Top 10 Gamblers In The World
We’ve put together a list of the best gambling destinations from around the world. If you love to bet and are looking for the ultimate betting experience, make sure these go on your list! Las Vegas, Nevada. This one is a no-brainer: Vegas is the world’s most famous gambling hotspot with over 70 casinos. The main focal point is the 4-mile stretch simply called ‘The Strip’. Sitting at the top of our list, Australia can be called a gambler’s paradise, as it provides all kinds of entertainment, from slots and casinos to betting and lotteries. Pair that with a no-tax-on-winnings policy, and you’ve got a perfect place for attempting to win big at. Profiling the worlds greatest gamblers, who they are and how they made millions betting! Including: William Benter (Bill Benter), Alan Woods, Zeljko Ranogajec, Doyle Brunson, Patrick Antonius, Phil Ivey. Gambling comes in many guises these days, with no end of options both online and in the real world. Online poker is hugely popular, but the richest prizes in the game are still handed out each year in Las Vegas at the World Series of Poker. The Main Event at the annual extravaganza has served up some huge paydays and created some very rich.
Sitting down to gamble is a fun, sometimes even thrilling, hobby. So when you can do it from the comfort of your home, many online gambling enthusiasts agree that it makes the pastime twice as enjoyable.
The first online casino available for use in the U.S. was introduced in 1995. Since then, online gambling has exploded, not only in the U.S., but on a global scale. Although due to the United States’ regulations regarding online gambling, it is an immensely popular industry and is expected to grow to a whopping $2.5 billion by the year 2015.
So, which regions are contributing the most to that pot? Here are the top ten gambling nations in the world as of January 2014.
#10: Spain
The people in Spain certainly love to gamble. In fact, Spain has the largest Christmas lottery in the world; called “El Gordo,” this lottery gives away more than $1 billion in money and prizes every Christmas.
The average gambler in Spain loses around $418.00 per year.
#9: Greece
Economically speaking, Greece isn’t doing so well; however, Greek gamblers were unfazed, losing $2.3 billion to online gambling a year ago.
Greeks lose an annual amount of $420.00 per person.
#8: Norway
The majority of online gambling is illegal in Norway. The government is very strict, and there are only two companies that can allow Norwegians to bet online. A law was passed in 2010 forbidding customers to use their bank cards at any online casino in the world, which the banks enforce.
That did not stop the online gamblers; 88% of them confessed that they were lifetime gamblers and the average Norwegian online gambler spent $448.00 last year.
#7: Hong Kong
You can only gamble online through the Jockey Club and even then you can only bet on one lottery, football games, and horse racing. The government takes taxes from all winners.
A gambler in Hong Kong loses about $503.00 per year.
#6: Italy
Ten years ago, regulations on gambling online were cut, and Italy is now the largest online gambling market in the world. Legalized online gambling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The average online gambling Italian loses around $502.00 annually.
#5: Finland
The government is all over Finland when it comes to online gambling, but not for the worst. Online gambling is a national monopoly divided into three organizations, and all monies go to horse breeding and sports. Instead of trying to regulate online gambling more, the government is looking at ways that would strengthen the monopoly.
An online gambler in Finland loses approximately $553.00 annually.
#4: Canada
Seventy-five percent of adult Canadians got into online gambling last year. The government views online gambling monies as good revenue for the country but does require good record keeping.
Online gamblers lose around $568.00 annually.
#3: Ireland
Ireland only made this list because they do have a solid online gambling presence and their losses are the third highest in this list. Land-based gambling is preferred in Ireland.
Average Irishman online gambler loss: $588.00 per year.
#2: Singapore
Number two on the list is Singapore, as its government recently decided to limit internet gambling due to an extravagant of monies lost. This caused Singapore Pools (a lottery operator) is looking to open the first Singapore gambling website, which will be fully licensed.
How much do Singaporeans online gamblers spend per year? Only $1,174.00 on average.
#1: Australia
The number one spot on the list goes to the land down under. Eighty percent of the population participates in some form of gambling. Gambling winnings are untaxed, which provides a pretty big incentive (you think?).
The average gambler in Australia loses a whopping $1,288.00 per year.
