When he arrived, a friend loaned him $10,000. Karas was able to repay his friend $20,000 while keeping $10,000 for himself It’s here that the then 42-year-old would earn the nickname “The Greek” in high roller circles and would change the course of his life. In 1992, with $50 to his name, Karas arrived in Les Vegas. Over the next 20 years, Karas made over $2m at poker tables, but by the end of 1992, Karas had almost lost it all. When he ran out of opponents willing to part with their cash, he turned to poker. From there, he made his way to Los Angeles, working as a waiter at a local restaurant and pool hall.ĭuring his free time, Karas practiced pool, becoming good enough to beat his opponents for money. It was at the age of 17 that his life took a turn when he set sail for America, landing in Portland. While working on the sea, Karas worked as a waiter, earning little money. He’d left home after an argument with his father about him refusing to lay cement after burning his finger. Leaving home at 15, Karas, whose real name is Anargyros Karabourniotis, ended up working as a seaman for two years.

Also known as “The Run,” those winnings came from not just poker, but also baccarat, craps, blackjack, and pool.

Karas is best known, however, for making a $40m fortune over a record three-year poker winning streak from 1992 to 1995. By the time he was in his thirties, a substantial amount of cash had passed between his hands.Ī $40m fortune over a record three-year poker winning streak from 1992 to 1995 He began as an expert pool player and made a lot of money before discovering that he was also a natural at poker. But when it comes to beating blackjack, the story of professional poker player Archie Karas – who turned $50 into $40m – springs to mind. The gambling world is full of mysterious, terrifying, and wonderful stories, from bizarre bad beats to hair-raising heists, murders, and even ghosts.

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