210:"Mr. X". They started playing 9-ball pool at $ 5,000 a game, raising the stakes as time went on. After Karas had won several hundred thousand dollars, they raised the stakes to $ 40,000 a game. Many gamblers and professional poker players watched Karas play at stakes never seen before. Karas ended up winning $ 1,200,000. The two decided to play poker at
297:
and lost another $ 17 million, for a total of $ 30 million. With approximately $ 12 million left and needing a break from gambling, he returned to Greece. When he came back to Las Vegas, he went back to the
Horseshoe, shooting craps and playing baccarat at $ 300,000 per bet, and in less than a month,
279:
capped Karas' buy bets on the 4 and 10 at $ 100,000. At one point, Binion raised Karas' 4 and 10 buy bet limit to $ 200,000. Karas quickly won $ 920,000 under these conditions; then Binion immediately lowered the limit back to $ 100,000. Karas said that he could quickly win $ 3 million on dice, while
168:
He later moved to Los
Angeles and worked in a restaurant that was next to a pool hall. He honed his pool skills and eventually made more money playing pool than he did as a waiter. When his victims from the pool hall thinned out, he switched to playing poker in Los Angeles card rooms. Karas claims to
126:, when he drove to Las Vegas with $ 50 in December 1992 and then turned a $ 10,000 loan into more than $ 40 million by the beginning of 1995, only to lose it all later that year. Karas himself claims to have gambled with more money in casinos than anyone else in history and has often been compared to
217:
With a bankroll of $ 4 million, Karas gambled his bankroll up to $ 7 million after spending only three months in Las Vegas. By now, many poker players had heard of Mr. X's losses to Karas. Only the best players dared to challenge him. Karas sat at the Binion's
Horseshoe's poker table with 5 of his 7
209:
With a little over $ 10,000 in his pocket, Karas went to a bar with a pool table adjacent from the
Liberace Plaza on East Tropicana. There he found a wealthy and respected poker and pool player. Karas refused to reveal his name for the sake of his opponent's reputation; he simply referred to him as
305:
and played Johnny Chan in a $ 1,000,000 freezeout match. This time, Chan was backed by Lyle Berman, and they took turns playing Karas. He preferred playing both of them, instead of just Chan, as he felt Chan was the tougher opponent. Karas won and doubled his money, only to lose it all at dice and
390:
Karas was arrested on
September 24, 2013, after being caught marking cards at a San Diego casino's blackjack table by the Barona Gaming Commission. He was arrested at his Las Vegas home and extradited to San Diego to face charges of burglary, winning by fraudulent means and cheating. He was found
283:
Transporting money became a hassle for Karas, as he had several million dollars in his car every day. He carried a gun with him at all times and would often have his brother and casino security guards escort him. At one point, Karas won all of the Binion's casino's $ 5000 chips, the highest
185:
You've got to understand something. Money means nothing to me. I don't value it. I've had all the material things I could ever want. Everything. The things I want, money can't buy: health, freedom, love, happiness. I don't care about money, so I have no fear. I don't care if I lose
249:, which cost Ungar an additional $ 700,000. The next player was Chip Reese, widely regarded as the greatest cash game player. Reese claims that Karas beat him for more money than anyone else he ever played. After 25 games, Reese was down $ 2,022,000 playing $ 8,000/$ 16,000 limit.
337:
Karas currently resides in Las Vegas. His family lives in Greece. Karas stays in touch with his family by phone, and tries to travel back to Greece at least once per year. He brought his mother, Mariana, to Las Vegas for six-month visits when he was on his winning streak.
292:
Karas's odds-defying two-and-a-half-year streak came to an end in 1995 when he lost most of his money in a period of three weeks. He lost $ 11 million playing craps and then lost the $ 2 million he won from Chip Reese back to him. Following these losses, he switched to
325:, 32 miles from Las Vegas. He went with $ 1,800 and lost $ 1,600 until he was down to just $ 200. Then after getting something to eat, he decided to gamble the rest of it. He shot dice and ran his $ 200 into $ 9,700 and then headed to Las Vegas. He stopped at
177:, had played and considered Karas a weaker poker player, often giving Karas handicaps to play. In December 1992, Karas had lost all but $ 50 playing high-stakes poker. Instead of reevaluating his situation and slowing down, he decided to go to
264:, who beat him for $ 900,000, though Chan lost to Karas frequently, before and after the streak. By the end of his six-month-long winning streak, Karas had amassed more than $ 17 million. Karas said that
329:
and won another $ 36,000, betting $ 1,000 with $ 2,000 odds. He went back to Binion's and won another $ 300,000 at the
Horseshoe and by the third day, had won a total of $ 980,000 from a low of $ 200.