The economy may be hurting globally, but that doesn’t seem to stop people from dropping money at online casinos. Online gamblers may incur heavy losses, but as long as nobody stops them, all is right in the world
Follow this link if you want to see the Top 10 US Legal Online Casinos
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Being a gambler is an extremely risky proposition. There are some people that have pulled it off. Here are the richest gamblers in the world, including some tips on how to make money gambling.
If your favorite guilty pleasure is placing a wager at the gaming tables, you’re probably living in hope that you’ll one day win an enormous jackpot. Building wealth really is easy. Just find a hobby or craft. Get really good at it. Then, scale it.
If you’re ready to find the best place to try gambling so you can start your journey to riches today and click here.
I’ve used a number of different tools to track my wealth over time. Most of them are free and extremely easy to use.
One example is Personal Capital. A completely free platform to track your money. This was instrumental in me building my wealth and cash flow over time.
There are plenty of gamblers out there who’ve done just that and who are now living a lifestyle beyond your wildest dreams.
If you’ve already visited and chosen a particular game to win cash. You now might be waiting for your dreams to come true, you might be inspired by the tales behind some of the richest gamblers in the world.
If you don’t like forking up cash, you might want to consider free money giveaways.
I’ve covered millionaire farmers, but now we cover a less straightforward approach to wealth… gambling
How to Make Money Gambling
Most casino games have a favorable advantage and you are playing against the odds. If you want to make money gambling, you have to focus on games that you can gain an edge. In order to make money gambling, you must be very disciplined and determined for success.
Professional gamblers are very keen on winning. They’ve studied what works well for them and what doesn’t. You can apply the same theories to anything you do.
In addition, pro gamblers have realized that they need to make consistent value bets, which mean that you put out money where you have a slight edge in winning. If you don’t follow this, your chances of winning consistently will be zero.
You have to approach investing the same way and I’ve covered that in my book Dividend Investing Your Way to Financial Freedom.
Games that are best to try to make money gambling:
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Fantasy sports
I’ve been a big player of fantasy sports. While luck is a serious component, there is no doubt in my mind that skill is the majority. In addition, I’ve played poker and enjoy playing it. I will never turn down a good poker game.
Gambling is a tough way to make money, but you can make money instantly if you are good.
List of the Richest Gamblers in the World
Here, you’ll find a rundown of some of the most successful players at the tables, and you might get some top tips that will help you to improve your game. Pro gamblers continue to look for an edge in order to succeed.
There’s definitely a difference between rich and wealthy, but either way, these gamblers made out very well.
1. Bill Benter – Maths Genius Supreme
Bill is a perfect example of how to make money gambling. He used math and provide analytics to make money at the casinos.
Born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1957, Bill Benter is a self-proclaimed mathematical genius. Having studied physics at university, he put his skills to good use, learning how to count cards. Having honed the art, he headed to Las Vegas where he plied his trade at the blackjack tables.
He was so successful that he was finally banned from all the top Sin City casinos within seven years.
However, Benter wasn’t ready to call it a day. Instead, he relocated to Hong Kong and began working with Alan Woods on a formula to predict the most likely outcome in horse races.
The result was the first gambling operation in the world to be assisted by software, and it is still regarded as the most successful model today.
Benter is now believed to be raking in around $100 million every year thanks to his formula, and he has been rumored to have collected up to $10 million on just one race day.
2. Edward E. Thorp – Card Counter Extraordinaire
Edward E Thorp invented the skill we know today as card counting. Born in 1932 in Chicago, Thorp earned a PhD in maths at UCLA then began to work there as a professor.
Mr. Thorp was the first person to ever use computer simulation in the development of a strategy for blackjack, and he created a card-counting scheme which would improve the odds for the player.
He first tested his calculations in the casinos of Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno and thus proved his theories to be valid.
He then penned his book “Beat the Dealer”, still considered to be the definitive guide to the art of card counting.
Ahead of his time, Edward Thorp also invented the wearable computer in 1961 which he used at both blackjack and roulette tables for over two decades until it was finally banned in the mid-1980s.
His skills at the gaming table paired with his ability to predict the movements of the stock market have led to a fortune of approximately $800 million.
