In the annals of gambling lore, few stories are as compelling as the one about the astonishing three-year run of Archie Karas. His winning streak went from December 1992 to the end of 1995, where he experienced staggering highs and lows — from winning $30 million to losing $30 million. His monumental run made for one of the most tantalizing and unbelievable stories of gambling lore — a roller coaster ride through some of the most glitzy of locales that was as entertaining to gamblers as it was a gold mine for observers of human nature.
Karas arrived in Las Vegas in December of 1992 with only $50 in his wallet, hoping to find a way to change his luck. Never one to be short of confidence or a flair for the high-stakes gambling, Archie took immediate action and, with a little persuading at the poker tables in Sin City, he convinced a fellow poker player to loan him $10,000. Karas turned that into $30,000 while playing high-stakes Razz at The Mirage and then sought out a wealthy opponent — simply known as “Mr. X” — and engaged in a series of high-stakes pool and poker matches, eventually amassing over $1 million in winnings within a few weeks.
With a $4 million bankroll, Karas continued to win at a dizzying rate, hanging with some of the best in the world — including Stu Ungar and Chip Reese — and amassing over $17 million in just six months on his way to becoming a gambling icon. But every bit as fast as Karas rose to fame, he found rock bottom when his luck changed and, with it, he lost over $30 million as 1995 drew to a close. Karas attempted to stage several comebacks, but he would never recapture the magic that made his story so remarkable. Yet, in proper Karas form, it wouldn’t be the end. He would have a few mini-streaks of success, allowing him to bask in some of his former glory. In the end, he would succumb once again to the seductive allure of the ultimate gamble.
Archie Karas’s story is one that teaches a good lesson about the world of gambling. It’s a meteoric rise and spectacular fall. Mostly, his story is one of a man who embraced the volatile nature of fortune, and in doing so, thrived in the ultimate gamble. It’s a story about a man who aspired for the stars, rocketed to them, and through equal parts fate and puissance, fell right back down. But within the tragedy of the ultimate gambling gambit, Karas experienced a tragedy that is relatable to all — the resilience displayed amidst a series of increasingly unlikely odds.