Sign Up For Card Player's Newsletter And Free Bi-Monthly Online Magazine

Best Online Poker Bonuses

Poker Training

Newsletter and Magazine

Sign Up

Find Your Local

Card Room

 

Karas Pleads Not Guilty To Blackjack Cheating

If Convicted, He Could Face Up To 3 Years, 8 Months In Prison

Print-icon
 

According to reports, legendary Las Vegas gambler Archie Karas, who was arrested for allegedly cheating at blackjack in a Southern California Indian casino, has been extradited to California and has pleaded not guilty.

He had a hearing on Friday.

He has been charged with burglary, winning by fraudulent means and cheating at a blackjack table.

Karas is said to have put “subtle, but distinguishable marks on the backs of playing cards” to his $8,000 advantage. He could face up to three years and eight months in prison if convicted of the charges on the table right now.

He was caught by casino surveillance.

The arrested happened late last month in Nevada, and Karas was held without bail while waiting for an extradition hearing.

Karas’ trouble with gaming authorities isn’t anything new, however. According to reporting from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada gaming agents have arrested Karas four times since 1988 for allegedly cheating at Silver State gambling joints.

His story is tragic.

The 62-year-old was featured on ESPN’s World Series of Poker coverage a few summers ago. Karas beat some of the game’s best poker pros out of millions in the 1990s, en route to amassing around $40 million in gambling winnings. However, he went on to lose it all.

His tale is considered to be the largest gambling upswing ever documented.

His game of choice during that run was apparently craps.

Karas has around $200,000 in career poker tournament cashes.