People

Billy Walters

Billy Walters, a famed and feared professional sports bettor was born in Kentucky and had a winning streak which extended over 30 years. Walters grew up in a poor rural town of Munfordville. His father, died when he was 18 months old, and his mother, who was an alcoholic walked out on her three children shortly after his father’s death.

Their grandmother raised the three siblings, and Walters credits her for instilling a strong work ethic in him as she took on two jobs to keep a roof over their heads. At age 13 he started working, and in 1965 he went to work as a car salesman where he worked 80 hours a day setting dealership records. In 1972 he started his own business which he sold to become a full-time sports bettor in 1981.

Gambling Career

Walters started gambling at the early age of 9 and was a losing gambler up until 1982, but this did not deter him. His success changed in his mid to late ’30s, and he had constant wins, and in 1986 Walters captured the 1986 Super Bowl of Poker, also known as the Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker, earning $175000.

In 1980 he joined the Computer Group which used computer analysis to analyse sports betting outcomes. Throughout his sports betting career of 39 years he only had one losing year, he bet on NFL, basketball and college football. He would always place his bets through runners and claimed he could make between $50-$60 million on a good year.

His life took a turn in 2017 when he was arrested for insider trading and sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined $10 million. He was imprisoned at Federal Prison Camp Pensacola and then released to home confinement in May 2020 amid the coronavirus.

Conclusion

A man of steel and a noted philanthropist and has donated millions to Opportunity Village. Walters is a man that rose from the ashes to become a Phoenix with a net worth estimated at over $100 million and a sports betting legend.

Phil Helmuth

Philip “Phil” Jerome Helmuth Jr is a professional American poker player who has a nett worth of $20 million. He was born on July 16, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin. Better known as the Poker Brat, this millionaire made his fortune at the World Series of Poker.

This world-renowned Poker player stands at an outrageous 6’7 tall, and his personality is as big as his physical appearance. He’s been quoted as saying “If luck weren’t involved I guess I’d win every one” as well as “I have revolutionised the way to play Texas Hold ’em “living up to his nickname with his bratty quirks.

Gambling Career

Hellmuth played his very first game of poker in the confines of a friend’s room and immediately became hooked. He then started playing high stakes local games mingling amongst doctors, professors and business people. As time passed, Phil built a substantial bankroll before heading to Las Vegas to become a professional poker player.

It was persistence that paid off in the long run, and he had his very first win at the tables with some low stake cash games after nine consecutive losses. His career skyrocketed after that, and when it comes to poker, it does not get any better than the World Series and here Phil Helmuth has dominated by winning a record-breaking 15 bracelets.

His most impressive feat was in 2018 in a game of No Limit Hold ’em where he won $485 082, not bad for a day’s work especially when he was contemplating sitting the game out.

Conclusion

Phil Helmuth is a true legend in the world of poker, but he is more than that. He also has a charitable side. He has raised over $240 million for numerous charity poker events, and his global work consists of fundraising galas for Ante Up For Africa, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Eva Longoria’s Eva’s Heroes and many more.

Amarillo Slim

Introduction

Thomas Austin Preston Jr born on the 31^ST December 1928 and known as Amarillo Slim was a professional American Gambler. Amarillo Slim was a colourful man and known for his Poker skills, huge Stetson hat and witty remarks during gameplay.

Amarillo Slims Gambling Career.

Amarillo Slim rose to fame in 1970 with the advent of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas and featured his favourite game Texas Hold’em. Over the years he won millions and even played Poker with former US Presidents Lyndon B Johnson and Richard Nixon and the notorious Columbian drug Lord Pablo Escobar.

He even won $300 000 in dominoes when he beat the famous country singer Willie Nelson. This colourful and non-conventional gambler also claimed a victory in a table tennis match using frying pans and Coke bottles as paddles. Larry Flynt, an adult magazine publisher, met his match and lost $2 000 000 in a Poker Game against Amarillo Slim who has always claimed the trick to winning is knowing the odds.

In 1992 Amarillo Slim was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame and continued to compete in tournaments throughout the world. He also appeared in a movie called All in: The Poker Movie released in 2012, the year this five-time Poker World Series winner passed away at the age of 83.

Wrapping it Up

Amarillo Slim was a legend and is recognized as the best gambler that ever lived. His gambling career extended beyond Poker and, he won bets not only in pool halls but rivers, jail cells and golf courses. He insisted he was not a compulsive gambler but a professional. In a book, he published he wrote the following “You see neighbour I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucker out of him.”

King Charles II

King Charles II was considered a gambling man, not only in card games but in the moves he made to restore the English Monarchy. Born on the 29 May 1630 and referred to as the “Merry King’. In 1679 Charles II dissolved Parliament as he was tired of conflict and ruled alone for his remaining years and his years of reign in English history are known as the Restoration period.

This beguiling Ruler had his childhood ripped away from him by the Civil War, and the execution of his father in 1649 shattered his world.

King Charles II Favourite Form of Gambling

King Charles II considered himself a somewhat professional Jockey. He was obsessed with sport and placing bets on horse racing. He even built a palace for his convenience at Newmarket, the racecourse he frequented. Today Newmarket is considered the headquarters of British Horseracing and hosts two of England’s five Classic Races, the 1000 and the 2000 Guineas.

Gambling was so popular amongst British Royalty that King Charles II and many other Monarchs had their own personal croupier named Sir Thomas Neale. He provided royalty with cards, dice and would oversee the bets and payouts between Kings and their subjects. He also found opponents for the King that were more than willing to lose, which kept The King happy and entertained continuously.

Gambling during this era:

The aristocracy believed gambling set a bad precedent and did not want the lower class to come into wealth. Particularly not via this channel and King Charles II shut down all gambling dens throughout London. Furthermore, he ensured the commoners had no access to any form of gambling. The Monarchy also thought such activities disrupted society and distracted them from working. Only members of the Royal Court were allowed to gamble.