Biggest Gambler Busted By Casino

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
IIRC, there's been stories on this man on AZ before. I thought some here might find this of note. Pretty sad stuff, who'd a thunk it?

Famous gambler accused of cheating casino By Monica Garske, NBCSanDiego.com

"A notorious gambler known for the largest and longest documented winning streak in gambling history now faces charges of cheating in connection with a card-marking scheme allegedly carried out at San Diego’s Barona Casino.

Back in July, world-famous gambler Anargyros Karabourniotis, 62, who goes by the name “Archie Karas,” was caught by the Barona Gaming Commission allegedly marking cards at a Barona Casino blackjack table.

On Friday, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced that Karas had been arrested at his Las Vegas home on Sept. 24 for his alleged involvement in the gambling scheme.

He’s now facing charges of burglary, winning by fraudulent means and cheating, and will be extradited to San Diego to face those counts, Dumanis said."

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According to the DA’s office, card-marking is a gambling cheating technique in which a person “puts a subtle, but distinguishable mark on the back of playing cards.”

A good mark will likely not be apparent to the dealer or others at the table, but the cheater will be able to identify the mark and use the card to increase his or her chances of winning.

The DA’s office says Karas was caught on surveillance tape marking cards in an effort to identify the value of the cards that he was dealt at the Barona Casino blackjack table. Through the ploy, investigators say he was able to cheat the San Diego casino out of more than $8,000.

The incident was investigated by multiple agencies including the Barona Gaming Commission, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Authorities were able to identify Karas on tape as the perpetrator.

Dumanis said the Nevada Gaming Control Board assisted with the arrest of Karas in Las Vegas and the search of his home. The DA’s office will now coordinate the suspect’s extradition to San Diego.

In the meantime, Karas is being held without bail in Las Vegas jail. His extradition hearing is scheduled for Monday.

If the case goes to trial and he is convicted, Karas could face up to three years in local prison.

The DA’s office says Karas’ best-known winning streak happened between 1992 and 1995 when he turned $50 into $40 million by gambling. He’s been referred to as the “greatest gambler of all time” in the world of high stakes.

However, Dumanis said it appears that Lady Luck wasn’t on Karas’ side this time.

“This defendant’s luck ran out thanks to extraordinary cooperation between several different law enforcement agencies who worked together to investigate and prosecute this case,” said Dumanis.
 

jimmyg

Mook! What's a Mook?
Silver Member
I'd like to hear how someone can even attempt to mark cards while sitting and playing at an operating blackjack game in a casino.

Seems like an amateur move with less chances of success than just card counting, which would be less obvious.

But what do I know?

J
 

(((Satori)))

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
"California Justice Department spokeswoman Michelle Gregory said Karas was doing the marking with dye inserted into a hollowed-out gambling chip that he would inconspicuously swipe over the cards while playing through a deck."

So that's how he did it.
 

jimmyg

Mook! What's a Mook?
Silver Member
"California Justice Department spokeswoman Michelle Gregory said Karas was doing the marking with dye inserted into a hollowed-out gambling chip that he would inconspicuously swipe over the cards while playing through a deck."

So that's how he did it.

Thanks, still strange. He must have either had special glasses that was needed to see the markings, or thought that no one else would notice the big blotches of ink on the cards. :smile:

J
 

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
My memory often eludes me... :eek: But didn't Archie lose like 90% of this roll within months? And didn't he put some of it in play in pool and elsewhere? Maybe someone can recant this interesting story of Archie?
 

jimmyg

Mook! What's a Mook?
Silver Member
My memory often eludes me... :eek: But didn't Archie lose like 90% of this roll within months? And didn't he put some of it in play in pool and elsewhere? Maybe someone can recant this interesting story of Archie?

Don't know exactly, but it's my understanding that he "donated" a lot of his casino winnings to the pool community.

If anyone has the specifics, please share.

J
 
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Rip

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Yes he played pool for big bucks years ago and Toby was one of the biggest benefactors. Toby bought in to the LV Cue Club (for a few years) with some of the $$ won from Archie. Archie wasn't a great pool player but he loved being in action. Those were fun times!
 

George Fels

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Archie Karas couldn't play pool worth a hang. Freddy the Beard beat him out of $100 K and got stiffed for another $800K. His account of things should follow shortly. GF
 

(((Satori)))

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The biggest thing I take away from his story is this:

If he couldn't beat the casinos, no one can.
 
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JAM

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Wherever there is gambling, there is always going to be the element of cheating.

I can't tell you how many card games I've turned down because of the infamous "card mechanics." :sorry:

One unnamed pool player was caught on camera throwing the dice a certain way that would make them land on certain numbers. He/she had to go to court for it. I'm not sure how they did it, but there is a technique. :embarrassed2:

Heck, rumor has it that player put razor blades in the rails of a few tables during a tournament to make the balls react funny. Only they knew which rails were gaffed.

Cheating is an occupational hazard when it comes to gambling.
 

kvinbrwr

Skee Ball Monster Playa
Gold Member
Great link Kevin, thanks.

This story is mind boggling. Seems like movie material to me, wonder why no one has jumped on it.

Anyone know what speed he played in pool?

Anyone know why he never got shot and killed? ;) :eek:

He played good enough to beat Mr X (Steve Wynn I think) out of 100s of thousands playing pool.

He had a Ginacue, one of those old design barbells. I think he still has it. A member here was trying to sell it for him for too much money. The cue that launched "The Run"
 
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SpiderWebComm

HelpImBeingOppressed
Silver Member
You can't turn $50 into $40M unless you're robbing the casino blind somehow. It's statistically impossible.

Sliding dice, marking cards, dealers working with you... you need something and a lot of it.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
 

dorabelle

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'd like to hear how someone can even attempt to mark cards while sitting and playing at an operating blackjack game in a casino.

Seems like an amateur move with less chances of success than just card counting, which would be less obvious.

But what do I know?

J

Most things.......
 

Toncam

Another Bum !
Silver Member
He played good enough to beat Mr X (Steve Wynn I think) out of 100s of thousands playing pool.

He had a Ginacue, one of those old design barbells. I think he still has it. A member here was trying to sell it for him for too much money. The cue that launched "The Run"

It was Bobby Baldwin he beat.
 

punter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
He played good enough to beat Mr X (Steve Wynn I think) out of 100s of thousands playing pool.

He had a Ginacue, one of those old design barbells. I think he still has it. A member here was trying to sell it for him for too much money. The cue that launched "The Run"

I think the guy he beat out of big bucks playing pool was Bobby Baldwin.
 
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