Nick “The Greek” Dandolos
Nick “The Greek” Dandolos may be one of the most well-known gamblers, if not the most well-known gambler of all time. While many other players have treaded the casino floors in the 39 years since Dandolos’ death, none have had the same combination of luck, skill, insanity and charisma that made Nicolas Dandolos a historical figure in the world of gambling, as well as one of the charter inductees into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Dandolos was born Rethymnon, Crete in 1883. After earning his degree in Philosophy at the Greek Evangelical College, Nick was sent to the US with a $150 per week stipend, or allowance from his grandfather.
The gambling career of Nick “The Greek” Dandolos began in Montreal, after a short stay in Chicago. Horse racing was Nick’s first foray into gambling, and after winning over $500,000 on the horses, he moved back to Chicago. Nick was known for winning and losing excessive amounts of money, and lost this quickly.
The story of Nick “The Greek” has become somewhat of a legend, but this much can be substantiated. In 1949, Dandolos played a five-month poker tournament with Johnny Moss, and is said to have lost over $3 million during this duration. According to the tales, the tournament ended with Dandolos uttering one of the most famous gambling quotes ever: “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.”
Nick “The Greek” is said to have seen over $500 million come and go, yet in the later years of his life, he was often down to the point of playing the lowest tables in the casino, yet it is said that he played not for money, but simply for love of the games.
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