6 historical figures that loved to gamble

As long as gambling has been a lucrative business, history has produced people that have become famous – or often more correctly put: notorious – for their gambling habits. From Wild West criminals to medieval kings: here’s a list of some of history’s more illustrious gamblers. Before you go and try to make it to the list, bear in mind that we advise responsible gaming above all else!

Jesse James

History knows Jesse James as one of the most notorious criminals in America’s Wild West era, so much that his exploits have even been romanticized. Few people know that he had a love for gambling, too. As a youngster, he picked up poker and blackjack and even taught his brother and sister how to play, just to have someone to beat. Later on, he used gambling as a way to relax between crime sprees, becoming a consistent winner in the card game faro.

Casanova

Giacomo Girolamo Casanova, as his full name goes, is infamous for his rather voracious love life. It should come to no surprise that this voracity extended into other domains of his life. Indeed, he indulged readily in gambling, going as far as calling himself a professional gambler. Just as he has an insatiable appetite for women, he passionately pursued every game of the 18th century – with mixed success, as he often suffered cold streaks.

Doc Holliday

Another notorious name of the Wild West is that of John Henry “Doc” Holliday, “…a dentist whom necessity had made a gambler”, as fellow legend Wyatt Earp said fondly of him. Holliday took up poker when his dentistry career failed, and started travelling the country looking for opportunities to show off his skill and make some money in the process. On one occasion, he beat a notorious cheater with a baffling bluff that made the whole table fold.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

As one of the most revered writers in history, Fyodor Dostoyevsky created a body of work that never ceased to inspire. One of his novels, The Gambler, is a semi-autobiographical account of the writer’s own ups and down with gambling at the roulette wheel. In a rather ironic twist, The Gambler was written as a daring contract with a publisher that would acquire the rights to all of his works for 9 years if he didn’t produce a novel in time.

Wild Bill Hickok

Born James Butler Hickok, this true Wild West legend is not just known for his gunslinging antics: he also loved poker to the point that he’s one of the 7 original inductees in the Poker Hall of Fame. He learned the game as a child and became skilled enough to gain notoriety. Tragically, his love for poker and gunslinging lifestyle led to his demise: he was fatally shot during a game, holding a pair of aces and a pair of 8s – the dead man’s hand.

Henry VIII

The most famous king of England in the Middle Ages is without a doubt Henry VIII. Known as somewhat of a Renaissance man, he tried to keep as many interests as possible. One of these was gambling. The games in which Henry VIII would indulge have long since gone out of style, but that doesn’t mean that his exploits were less impressive. One time, he wagered the Jesus bells of St. Paul’s Churchyard belfry tower in a single dice toss, and lost.