People Who Beat The Odds, Part I.

These people really are badass. With no regards whatsoever to consequences, they did everything to win.

By now, we’re somewhat used to the fact that usually, the casino comes out on top. These people, however, decided that they will bend probability to their own will and come up with clever,

• Computers to count cards
• Wearable tech
• Tools to cheat slots

sneaky ways to break the bank. I reckon they could even cheat their way through mobile casinos, too…With meticulous preparation, these crazy-brave men were indeed able to influence casino odds… and win in the process.

Ron Harris and Reid Errol McNeal

According to Listverse, Mr. Harris managed to beat very high odds pitted against him by hitting a monster Keno jackpot of USD 100,000. Security at Bally’s Park Palace Casino Resort in Atlantic City noticed that our man didn’t show too much emotion when he won. He also failed to produce any form of ID and asked for the casino to pay him is cash. Luckily, every jackpot win over USD 35,000 had to be verified, so gaming officials check out McNeal’s hotel room. They found Harris, a computer technician for the Nevada Gaming Control Board there, who’s sole aim was to figure out a way to beat Bally’s random number generator. And he did. He was later arrested in Nevada.

Dominic LoRiggio aka. “The Dominator”

How about a good old game of craps? LoRiggio sure enjoyed playing, especially after years of practicing the tactic in order to get the rolls one needs in order to win. Fun fact: rolling in craps is called shooting. To be successful with this, one has to be very precise when it comes to throwing the dice. Unlike with mobile casino gambling, this is all about physical movement. Listverse states that the dice have to stay together in the air for a while before making them land softly against the back wall of the craps table. Although this isn’t an illegal technique, due to him winning serious amounts in various casinos, security keep an eye out for controlled shooters.

Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo

This guy even used his five children to record roulette results! The Spaniard started off calculating results of roulette games based on the theory that not all roulette wheels can drop balls randomly. He made thousands of observations at each wheel before betting actual money. With a computer, he managed to calculate the next probably number based on his belief and hey presto! He started winning. When he became all too known in Spain, he left for Las Vegas, where he won based on the same theory. When he eventually retired, he managed to accumulate a massive USD 1.5 million from his winnings.

Keith Taft

According to Listverse, this man was a hands down tech genius. He involved his kid in the almost 30 years of developing electronic gadgets that would bring down a casino. He would have probably been able to come up with some smart etch to beat online poker sites in the US, too. He got it in his head that he would beat the odds and win at blackjack. After unsuccessful card counting, he created a huge computer to help him with card counting. He used the lighter version of that computer concealed under his clothes, and won USD 40,000 with it. He then decided to make his machine common knowledge and started to sell it to people. Because of this, he was arrested, but was released.

Tommy Glenn Carmichael

“Give me a slot machine and I’ll beat it,” he said. And he wasn’t making it up, either. Listverse says that he used a “top-bottom joint” to achieve big payouts at slot machines. He would insert it into the coin slot and the machine would release coins. He was found out and thrown into jail. When he was cut loose, he continued his casino-misdemeanors: he invented tools like the Monkey Paw and the Slider. Both gadgets would trigger a switch that would cause the slot to spit out coins. Similarly, the “light wand,” would shine light into a sensor within the slot machine, and it would pour out coins as a result.

Please don’t attempt to mimic these tactics… chances are you are going to be hauled off to prison.