There are many different legends how roulette was born. Some say that roulette was a game invented by the devil itself. Of course, that is not true. There is also a story about a priest who committed suicide when he saw the full amount of numbers. Some legends say that Roman and Ancient Greek soldiers were responsible for inventing roulette.

1. Top Gamblers In The World
2. Successful Gamblers In History On This Day
3. Successful Gamblers In History Definition

Famous Figures from History Who Were Also Gamblers. 15th Apr 2020, 11:13:45 PM. Gambling, in some form or other, has been around for almost as long as we humans have.

• Jan 13, 2021 From the glamor of the 1950s to the slump of the 1980s and freshly found vigor in the new millennium, we trace Las Vegas' history and journey through events that made the Sin City.
• Out of all famous gamblers throughout the history of gambling, most consider Amarillo Slim to be the biggest gambler in the world. Slim started out as a Texas poker player who joined forces with Puggy Pearson and Doyle Brunson; however, he soon got independent and became one of the most successful gamblers around and the most famous pro bettor.

But back to some more plausible theories is that Blaise Pascal, the famous mathematician came up with the design of roulette.

No matter which theory is true, one thing is certain: popularity of roulette goes up with every passing day. That being said, let’s take a look at five famous persons from history who you didn’t know were gamblers.

Gerolamo Cardano

An Italian renaissance mathematician, physicist, inventor, and of course, gambler, Cardano is mostly known for his accomplishments in algebra. He made several contributions to hydrodynamics, and was one of the first scientists to claim that perpetual motion is impossible.

In terms of gambling, Cardano was a notorious gambler. He was always short of money, and kept himself solvent by being a good gambler, and a great chess player. He wrote a book about games of chance, called “Book on Games of Chance”. He wrote the book in 1564, but it was published more than 100 years later in 1663. The book contains the first systematic treatment of probability and some effective cheating methods. For example, Cardano used the game of throwing dice to understand the concept of probability. He even showed that there is a way of defining odds as the ratio of favorable to unfavorable outcomes.

Charles II of England

King Charles II is one of the most famous monarchs in British history. He marched on England at the head of a Scottish army. He was then able to restore the British monarchy. But apart from his accomplishments in restoring Britain to its former glory, Charles II was a bit of a gambler. People in England knew him as the “merry king” because of his love towards women. During his reign, gambling was one of the most popular social activities in Britain.

Giacomo Casanova

Giacomo Casanova is a legend in so many ways. His love and passion for women is well documented. But his love for gambling sometimes exceeded his love and passion for women.

The Italian adventurer and rogue was a keen gambler. Gambling was more than just a passion for Casanova. For the Italian wanderer, gambling was living. He was 20 years old when he wrote “I had to earn my living in one way or another, and I decided on the profession of gamester”. He spent money on cards, and was mostly losing than winning. However, his charm helped him borrow money from others. Faro was his favorite game.

Charles Bukowski

The famous writer even wrote a poem on the topic of gambling. The poem, called “Gamblers” finishes with the words:

“it’s been a tough fight worth fighting
as we all drive along
betting on another day.”

But unlike other gamblers on this list, Bukowski loved to bet on horses. In one of his poems, he even wrote that he doesn’t want any speech on his funeral, unless they want to say he was “successful on betting on horses”.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The most famous of all gamblers in history if Fyodor Dostoyevsky. He even wrote a novel, who many believe is an autobiography called “The Gambler”. The novel is about a young tutor in the employment of a formerly wealthy Russian general. When he was writing Crime and Punishment, he owed large sums of money to creditors.

There is a legend that in Wiesbaden, a city in which he lived and written, the following was written on a table “Fyodor Dostoyevsky owes certain amount of money”. His debt was about 250.000 euro translated to today. But in 2013, Russian businessman Roman Abramovich wiped Dostoyevsky’s debt, claiming that the author does not owe anything to anyone.

History shows us that gambling has been an exciting pastime for all walks of life: rulers, scientists, artists, authors and more—each living a different experience but sharing an appreciation for games of chance.

