There’s a knack to playing blackjack, and some of the best players of all time have gone on to enjoy more than a little bit of fame! That said, even the best-known card players can have good and bad days – meaning that there’s a lot that we could learn from them. You can practice all the tips and tricks on Tonybet with our live blackjack dealers!
In this guide, I’ll introduce you to five of the most famous blackjack players in history, and I’ll explore what made them so popular. On top of this, you might even learn a few tips and tricks along the way!
Before you head to the table, check out these legends and – as always – remember to play blackjack responsibly!
Don Johnson
You can’t discuss the biggest blackjack winners of all time without mentioning Don Johnson. Johnson was already a wealthy man, the head of Heritage Development – so he already had a fair amount of capital to place on casino games.
However, it’s Johnson’s impressive math skills and sheer determination – as well as his record-busting win – that have placed him in the history books. He went on to win an incredible $15.1m from blackjack, starting in 2010.
But how did he do it? Johnson deployed a highly analytical strategy. He favoured the house, but split any high hands drawn and then doubled. After a highly successful six-month streak, he received bans from several casinos across the US.
Johnson’s methodical approach to blackjack has gained him celebrity and infamy (certainly with casino owners, in any case!) – and he has even had his story told on the small screen.
Most of us don’t have the nerve or the capital that Johnson had to make these kinds of wins, so don’t go chasing six-month streaks – you’ll likely end up in a worse position compared to where you first started!
Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer is certainly best known for being a successful businessman, but he’s also high up on the list of the most famous blackjack players and the biggest winners of all time. That said, like Johnson, he’s managed to rub up a few casinos the wrong way over the years.
Packer managed to clear a casino of a cool $7m in one day’s play of blackjack back in 1991 – but he then went and cleared an eye-popping $40m at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in under an hour!
How did he do it? I’d like to say that it was simple, but it really wasn’t. Like Johnson, Packer has gained fame from blackjack thanks to a bold, risky strategy and a very high bankroll. Specifically, Packer would spend around $250,000 per round – and he would play up to eight hands at a time at the table.
This was hardly a slow burn – within an hour, the Australian entrepreneur was walking away $40m richer. That said, he gained further fame in the opposite way – by losing at least $37m at the tables.
Eventually, Packer received a casino ban like Johnson – the casinos just couldn’t keep up with these sizes of payouts!
Again, we can all dream of being like Kerry Packer – but remember, big wins and big losses go hand in hand, so always make sure that you’re keeping an eye on your bankroll and your play time!
Henry Tamburin
Henry Tamburin is one of several legendary blackjack players who have made it big not only at the table, but also on publishing strategy. Tamburin is responsible for several of the more popular moves that players are still making both at online and offline tables.
However, tread with caution – Tamburin’s strategies have revolved around a method of card counting. Specifically, he has proposed that players master a system called Hi-Lo and keep a mental record of cards that have appeared. However, card counting is frowned upon by casinos – don’t try to trip up the house!
Tamburin is famous for his book Blackjack: Take The Money and Run, and for taking part in TV blackjack tours. He also runs his own website, Smart Gaming. Despite having a firm background in mathematics, Tamburin has carved out a niche for being one of the most revered blackjack gurus in the world.
Again, don’t always assume that you’re destined to become a blackjack guru yourself! Several of Tamburin’s strategies, as mentioned, are likely to upset casino owners. Therefore, play at your own pace and stick to the rules – you’ll be glad of it in the long run!
Russ Hamilton
Russ Hamilton is a player who many regard as infamous, mainly due to accusations of cheating and a colossal lawsuit with Ultimate Bet.
Regardless, Hamilton became a well-known poker player and blackjack player, having carved out a niche with a tournament play style that many people look to when just starting out. He eventually became a guru of sorts for the Ultimate Bet organisation.
Hamilton has earned millions from playing cards over the years, but a huge scandal impacting his time at Ultimate Bet would bring his star crashing down to earth.
Allegedly, Hamilton was using an online account at Ultimate Bet with certain privileges – which would allow him to get an insight on other players’ hole cards during poker, at least.
This software became known as ‘God Mode’ – and the scandal would lead to Ultimate Bet giving back more than $22m to its players! Hamilton, meanwhile, never had to pay back the money – despite evidence showing that he was one of a few tricksters responsible.
That said, despite not having to return the money, Hamilton’s name is pretty much tarnished in the online community. ‘Don’t get greedy’ is the name of the game here!
Ken Uston
Ken Uston is a legendary blackjack player both for his bizarrely large wins and for his unique approach to strategy at the table. Uston is said to have influenced multi-shoe blackjack setups simply because his card counting skills forced casinos’ hands.
Uston was one of the first players to really start utilising a team system when playing blackjack. This meant that he and several others would set up a syndicate and operate using the same strategy at multiple tables.
Uston and his crew wouldn’t wager quite as much as Kerry Packer at the tables, but they’d still stump up five figures per hand, which is eyebrow-raising all on its own. Following a mathematical strategy that caused controversy with casino owners, Packer’s team would generate more than $4.5m from their escapades.
This made him one of the biggest names in blackjack between the 1970s and 80s – but again, with casinos hardly being happy about card counting in any shape or form, it’s not recommended that you follow his lead.
That said, Uston is regarded as one of the true legends of blackjack strategy – how many other players can say that their skills changed the way that the game would be played worldwide?
Is it possible to become famous playing blackjack?
Hypothetically, yes – you could become the next big blackjack player if you win a huge amount. This, however, comes with a lot of luck and high stakes. It’s never wise to chase big wins. What’s more, playing blackjack a certain way just to gain fame really isn’t healthy, either!
My advice would simply be to start playing blackjack at your own pace. Explore the basic game and see if there’s a pattern or strategy you like and that you’re comfortable to keep using moving forward. If you go into any game of blackjack aiming to win big money, there’s a good chance that you are going to feel pretty humble, pretty soon!
All of the virtual and live blackjack games on offer at Tonybet are randomised and verified as 100% fair – meaning that you never truly know what the next few cards are going to be!
If you’re completely new to blackjack, you can watch a live game unfold without paying a penny. Check out one of our streams with a live dealer and see how others play. If you feel ready to take on the table, you can make a deposit and place a bet.
Above all, please play responsibly – the famous blackjack players listed here are in the minority, and many have lost just as much as they’ve won over the years!
Play blackjack online at Tonybet today!
