Nikos 'Nick the Greek' Dandolos (Greek: Νίκος Δάνδολος; April 27, 1883 – December 25, 1966) was born in Rethymnon, Crete and was a professional gambler and high roller.
- 3Later life
Early life
Another gambler coming from Greece was Nick Dandolos. This man was born in 1883 in a wealthy family. He moved to Chicago where he lived with family money. As soon as he moved in Montreal, Nick started with gambling activity. Nick chose to play on horse racing competitions which brought him a significant amount of money. Nick Dandolos – Inspiration Behind the World Series of Poker Another Greek to make it onto our list of most famous gamblers in history is Nick 'The Greek' Dandalos. Born to a wealthy family, Nick moved to the United States when he was 18, where he lived off an allowance from his parents. Nick Dandolos Personality Database. We feature top votes by our users, use the select option to choose favourite type.
Dandolos was the son of wealthy parents. He attended the Greek Evangelical College and earned a degree in philosophy. When he was 18 years old his grandfather sent him to the U.S.A. with an allowance of $150 per week. Although Dandolos settled down in Chicago he eventually moved to Montreal where he began gambling on horse races.
Dandolos was known throughout his life for winning and losing large sums of money. After winning over $500,000 on horse racing, he moved back to Chicago where he lost it all on card and dice games. He quickly became a master of these games, however, and became a prime attraction at casinos when he would play in them.
Nick The Greek
Poker and gambling
From January 1949 to May 1949, Dandolos played a two-person 'heads up' poker match against Johnny Moss where the two played virtually every variation of the game that existed at the time. The game, set up by Benny Binion as a tourist attraction, is widely credited as being the inspiration for the modern day World Series of Poker.
At the end of this five-month poker marathon, down an estimated $2–4 million, Dandolos uttered what has become one of the most famous poker quotes ever: 'Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.'[1]
One urban legend claims that Dandolos once had the opportunity to escort Albert Einstein around Las Vegas. Thinking that his gambling friends may not be familiar with him, Dandolos allegedly introduced Einstein as 'Little Al from Princeton' and stated that he 'controlled a lot of the numbers action around Jersey.'[citation needed] According to Dandolos' own testimony in Gambling Secrets of Nick the Greek, just before the end of World War II, he got a call from a friend at the United States State Department. The caller said that there was someone who was looking for a poker game on a weekend in Manhattan. Dandolos reminded his friend that gambling is illegal in New York, but his friend said that he would see to it that no law enforcement would get involved. At the game, according to Dandolos, he introduced Albert Einstein as 'little Al from Jersey.'
Another urban legend has him winning one million dollars against a Texan. In the early hours of the morning, Nick felt tired and called an end to the game. The Texan accused him of chickening out while the going was good. Nick the Greek then called for a new deck of cards, shuffled them and asked the Texan if he wanted to cut the cards (high card wins) one time, for double or quit. The Texan declined and they went home.[citation needed]
Nobel Prize–winning physicist Richard Feynman also met Nick the Greek, according to the autobiographical Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!. Nick explains how he wins big not by playing the tables, but by knowing the odds at the tables and betting against others who have superstitious beliefs about the outcome. He then relies on his reputation to bet against others.
In Eliot Asinof's 'Eight Men Out' the author attributes this gambling wisdom to Nick the Greek: 'Never bet on anything that can talk.' [1]
Later life
Near the end of his life Dandolos was near-broke and playing $5 limit draw poker games in Gardena, California. When asked by a fellow player how he could once play for millions and now be playing for such small stakes, Dandolos supposedly replied 'Hey, it's action, isn't it?'
Death
Kansas city chiefs roster. He died on Christmas Day in 1966 and was a charter inductee of the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979.
Legacy
It's estimated[by whom?] that he won and lost over $500 million (about $15 billion in today's dollars) in his lifetime. He himself claimed that he went from rags to riches over 73 times. A man who never respected money[speculation?], he donated over $20 million (about $500 million adjusted for 2009 inflation) to education and charity.[2]
A book by Ted Thackrey was published in 1968 titled Gambling Secrets of Nick the Greek.
A novel about Nick's life was written by Harry Mark Petrakis in 1978 titled Nick the Greek.
See also
References
- ↑Moe, Albert Woods.: Nevada's Golden Age of Gambling, Puget Sound Books, 2001, ISBN 0-9715019-0-4
- ↑Jon Bradshaw, Fast Company p219
Nick Dandalos
Nick 'The Greek' won and lost more money than any gambler in history. It's estimated he went through more than $500 million in a lifetime of gambling.
'King of Gamblers' was the editorial tribute Nick The Greek received as he lay dying in a hospital bed in 1966 from his admiring friend Hank Greenspun, founder of the Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. 'Luck was a lady and she has been the love of his life,' the publisher wrote.
Nicholas Andreas Dandolos was born in Crete in 1883. His father was a rug merchant and his godfather was a shipbuilder. Nick grew-up wealthy and privileged. He graduated from the Greek Evangelical College with a degree in Philosophy.
