides in-depth knowledge from one of the best casino players of all time. His fortune is estimated at over $600 million.

Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey, born in California, is one of the most successful professional poker players, with ten tournament victories at the World Series of Poker. Between 2007 and 2010, he won over $18 million in prize money.

One memorable moment in his career was his intense duel with Texas billionaire Andy Beal, where they played heads-up for three days. In the end, Phil Ivey emerged victorious, winning a total of $16 million.

Ivey has also had significant success in baccarat. In 2012, he won nearly $20 million in Atlantic City by employing a technique known as edge sorting, which involves identifying individual cards based on their back patterns.

As a result of this technique, he was accused of fraud, and the payout was refused. Ivey considered this way of playing to be legitimate. A court in New Jersey ultimately ruled in favor of the casino.