William Lee Bergstrom
from Austin, Texas decided to test the Binion claim
that Binion would book any bet, no matter how large,
as long as you make it your first. Bergstrom arrived
with a suitcase filled with $777,000 which he bet
on the Don’t Pass line at craps. The shooter
established a point of six and then sevened out
two rolls later. Bergstrom took his original $777,000
and his win of $777,000 and departed.
However, Bergstrom
couldn’t stay away for long. He came back and
won a single $590,000 bet, then he came back some
while later and won a $190,000 bet; then he appeared
again and won $90,000. Finally, he came back to
make his famous $1,000,000 bet (circa 1984) -- which
he lost. Three months later Bergstrom killed himself
at a Strip hotel. Bergstrom died $647,000 ahead
-- at casino gambling -- but he was obviously down
at the game of life.
Perhaps the most extraordinary
of recent legendary streaks is possessed by Mr.
Archie Karas, a Greek immigrant, who in 1992-1993
had one of the greatest runs in Vegas history. Starting
with a borrowed stake of ten thousand dollars, Archie
went on a rampage of poker at Binion’s Horseshoe,
defeating 15 of the world’s greatest poker
players in head-to-head competition, including World
Champions Chip Reese, Stu Unger, Puggy Pearson,
and Johnny Chan. When he ran out of poker competitors,
Archie headed to the Horseshoe’s craps tables
where he won millions more. At one point in his
run, Archie possessed all of the Horseshoe’s
$5,000 chips -- over 11 million dollars worth. When
the run was over, Archie was up over 17 million
dollars between poker and craps, all at the Horseshoe.
Gambling Legends
Part 2
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