Here are a few historical figures—from ancient Roman Emperors to modern-day philanthropists—who you may be surprised to learn have a famous connection to gambling:

Roman Rollers

Ancient Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, imparted us with a classic quote that showed his love for dice. According to Roman Historian Suetonis, as Caesar led his legion across the Rubicon towards Rome for his most famous battle, he declared“Alea jacta est,” meaning “The die is cast,” making clear to his troops that there would be no turning back. Ironically, “crossing the Rubicon” has since become a more common metaphor for passing a point of no return, overshadowing Caesar’s original quote.

Ruling the Roman Empire for over a decade, Emperor Claudius was also famed for his love of games. While he did much to expand the popularity of public entertainment like races, his personal game of choice was dice. In fact, Claudius was such an avid gamer that he commissioned a custom carriage, to make it easy to play games on long journeys. In response, Suetonius satirically surmised that Claudius was cursed to spend his afterlife to forever rolling his cherished dice, in a box with no bottom.

Betting Brits

John Montagu, the 4^th Earl of Sandwich, loved to play cards. So much in fact, that to him, taking a break to eat seemed like an unbearable chore. Tired of putting his games on hold, the Earl asked his servants to bring him meat between two slices of bread so that he could eat while playing, and still keep his hands clean. His friends thought this was a great idea and started asking for “the same as sandwich!” Over 250 years later, the Earl’s invention still lives on to this day. And while we’ll happily take the Earl’s advice on what to eat, we’re less inclined to take his advice on how to play(it’s always a good idea to take breaks between games—especially if you’re hungry!).

Top Gamblers In The World

Henry the VIII was famous for his wives but might have had his greatest love in gambling. Among his favourites were “tables,” an ancestor of backgammon, and “bragg,” a three-card version of what would eventually become poker. Hemay have led the way in card games, but Henry is no example to follow when it comes to playing smart: he once bet the bells of St. Paul’s Cathedral on a roll of the dice!

Authors and Artists

Acclaimed author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, loved to frequent casinos from Moscow to Monaco. His novel The Gambler, is one of the most extensive writings of life from the lens of a gambler. This cautionary tale tells the risks of playing without the knowledge and awareness of how to keep gambling fun.

In 1891, an artist named Claude Monet won the equivalent of nearly $15,000 in a French Lottery, giving him the freedom to wander the French countryside. Years later, art lovers world-wide would stare in awe at his famous “Water Lilies” series; approximately 250 beautiful works of art that might not have been created, were it not for the revered Impressionist’s unpredictable luck.

The Wild West

When we picture the Wild West, it’s hard not to imagine saloons, riverboats, and the gamblers that frequented them. Games of chance were simply a part of life in the Wild West, with gambling halls forming the centre of communities—serving as places where locals could fetch their mail, get a hair cut, and even vote (in addition to gambling). So, it’s not surprising that some of the most iconic high rollers come from this place and time.

“Wild Bill” Hickock, the most famous gambler of the West, was murdered playing his favourite game. Hickock played poker at every given opportunity, eventually becoming known as one of the most skilled poker players in America. The last hand he held before his assassination was a pair of black aces and eights—a combination we now know fittingly as “The Dead Man’s Hand”.

Successful Gamblers In History On This Day

“Doc” Holliday, known for the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, practiced as a dentist before he discovered his skills at the poker table were more profitable. He eventually worked at casinos as a Faro dealer, a French card game popular in the 19^th century, because of its fast-paced style and relatively high odds of winning. Holliday often travelled accompanied by his close friend and O.K. Corral companion, Wyatt Earp—another famous gambler of the old American West.

The Real Queen of Cards

Annie Duke helped prove to the world that high stakes gambling is not just for men. As a University of Pennsylvania-educated psychologist, she used her incredible intellect to excel as a professional poker player. Duke is respected for her level-headed and almost academic approach to playing, and for her philanthropic works with actor Don Cheadle. In 2006, she helped host the Ante Up for Africa tournament to raise funds and awareness for charities working throughout Africa. Using her love for poker to champion a successful charity—especially in a male-dominant environment—makes Annie Duke a true Queen of Cards.

These are only a few examples of famous gamblers from our past—each playing the games they loved most. The fun these figures enjoyed is still available today, but with all new games of chance, and ever-evolving versions of old favourites.

Successful Gamblers In History Definition

Want to see which of today’s games best suits you? Take our quiz.