Gambling was not always a form of entertainment available to everyone. While some games of chance were played by the masses, games like roulette or baccarat – the classics – were reserved for the high society. As luck often failed to take their side, the amounts to change hands during a night of fierce gambling could be fabulous. While casinos are now open to the public, high rollers are still a category apart – both at the Royal Vegas Australia (and the rest of the online casinos) and the land-based gaming facilities of the world. In the land-based gaming world, high rollers are treated as VIPs, and so are they at the Royal Vegas – those players who get invited to the Royal Vegas VIP program are treated with not only extra bonuses and exclusive tournaments, but real life gifts, invitations to vacations, cruises, events, and even special dinners at top notch restaurants. The online gambling world will never see such high rollers as the real life casino business, though. To see what I mean, take a look at how much the players below have been betting – winning or losing – during their “career” as a high roller. Archie Karas is a legendary figure of Las Vegas. He has arrived in Sin City with $50 in his pocket and managed to grow his bankroll to $40 million – before losing it all. During his gambling years, Karas has had several runs, like when he turned $40,000 into $1 million at the Desert Inn and winning further $4 million at the Horseshoe, only to lose it all the next day.
Kerry Packer wasn’t a professional gambler but he had most traits of one. The Australian media magnate was an avid gambler, a big fan of high-stakes games. Kerry Packer’s gambling feats are numerous and surprising: at one time he is said to have attempted to wager $120 million on a coin flip. A major London casino reported Packer walking into the gaming facility, play £15 million at four roulette table, losing it all, and walking out with no regrets. Packer had his ups and downs at casinos: he won $33 million at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas at one time and lost $28 million at a UK casino at another.
Mo Chan is an elusive high roller, known for his infamous $10 million run in Australia. The player chose baccarat and played with wagers of $300,000 – $500,000 per hand. After amassing a serious amount, the casino he played at limited his wagers, which prompted the gambler to leave, and never return. Open Famous High Rollers in the History of Gambling