Archie Karas, a legendary figure in the world of gambling, has passed away at the age of 73, as reported by Poker News. Karas rose to fame for his incredible winning streak known as “The Run,” which is considered the largest winning streak in the history of gambling.
Starting with just $50 and a $10,000 loan, Karas went on an unbelievable journey from 1992 to 1994. During this time, he played high-stakes games of poker and pool, defeating some of the most renowned gamblers in Las Vegas, including Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Chip Reese, and Johnny Moss.
However, Karas’ luck eventually took a turn, and he lost his entire $40 million fortune between 1995 and 1996. Despite this, Karas remained unapologetic about his gambling ways. In a 2021 interview with Soft White Underbelly, he stated, “That’s what makes a gambler. He’s not afraid to win and he’s not afraid to lose.”
Known as “The Greek,” Karas was originally born in Greece in 1950 as Anargyros Karabourniotis. Alongside his fame, Karas was also no stranger to controversy. In 2017, he was added to Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons, also known as the Black Book, which barred him from entering any casino in the state.
This was not the first time Karas had faced legal troubles. In 2014, he was put on probation for three years after being caught cheating at cards at the Barona Resort & Casino in California. Prior to that, he had been arrested four times by Nevada gaming agents for alleged cheating at blackjack in various casinos across the state.
Despite the highs and lows of his gambling career, Archie Karas will always be remembered as a true maverick in the world of gambling, unafraid to take risks and chase his dreams.
