Online blackjack is a game many of us enjoy playing, especially since the use of simple mathematics makes us feel more in control when it comes to the chaotic world of gambling. Whenever we sit down at the blackjack table, we secretly wish that we’ll hit it big on the next hand with our brainy skills and change our lives forever with the riches that follow.
Because of this common wish that every blackjack player has, it may come as no surprise that many people have actually succeeded in striking it rich when it comes to trying their hands at this casino game.
Here are four very interesting blackjack wins that have occurred in history that’ll make you wish you were in their shoes!
Don Johnson
Don Johnson is a professional gambler who not only changed his life by winning over 15 million in Atlantic City, but also by getting banned from some of its most illustrious casinos. Due to the financial crisis of 2008, casinos adopted more generous policies in order to lure in the high rollers. This allowed Don Johnson to makes various negotiations with the casinos he played blackjack in. Johnson negotiated with the casinos to implement certain rules when he played, such as dealers being forced to stay on a soft 17 and a 20% rebate on all of his losses. Johnson was able to play under these conditions and take millions from the casinos. He infamously took $6 million from Tropicana, $5 million from The Borgata, and $4 million from Caesars. He received a lifetime ban from Caesars and the other two casinos forbade him from playing under his own conditions again. Johnson has claimed that his lifestyle has not been affected much by his huge wins; however, he has since been seen partying with high profile celebrities such as rock star Jon Bon Jovi and Pamela Anderson.
MIT students
Did you know that the 2008 movie “21”, starring Kevin Spacey, is based on real life events? A group of students from MIT once worked together in various casinos to count cards while avoiding getting caught. Some members of the team would count cards and signal to a member of the group, who would bet big on high stakes tables. The members of the group who signaled would also make big bets in order to distract casino staff and prevent the designated “winner” from being removed from the casino. After using this strategy for several years, the group of students had earned such a huge amount of money (millions of dollars) that they had to set up an investment company to handle it all.
Anonymous Coventry shop keeper
The city of Coventry in the United Kingdom is certainly not a city that comes to mind when it comes to big blackjack wins. However, it was here that a local shopkeeper managed to win the life changing amount of £111,000. The lucky winner had been playing a new Grosvenor Ace King side bet at the blackjack table. The addition of this side bet meant that the man was entered into the chance to win one of 3 jackpots, the highest of which was a so-called “mega jackpot”. Wisely, the shopkeeper chose to remain anonymous rather than reveal his identity to the British public.
Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer was an Australian media tycoon. His blackjack wins didn’t change his life in the financial sense as he was already a significantly wealthy man. His skill at blackjack, however, cemented his reputation as a gambler to the point that his Wikipedia article has a whole section on his gambling habits. In 1991, Packer visited Las Vegas with his polo club on a short layover on their way to visit Argentina. Here he was able to net $7 million just playing blackjack. If that was not impressive enough, he managed to win the whole $7 million on public tables alongside regular players.
If reading about these jaw-dropping wins has got you itching to try your luck, give online blackjack a whirl. It’s easy to sign up for and you can play from the comfort of your own home. You can even make deposits and collect winnings at your choice of online casino with PayPal Not only that, but with Casino Guide, you’ll also receive real-time hints and tips about the game so you can brush up on your skills while you gain more experience!