169:
have gone from being broke to a millionaire and back several times. Later, he became an astute poker player, building his bankroll to over $ 2,000,000. Professional poker players such as
153:
Karas ran away from home at the age of 15 after, in a rage, his father threw a shovel at him, barely missing his head. He never saw his father again. Nickolas died four years later.
214:, where Karas won an additional $ 3,000,000 from Mr. X. Karas was willing to gamble everything he had won and continued to raise the stakes to a level few dared to play at.
508:
199:, Karas recognized a fellow poker player from Los Angeles and convinced him to lend him $ 10,000. Karas quickly turned the loan into $ 30,000 playing $ 200/$ 400
552:
280:
it would take days to weeks with poker. Karas stated, "with each play I was making million-dollar decisions, I would have played even higher if they'd let me."
789:
858:
825:
473:
260:. Many of the best players would not play him simply because his stakes were too high. The only player to beat Karas in the first round during his run was
575:
935:
314:
Since he lost his $ 40 million, he has gone on a few smaller streaks. Less than a year later, he turned $ 40,000 into $ 1,000,000 at the
195:
In
December 1992, after losing his entire bankroll, Karas drove to Vegas with his car and $ 50 in his wallet. After arriving at
326:
432:
322:
181:
in search of bigger games. The next three years would go down in legend as the greatest run in casino gambling history.
544:
779:
848:
815:
720:
692:
661:
633:
600:
463:
945:
275:
for $ 100,000 per roll. Karas was allowed to make pass line and come bets of up to $ 300,000, but with no odds.
150:
as a teenager to avoid going hungry. His father, Nickolas, was a construction worker who struggled financially.
122:
shark famous for the largest and longest documented winning streak in casino gambling history, simply known as
930:
585:
318:. He then went back to the Horseshoe and won an additional $ 4 million before losing it all the next day.
375:
359:. Konik also wrote an article about Karas which was featured in a book about Las Vegas gamblers called
751:
925:
940:
900:
404:
392:
211:
79:
920:
294:
516:
284:
denomination at the time. By the end of his winning streak, he had won over $ 40 million.
271:
The poker action for Karas mostly dried up due to his reputation and stakes. He turned to
218:
million dollars in front of him, waiting for any players willing to play for such stakes.
8:
245:. Karas first beat Ungar for $ 500,000 playing heads-up Razz. Karas then played Ungar in
238:
905:
225:, a three-time World Series of Poker champion widely regarded as one of the greatest
40:
371:
343:
226:
157:
119:
156:
Karas worked as a waiter on a ship, making $ 60 a month until the ship arrived at
391:
guilty and sentenced to three years probation. Subsequently, he was permanently
200:
580:
302:
147:
127:
99:
914:
752:"Legendary gambler Archie Karas accused of marking cards in San Diego casino"
504:
409:
348:
265:
253:
242:
174:
203:
276:
261:
257:
246:
234:
111:
881:
268:
was the only player able to beat him at Razz during his winning streak.
853:
820:
784:
725:
697:
666:
638:
605:
468:
315:
196:
170:
143:
71:
102:: Ανάργυρος Καραβουρνιώτης, born November 1, 1950), commonly known as
464:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 31: Archie Karas, The World's Biggest Gambler"
230:
222:
178:
139:
67:
107:
18:
Greek-American gambler, high roller, poker player, and pool shark
206:. Karas paid $ 20,000 to his backer, who was more than content.
367:
306:
baccarat, betting at the highest limits, in just a few days.
272:
115:
437:
Nevada Gaming
Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board
379:
756:
352:
321:
A few years later, Karas went on another streak at the
351:and also was featured, along with Stu Ungar, in an
146:, Greece. He grew up in poverty and had to shoot
912:
252:Karas continued to beat many top players, from
130:, another high-stakes gambler of Greek origin.
749:
883:THS Investigates: Vegas Winners & Losers
538:
536:
534:
366:He was interviewed, along with poker player
357:THS Investigates: Vegas Winners & Losers
750:Lacey-Bordeaux, Emma (September 29, 2013).
