high roller
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2011 3:00 am | Updated: 7:35 am, Mon May 23, 2011.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer |
ATLANTIC CITY - He took Caesars for more than $4 million, burned Borgata for about $5 million and then topped it off by beating Tropicana out of $5.8 million.
For Don Johnson, it was an incredible streak of good luck at the Atlantic City blackjack tables.
"I'll take luck over any other skill," Johnson said, laughing. "There's no magic to this. Eventually, someone would whack them. I'm just glad it was me."
Johnson, 49, of Bensalem, Pa., is the chief executive officer of Heritage Development LLC, a Wyoming-based company that uses computer-assisted wagering programs for horseracing.
He confirmed in two interviews with The Press of Atlantic City that he is the blackjack player who has been single-handedly scorching the casino industry in the past six months. His identity previously had been a mystery, known only to the casinos where he was a pampered high roller.
By Johnson's account, he won $4.23 million at Caesars Atlantic City in December. Next, he conquered Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, winning about $998,000 in December, then $1.8 million in March and April and $2.25 million over two nights later in April. Most remarkable was his haul of $5.8 million during a 12-hour spree at Tropicana Casino and Resort in April, a record loss for the casino. Multiple sources in the casino industry confirmed the accuracy of Johnson's story.
In all, Johnson racked up about $15.1 million in blackjack winnings during a six-month span, although he acknowledged incurring some undisclosed losses along the way. "I don't wear Kevlar," he said. "I'm not bulletproof. I do have some losses in between."
His huge wins capped a casino gambling career that started with him placing $25 bets at blackjack about 15 years ago. As he became more proficient, he transitioned into high-stakes wagering. At Tropicana last month, he was allowed to bet up to $100,000 a hand. "That's the highest I've ever heard of," he said. . . . atlantic city press
"I don't think they will let me play anymore," he said of the Atlantic City casinos. "But it's not going to change my life. If I don't play blackjack, I'll just go to the horse races."
Quote: SanchoPanzaAt Tropicana last month, he was allowed to bet up to $100,000 a hand. "That's the highest I've ever heard of," he said. . . .
I was told that Packer was permitted to play up to three hands of blackjack at $50K apiece. But rumor has it that baccarat players are allowed to go much higher. To the best of my knowledge only the Golden Nugget has maximum limits of $15K posted (i.e. you don't need special permission) which are the highest in Vegas for blackjack. The Tropicana website says $50K, but they must have made an exception.
As far as I can see Tropicana is still way ahead of the game despite the $6M loss. The publicity should do even more for them.
He could probably sell that sweatshirt of $100K.
Quote: pacomartinI was told that Packer was permitted to play up to three hands of blackjack at $50K apiece. But rumor has it that baccarat players are allowed to go much higher. To the best of my knowledge only the Golden Nugget has maximum limits of $15K posted (i.e. you don't need special permission) which are the highest in Vegas for blackjack. The Tropicana website says $50K, but they must have made an exception.
As far as I can see Tropicana is still way ahead of the game despite the $6M loss. The publicity should do even more for them.
I've been told Packer was allowed 50k sterling per hand on 5 hands in various London casinos.
Quote: teddysJohnson said he has been banned
Why ban him? they should want him back so they can win their money back. Maybe he means they have banned his terms, which perhaps include not having to flat bet?
$4,363,659 on $30,854,540 - 14.1% Ceasars December 2010
$6,533,719 on $36,091,573 - 18.1% Ceasars December 2009
Quote: teddysHis winning exploits at the blackjack tables have recently made the casinos wary. Johnson said he has been banned at the Caesars and Harrah's casinos in Nevada and was turned down by Resorts and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City. Unlike the past, the casinos are no longer willing to give him a 20 percent discount on his losses or shower him with other high-roller perks, he explained.
"I don't think they will let me play anymore," he said of the Atlantic City casinos. "But it's not going to change my life. If I don't play blackjack, I'll just go to the horse races."
Unlike Las Vegas, blackjack players cannot be banned in Atlantic City.
It seems to me he maybe netted 58 MAX bets, not 58 min bets?
I guess you are assuming he flat-bet the max every hand in his actual winnings?
Do we know what the min at the table was?
Do we know how he may have varied his bet over his session?
Do we know his average bet?
Do we know if he spread to multiple hands?
If his min-max was, say, 500-100000, a 200 to 1 spread, and a $5 dollar better has a 5-1000 min-max spread, then, would it not, maybe, then be equivalent to that $5 player winning $58,000 betting the same proportionally way?
Sorry - edited to add it might not be apparent I was replying to MathExtremist's post.
the part in the article about him being unassuming is bs he always wears a 35k solid gold rolex and was actually really good friends with another huge player in atlantic city daniel borislow who owns magic jack-
all that being said he is definately not any wiz when it comes to blacjack, he is a big gambler and bets a lot of money and just happend to go on one of those archie karas type runs, im sure he is not up more then 4-5 overall
if anyone wants anymore info pm me
Quote: DeMangoSo he didn't count? Did he flat bet? Run a progression? Inquiring minds want to know.
Herp derp.
Johnson insisted the casinos have only themselves to blame for their losses, opening the door by offering him high-stakes gambling. They also agreed to discount 20 percent of his blackjack losses as an incentive to get him to play, he said. For instance, if he lost $1 million, the casinos would forgive $200,000.