At 18, in fashionable coming-of-age-style for his class and gender, young Nick was sent to America and given a $150 a week allowance, a substantial sum at the turn of the century. It was supposed to be a learning experience to prepare him for success in life and business. It was an education alright and Nick was an eager student.
Nick settled for awhile in Montreal where he befriended Phil Musgrave, a highly regarded jockey. After making his first bet at the track in 1911, the young man discovered who he was – a gambler.
He had a masterful mathematical mind; odds, percentages and propositions all came easily for him. Together with Musgrave's experience and knowledge of horses, they made a lot of money.
At the end of racing season, The Greek left Montreal for Chicago with over $500,000 in his pocket. It was here Nick discovered Poker and Craps.
Playing with professionals he soon lost his entire halfmillion. More importantly, he would say years later, he learned to master both games.
Young Nick studied Poker and Craps and honed his skills at all the games. He played high and hard, eventually establishing a reputation among big time gamblers. It was not uncommon for The Greek to win or lose a $100,000 in a single session.
One evening he went to New York for a big Craps game. He walked out twelve days later having dropped $1.6 million! It's considered the biggest one game loss in Craps history.
On another occasion, he took $20,000 into a Stud Poker game and left 7 hours later with $550,000! His biggest pot, about $150,000, he won holding four 10s against a fellow holding Aces-full w/ Jacks.
- 3Later life
Early life
Another gambler coming from Greece was Nick Dandolos. This man was born in 1883 in a wealthy family. He moved to Chicago where he lived with family money. As soon as he moved in Montreal, Nick started with gambling activity. Nick chose to play on horse racing competitions which brought him a significant amount of money. Nick Dandolos – Inspiration Behind the World Series of Poker Another Greek to make it onto our list of most famous gamblers in history is Nick 'The Greek' Dandalos. Born to a wealthy family, Nick moved to the United States when he was 18, where he lived off an allowance from his parents. Nick Dandolos Personality Database. We feature top votes by our users, use the select option to choose favourite type.
Dandolos was the son of wealthy parents. He attended the Greek Evangelical College and earned a degree in philosophy. When he was 18 years old his grandfather sent him to the U.S.A. with an allowance of $150 per week. Although Dandolos settled down in Chicago he eventually moved to Montreal where he began gambling on horse races.
Dandolos was known throughout his life for winning and losing large sums of money. After winning over $500,000 on horse racing, he moved back to Chicago where he lost it all on card and dice games. He quickly became a master of these games, however, and became a prime attraction at casinos when he would play in them.
Nick The Greek
Poker and gambling
From January 1949 to May 1949, Dandolos played a two-person 'heads up' poker match against Johnny Moss where the two played virtually every variation of the game that existed at the time. The game, set up by Benny Binion as a tourist attraction, is widely credited as being the inspiration for the modern day World Series of Poker.
At the end of this five-month poker marathon, down an estimated $2–4 million, Dandolos uttered what has become one of the most famous poker quotes ever: 'Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.'[1]
One urban legend claims that Dandolos once had the opportunity to escort Albert Einstein around Las Vegas. Thinking that his gambling friends may not be familiar with him, Dandolos allegedly introduced Einstein as 'Little Al from Princeton' and stated that he 'controlled a lot of the numbers action around Jersey.'[citation needed] According to Dandolos' own testimony in Gambling Secrets of Nick the Greek, just before the end of World War II, he got a call from a friend at the United States State Department. The caller said that there was someone who was looking for a poker game on a weekend in Manhattan. Dandolos reminded his friend that gambling is illegal in New York, but his friend said that he would see to it that no law enforcement would get involved. At the game, according to Dandolos, he introduced Albert Einstein as 'little Al from Jersey.'
Another urban legend has him winning one million dollars against a Texan. In the early hours of the morning, Nick felt tired and called an end to the game. The Texan accused him of chickening out while the going was good. Nick the Greek then called for a new deck of cards, shuffled them and asked the Texan if he wanted to cut the cards (high card wins) one time, for double or quit. The Texan declined and they went home.[citation needed]
Nobel Prize–winning physicist Richard Feynman also met Nick the Greek, according to the autobiographical Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!. Nick explains how he wins big not by playing the tables, but by knowing the odds at the tables and betting against others who have superstitious beliefs about the outcome. He then relies on his reputation to bet against others.
In Eliot Asinof's 'Eight Men Out' the author attributes this gambling wisdom to Nick the Greek: 'Never bet on anything that can talk.' [1]
Later life
Near the end of his life Dandolos was near-broke and playing $5 limit draw poker games in Gardena, California. When asked by a fellow player how he could once play for millions and now be playing for such small stakes, Dandolos supposedly replied 'Hey, it's action, isn't it?'
Death
Kansas city chiefs roster. He died on Christmas Day in 1966 and was a charter inductee of the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979.