427:
425:
531:
233:players of all time. Ungar was backed by
809:
807:
576:"The Return of Archie 'The Greek' Karas"
542:
422:
237:, another professional poker player and
686:
684:
627:
625:
623:
573:
499:
497:
495:
493:
491:
457:
455:
453:
138:Karas was born on November 1, 1950, in
913:
861:from the original on February 14, 2009
846:
828:from the original on February 14, 2009
813:
777:
771:
745:
743:
718:
690:
659:
631:
598:
555:from the original on February 20, 2009
476:from the original on February 19, 2009
461:
301:With his last million, he went to the
873:
840:
804:
712:
503:
936:Greek emigrants to the United States
681:
653:
620:
592:
545:"Archie Karas, The Greatest Gambler"
488:
450:
792:from the original on April 15, 2008
740:
433:"Excluded Anargyros Karabourniotis"
378:. He was also a featured player on
13:
543:Schwartz, Howard (June 21, 2008).
361:The Man With the $ 100,000 Breasts
163:
14:
957:
894:
632:Sexton, Tom (February 25, 2008).
599:Sexton, Tom (February 18, 2008).
462:Sexton, Tom (February 11, 2008).
395:from all Nevada casinos in 2015.
96:Anargyros Nicholas Karabourniotis
51:Anargyros Nicholas Karabourniotis
574:McGuire, Paul (September 2008).
341:Karas's story was documented in
332:
880:Karas, Archie (June 13, 2008).
309:
298:lost all but his last million.
847:Sexton, Tom (March 31, 2008).
814:Sexton, Tom (April 14, 2008).
778:Sexton, Tom (April 14, 2008).
719:Sexton, Tom (March 10, 2008).
691:Sexton, Tom (March 17, 2008).
567:
382:'s coverage of the 2008 WSOP.
327:Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel
1:
660:Sexton, Tom (March 3, 2008).
415:
133:
7:
398:
385:
355:documentary special called
287:
10:
962:
849:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 38"
816:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 37"
780:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 40"
721:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 35"
693:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 36"
662:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 34"
634:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 33"
601:"Sexton's Corner, Vol. 32"
376:2008 World Series of Poker
190:
221:The first challenger was
85:
78:
47:
36:
28:
23:
886:(documentary). USA: THS.
946:People from Cephalonia
188:
106:, is a Greek-American
588:on February 20, 2014.
405:William Lee Bergstrom
183:
80:World Series of Poker
519:on February 10, 2009
931:Greek poker players
347:by American author
241:who had co-founded
901:Hendon Mob profile
509:"Tables of Dreams"
323:Gold Strike Casino
239:business executive
212:Binion's Horseshoe
142:on the island of
93:
92:
41:Las Vegas, Nevada
953:
888:
887:
877:
871:
870:
868:
866:
844:
838:
837:
835:
833:
811:
802:
801:
799:
797:
775:
769:
768:
766:
764:
747:
738:
737:
735:
733:
716:
710:
709:
707:
705:
688:
679:
678:
676:
674:
657:
651:
650:
648:
646:
629:
618:
617:
615:
613:
596:
590:
589:
584:. Archived from
571:
565:
564:
562:
560:
540:
529:
528:
526:
524:
515:. Archived from
513:Cigar Aficionado
501:
486:
485:
483:
481:
459:
448:
447:
445:
443:
429:
372:Tiffany Michelle
344:Cigar Aficionado
158:Portland, Oregon
86:Money finish(es)
65:
64:
61:November 1, 1950
60:
58:
21:
20:
961:
960:
956:
955:
954:
952:
951:
950:
911:
910:
897:
892:
891:
879:
878:
874:
864:
862:
845:
841:
831:
829:
812:
805:
795:
793:
776:
772:
762:
760:
748:
741:
731:
729:
717:
713:
703:
701:
689:
682:
672:
670:
658:
654:
644:
642:
630:
621:
611:
609:
597:
593:
572:
568:
558:
556:
541:
532:
522:
520:
502:
489:
479:
477:
460:
451:
441:
439:
431:
430:
423:
418:
401:
388:
335:
312:
290:
193:
166:
164:Gambling career
136:
66:
62:
56:
54:
53:
52:
19:
12:
11:
5:
959:
949:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
926:Greek gamblers
923:
909:
908:
903:
896:
895:External links
893:
890:
889:
872:
839:
803:
770:
739:
711:
680:
652:
619:
591:
581:Bluff Magazine
566:
530:
505:Konik, Michael
487:
449:
420:
419:
417:
414:
413:
412:
407:
400:
397:
387:
384:
334:
331:
311:
308:
289:
286:
192:
189:
165:
162:
135:
132:
128:Nick the Greek
91:
90:
87:
83:
82:
76:
75:
49:
45:
44:
38:
34:
33:
30:
26:
25:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
958:
947:
944:
942:
941:Living people
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
918:
916:
907:
904:
902:
899:
898:
885:
884:
876:
860:
856:
855:
850:
843:
827:
823:
822:
817:
810:
808:
791:
787:
786:
781:
774:
759:
758:
753:
746:
744:
728:
727:
722:
715:
700:
699:
694:
687:
685:
669:
668:
663:
656:
641:
640:
635:
628:
626:
624:
608:
607:
602:
595:
587:
583:
582:
577:
570:
554:
550:
546:
539:
537:
535:
518:
514:
510:
506:
500:
498:
496:
494:
492:
475:
471:
470:
465:
458:
456:
454:
438:
434:
428:
426:
421:
411:
410:Nick Dandolos
408:
406:
403:
402:
396:
394:
383:
381:
377:
373:
369:
364:
362:
358:
354:
350:
349:Michael Konik
346:
345:
339:
333:Personal life
330:
328:
324:
319:
317:
307:
304:
299:
296:
285:
281:
278:
274:
269:
267:
266:Doyle Brunson
263:
259:
255:
254:Puggy Pearson
250:
248:
244:
243:Grand Casinos
240:
236:
232:
228:
227:Texas hold'em
224:
219:
215:
213:
207:
205:
202:
198:
187:
182:
180:
176:
175:Doyle Brunson
172:
161:
159:
154:
151:
149:
145:
141:
131:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
88:
84:
81:
77:
73:
69:
63:(age 73)
50:
46:
42:
39:
35:
31:
27:
22:
16:
906:WSOP profile
882:
875:
863:. Retrieved
852:
842:
830:. Retrieved
819:
794:. Retrieved
783:
773:
761:. Retrieved
755:
730:. Retrieved
724:
714:
702:. Retrieved
696:
671:. Retrieved
665:
655:
643:. Retrieved
637:
610:. Retrieved
604:
594:
586:the original
579:
569:
557:. Retrieved
548:
521:. Retrieved
517:the original
512:
478:. Retrieved
467:
442:September 1,
440:. Retrieved
436:
389:
365:
360:
356:
342:
340:
336:
320:
313:
310:Mini-streaks
303:Bicycle Club
300:
291:
282:
270:
251:
220:
216:
208:
194:
184:
167:
155:
152:
137:
123:
118:player, and
104:Archie Karas
103:
95:
94:
24:Archie Karas
15:
921:1950 births
549:Poker Works
374:during the
277:Jack Binion
262:Johnny Chan
258:Johnny Moss
247:7-card stud
235:Lyle Berman
112:high roller
29:Nickname(s)
915:Categories
854:Poker News
821:Poker News
785:Poker News
726:Poker News
698:Poker News
667:Poker News
639:Poker News
606:Poker News
469:Poker News
416:References
316:Desert Inn
197:The Mirage
171:Chip Reese
144:Cephalonia
134:Early life
72:Cephalonia
57:1950-11-01
763:March 10,
704:March 10,
231:gin rummy
223:Stu Ungar
179:Las Vegas
37:Residence
32:The Greek
865:March 2,
859:Archived
832:March 2,
826:Archived
796:March 2,
790:Archived
732:March 2,
673:March 2,
645:March 2,
612:March 2,
559:March 2,
553:Archived
523:March 2,
507:(2008).
480:March 2,
474:Archived
399:See also
386:Cheating
295:baccarat
288:Downfall
140:Antypata
74:, Greece
68:Antypata
191:The Run
148:marbles
124:The Run
108:gambler
393:banned
368:Tony G
43:, U.S.
370:, by
273:craps
201:limit
116:poker
100:Greek
867:2009
834:2009
798:2009
765:2014
734:2009
706:2014
675:2009
647:2009
614:2009
561:2009
525:2009
482:2009
444:2024
380:ESPN
229:and
204:Razz
173:and
120:pool
48:Born
757:CNN
256:to
186:it.
917::
857:.
851:.
824:.
818:.
806:^
788:.
782:.
754:.
742:^
723:.
695:.
683:^
664:.
636:.
622:^
603:.
578:.
551:.
547:.
533:^
511:.
490:^
472:.
466:.
452:^
435:.
424:^
363:.
353:E!
160:.
114:,
110:,
70:,
59:)
869:.
836:.
800:.
767:.
736:.
708:.
677:.
649:.
616:.
563:.
527:.
484:.
446:.
98:(
89:7
55:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.