See Related: How to Watch Ads for Money
3. Zeljko Ranogajec – An Advantage Gambler
Ranogajec, the son of Croatian immigrants, decided to give up his university education in favor of a life of advantage gambling. With his impressive maths skills and a photographic memory, he began playing blackjack and soon found he could turn a $100 bet into a 7-figure win.
Soon, the Australian casinos got wise to his abilities, and he ended up being banned. Undeterred.
However, he turned his talents to the world of horse betting. His mathematical skill helped him to predict the outcome of the races, and he soon became a billionaire.
Although he has never publicly confirmed his fortune, it’s believed that he could account for as much as 8% of Tabcorp’s turnover. He has certainly known to have had a record Keno win in the 1990s in the sum of $7.5 million.
4. Billy Walters – A Serious Sports Bettor
Anyone who knows anything about sports betting knows about Billy Walters. Having had a humble start to life, Walters was the son of a poker player and the nephew of a professional gambler, so it wasn’t surprising that he began gambling at just nine years old.
Three decades later, he was fined for running an illegal bookmaking service and relocated to Las Vegas where he works with analysts to improve his decision-making.
It is reported that he makes around $15 million every year and is rumored to have scored up to $2 million in a single day.
He has an estimated net worth of $200 million.
While he is banned from betting in Vegas and barred from most bookmakers, he now uses celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Bruce Willis to place wagers for him!
5. Alan Woods – A Pioneer in Horse Race Betting
Alan Woods is sometimes called the godfather of horse betting software. The Australian pioneer was born in 1945, and during the first few years of his gambling career, he was a card counter at the blackjack table.
During the 1980s, he relocated to Hong Kong where he got together with Bill Benter to develop horse racing software that could accurately predict the outcome of races based on form, weather and track.
When Woods died back in 2008, he was believed to be one of the world’s best and biggest gamblers with a fortune to his name of $670 million AUD.
See Related: Best Money Management Tips
6. Patrik Antonius – A Poker Star
Poker star Patrik Antonius has the honor of being the first poker player ever to win a seven-figure pot in an online poker game, having won a hand worth $1,377,000.
Born in Finland in 1976, the professional gambler continues to equally divide his gambling time between Monte Carlo and Las Vegas. Antonius wasn’t always set on a career in poker playing, in fact, he originally aspired to be a tennis player.
However, an injury to his back led him down a different path. When he was young, he enjoyed playing card games with friends, and later he traveled to Helsinki’s casino to play in tournaments.
Soon, he progressed to playing online poker and went professional a few years later in 2002. He relocated to Las Vegas and focused solely on the game. Just a year later, he ranked among Europe’s top internet poker players, and today he is believed to be one of the world’s best PLO players.
To date, Antonius is Finland’s all-time top moneymaker with total career earnings to date coming to more than $4 million.
Best Gamblers Ever
See Related: List of Apps That Pay You Real Money
7. Phil Ivey – A Poker Icon
Phil is the riskiest version of how to make money gambling. He uses his skills but at the same time he’s taken on a lot of risk.
Having earned the title of the greatest poker player in the world, Phil Ivey is famous for having no less than 5 wins in the World Series of Poker Tournament before the age of 30.
Ivey is the same age as Antonius but was raised on the other side of the Atlantic in New Jersey. He learned to play poker at a very early age, with his grandfather teaching him how to play 5 card stud.
It’s no wonder, then, that Ivey’s professional move into gambling came at a very young age. He won the World Series of Poker title for the first time at the age of 23, beating famous players like Amarillo Slim and Phil Hellmuth.
His personal fortune has reached figures or more than $14 million, and he is believed to be one of the toughest players to beat. Unlike many of the other gamblers on this list, Ivey doesn’t use mathematical skill to win games.
He believes in taking risks, and it’s a strategy that’s paying off for him.
See Related: Jobs that Pay Cash Daily
Conclusion on Richest Gamblers in the World
Have you been inspired to place your next wager? These gambling legends are proof that with the right skills and enough determination you can make your fortune at the gaming table or on the race track.
These are all far different than the traditional income opportunities for financial freedom.
Best Gamblers In The World
What do you think of the richest gamblers in the world? Would you consider a career or side hustle in gambling? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Top 10 Gamblers In The World 2019
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