RIP Archie Karas
I think most everyone knows his legendary run but does anyone else have any personal stories or interactions with him that they can share? RIP
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 guilty and sentenced to three years probation.
Subsequently, he was permanently banned from all Nevada casinos in 2015.
He did an interview on Soft White Underbelly a few years back.
I've heard a number of stories about his Reign of Terror.
My first reaction on hearing of his death was, "Wait, Archie Karas was still alive??"
I have a feeling that a lot of people who have a verified big score and then say they lost it all back are just saying that for tax reasons.
ESPN did a segment on him at the 2008 WSOP. It starts around 1:54:30.
I knew someone who knew him well and got to talk to him a couple of times. He told me that he was able to beat all games but baccarat and that he lost many millions at baccarat.
I knew someone who knew him well and got to talk to him a couple of times. He told me that he was able to beat all games but baccarat and that he lost many millions at baccarat.
Confirmed degen. Imagine saying 'the only game I can't beat is baccarat' and then in the next breath say 'Hey, I have a great idea, let's go gamble a few milly on baccarat' 
. Smh
IIRC Big Deal by Tony Holden had a chapter on him. The details vary from source to source, but no doubt GOAT heater & degen. RIP.
Confirmed degen. Imagine saying 'the only game I can't beat is baccarat' and then in the next breath say 'Hey, I have a great idea, let's go gamble a few milly on baccarat' . Smh
Personally knowing people who could beat Craps of all games, I believe it.
RIP to the world's greatest gambling spree.
You get up two and a half million dollars, any a$$hole in the world knows what to do: you get a house with a 25 year roof, an indestructible Jap-economy ****
*box, you put the rest into the system at three to five percent to pay your taxes and that's your base, get me? That's your fortress of fuc*ing solitude. That puts you, for the rest of your life, at a level of fuc* you. Somebody wants you to do something, fuc* you. Boss pisses you off, fuc* you! Own your house. Have a couple bucks in the bank. Don't drink. That's all I have to say to anybody on any social level. - The Gambler
It's striking to me how many people don't get this. But you don't gamble to win, you gamble so you can come back and gamble the next day. The action is the trigger tripper in the brain that is the same as drugs and alcohol only stronger.
Personally knowing people who could beat Craps of all games, I believe it.
RIP to the world's greatest gambling spree.
I have known people who say they can beat craps. Of course I have seen those same people broke when craps beat them.
I don't believe anyone can beat a legit, casino craps game.
Not without angleshooting of course.
It's easy to beat craps. Bet the dark side, take maximum odds, never, ever play the sucker bets, and order top-shelf drinks often enough to make up for the house edge.
I have a feeling that a lot of people who have a verified big score and then say they lost it all back are just saying that for tax reasons.
There might be a couple but most aren't that smart.
Whatever drove them to keep going is what drives them to lose it all back.
I remember a dealer telling a story about how a broke college kid ran up a few hundred dollar initial buyin to 80k then lost it all and how he should of quit.
Sure he should of quit but he also shouldn't of been playing in the first place and if he did he should of quit at 1k, 5k, 10k, 20k etc.
Personally knowing people who could beat Craps of all games, I believe it.
RIP to the world's greatest gambling spree.
I think "spree" covers it nicely. In the early 80's I saw someone getting royal treatment at the downtown Horseshoe shooting craps, with Benny called out over something, and watching the guy play by himself. I didn't know anybody at the time and later thought it might have been Karas. But the years don't seem to line up. Story is saying he didn't get there until the 90's, I thought his monster run was in the 70's.
Saw his Soft White Underbelly thing. I was surprised he was still alive too. He was the real deal on one thing for sure: "Money has no home and it's the playing that counts." LOL. He embodied it.
RIP to an absolute legend. Seems like his health was already failing a few years back in that Soft white underbelly interview.
There might be a couple but most aren't that smart.
Whatever drove them to keep going is what drives them to lose it all back.
I remember a dealer telling a story about how a broke college kid ran up a few hundred dollar initial buyin to 80k then lost it all and how he should of quit.
Sure he should of quit but he also shouldn't of been playing in the first place and if he did he should of quit at 1k, 5k, 10k, 20k etc.
This is true any sane person would have quit up (for the day or week, month etc.) He was determined to lose it all back at some point. I still don't get why somebody didn't force him to put 1 or 2 million away in a bond so that he could have an untouchable pension.
Aside from angle shooting or blatant cheating I don't know if controlled rolling is possible if the croupiers are strict about the dice hitting the spiked wall on every throw.
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 guilty and sentenced to three years probation.
Subsequently, he was permanently banned from all Nevada casinos in 2015.
That is the equivalent of the gambling hall of fame.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw35tFFr...
This is true any sane person would have quit up (for the day or week, month etc.) He was determined to lose it all back at some point. I still don't get why somebody didn't force him to put 1 or 2 million away in a bond so that he could have an untouchable pension.
Aside from angle shooting or blatant cheating I don't know if controlled rolling is possible if the croupiers are strict about the dice hitting the spiked wall on every throw.
People capable of running it up like he did aren't putting money away for their future.
I know he wasn't as that would be a future bankroll whenever the inevitable "cold streak" happened but a relative could have stepped up and forced him to put something aside so he wouldn't have to scam x years down the line.
RIP, Isildurrrr of yesteryear, maybe had the biggest balls of anyone who ever did it.
I know he wasn't as that would be a future bankroll whenever the inevitable "cold streak" happened but a relative could have stepped up and forced him to put something aside so he wouldn't have to scam x years down the line.
How can a relative force him to put his money anywhere?
Degens gonna degen.