Legacy
It's estimated[by whom?] that he won and lost over $500 million (about $15 billion in today's dollars) in his lifetime. He himself claimed that he went from rags to riches over 73 times. A man who never respected money[speculation?], he donated over $20 million (about $500 million adjusted for 2009 inflation) to education and charity.[2]
A book by Ted Thackrey was published in 1968 titled Gambling Secrets of Nick the Greek.
A novel about Nick's life was written by Harry Mark Petrakis in 1978 titled Nick the Greek.
See also
References
- ↑Moe, Albert Woods.: Nevada's Golden Age of Gambling, Puget Sound Books, 2001, ISBN 0-9715019-0-4
- ↑Jon Bradshaw, Fast Company p219
Nick Dandalos
Nick 'The Greek' won and lost more money than any gambler in history. It's estimated he went through more than $500 million in a lifetime of gambling.
'King of Gamblers' was the editorial tribute Nick The Greek received as he lay dying in a hospital bed in 1966 from his admiring friend Hank Greenspun, founder of the Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. 'Luck was a lady and she has been the love of his life,' the publisher wrote.
Nicholas Andreas Dandolos was born in Crete in 1883. His father was a rug merchant and his godfather was a shipbuilder. Nick grew-up wealthy and privileged. He graduated from the Greek Evangelical College with a degree in Philosophy.
At 18, in fashionable coming-of-age-style for his class and gender, young Nick was sent to America and given a $150 a week allowance, a substantial sum at the turn of the century. It was supposed to be a learning experience to prepare him for success in life and business. It was an education alright and Nick was an eager student.
Nick settled for awhile in Montreal where he befriended Phil Musgrave, a highly regarded jockey. After making his first bet at the track in 1911, the young man discovered who he was – a gambler.
He had a masterful mathematical mind; odds, percentages and propositions all came easily for him. Together with Musgrave's experience and knowledge of horses, they made a lot of money.
At the end of racing season, The Greek left Montreal for Chicago with over $500,000 in his pocket. It was here Nick discovered Poker and Craps.
Playing with professionals he soon lost his entire halfmillion. More importantly, he would say years later, he learned to master both games.
Young Nick studied Poker and Craps and honed his skills at all the games. He played high and hard, eventually establishing a reputation among big time gamblers. It was not uncommon for The Greek to win or lose a $100,000 in a single session.
One evening he went to New York for a big Craps game. He walked out twelve days later having dropped $1.6 million! It's considered the biggest one game loss in Craps history.
On another occasion, he took $20,000 into a Stud Poker game and left 7 hours later with $550,000! His biggest pot, about $150,000, he won holding four 10s against a fellow holding Aces-full w/ Jacks.
It was sweet revenge; the guy had been offensive to Nick all evening. He told the loser, 'You've insulted me for the last time. Now let's see how much of a gambler you really are….
Nick The Greek Union City
Let's cut the cards once for my $210,000. I'll take your marker for that amount now.' Defeated and deflated, the loser slumped in his seat and cried.
How does betting work. In 1931, the state of Nevada legalized gambling.
Soon, the man one writer described as 'a being perfectly suited to survive in a casino', headed for Las Vegas. A 24-hr town where action's the attraction — Nick The Greek had found his playground. The Greek always operated as an independent gambler. He played his own money and never worked for the house or the mob. Publisher Greenspun said, 'He kept his mouth closed about what he knew and paid his markers… on time.'
Nick Dandolos Birthplace
Legit bingo online. In 1949, Nick told Benny Binion that he'd like to play high-stakes poker heads-up with the best player the Horseshoe owner could find. Benny called Johnny Moss, a Texas road gambler.
Moss caught a plane in Dallas, took a cab from the Las Vegas Airport to the Horseshoe, and immediately sat down at the poker table across from The Greek. The game continued for five months with breaks for sleeping and eating.
The two players changed the game often to keep it interesting. They played Draw, 5-card Stud, 7-Stud, 7-card high-low, Ace-5 lowball, and 2-7 lowball. Day after day huge pots exchanged hands as large crowds gathered to watch the contest which Benny had cleverly positioned in front of a big window.
The heads-up marathon pitted two very different players against each other. Nick, 57, had cleaned out the biggest games and best players in the East. Moss, 42, was a high stakes player accustomed to private games in Texas and throughout the South. The Greek was educated, articulate and social. Moss had little education, was quite, calculating and distant.
The Greek had busted every big name poker player on the East Coast. Nevertheless, after five months playing heads-up and stuck for more than $2 million, Nick Dandolos rose from the table and uttered one of the classiest concessions in the annals of Poker, he simply said, 'Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.' Years later, this legendary contest gave birth to the World Series of Poker.
Over his career, Nick Dandolos claimed he had gone from rags to riches 73 times! Although old and ill, one close friend recalled, 'He would play for days without sleep… there were times he refused to leave the tables although desperately in need of medical help and was treated by a physician while placing bets…'.
Nick The Greek Gambler
Nick The Greek died broke on Christmas Day, 1966. A generous gambler, he's said to have donated over $20 million to education and charity during his lifetime. In 1979, he and Johnny Moss were the first two players inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Nick Dandolos Quotes
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