Wouldn’t it be nice to pack up that boring 9 to 5 job and make a decent living by playing the best online casino games? We’ve all dreamed of that one big win that could make this kind of scenario a reality. 

But why dream it? There are plenty of examples of successful pro gamblers who have gone on to make millions beating the casinos at their own game. So, if you’re looking for a new career change, consider the stories of these outstanding individuals:

Zeljko Ranogajec: Card Counting Maestro

One of the most successful professional gamblers of all time, Zeljko Ranogajec a.k.a. the “Loch Ness Monster” rakes in over $1 billion dollars a year in betting turnover from his gambling endeavours. But why such an odd nickname? Well, it has nothing to do with the Australian’s gambling tactics, but more to do with his closely guarded privacy.  
 
Rare public sightings aside, this professional gambler started amassing his fortune at university whilst studying tax, finance and banking. Showing a natural affinity for card counting in Blackjack, Zeljko was often described as one of the finest advantage players of all time. This is the kind of man who could take a seat at a table with just a few hundred dollars and quickly multiply it into millions. While these talents eventually led to numerous casino bans, the “Loch Ness Monster” found even more money to be made in the horse racing market.  

Haralabos Voulgaris: Slam Dunking Success

Getting an edge over the best online casino games is tough. Profiting on sports betting? That’s a diamond wrapped in titanium kind of tough. Yet somehow, Haralabos Voulgaris managed it. The Greek Canadian pro gambler has earned millions upon millions betting on NBA games. In fact, it is rumored that in his younger days, he was even placing daily bets of $1,000,000! And his labour was rewarded with the kind of lifestyle people can only dream about.
 
Jet setting from country to country, surrounded by beautiful women and buying into lucrative poker games with some of the world’s most powerful people… it was a real dream lifestyle. But how did “Bob” Voulgaris manage to pull it off? By exploiting a pretty obvious edge in NBA games and observing the tactics of select coaches. His sharp eyes and keen strategy also made him rich with games like poker, where his total earnings now sit at over $1,800,000. Speaking of poker…

Phil Ivey: Poker Supremo

Poker is often considered to be one of the best online casino games and has produced a number of superstars over the years. But none shine brighter than Phil Ivey - who has been dubbed the Tiger Woods of Poker. With winnings in excess of over $20 million dollars, the Phenom (another one of his many nicknames) has utilised his card skills to maximise his profits. Phil started in the late 90s, playing cards with some co-workers at a telemarketing firm.
 
He had his eyes on a bigger prize however and used a fake ID to play poker in Atlantic City as a teen (which also earned him the nickname “No Home Jerome”). Phil quickly showed the world his adroitness for the game of poker, securing 10 WSOP bracelets at the age of just 38, making him the youngest player ever to reach this milestone. 2017 was a mixed bag for the poker legend. Not only was he elected to the Poker Hall of Fame, but Phil also lost a high court ruling with an established London casino over his edge sorting techniques. Well you can’t win them all...

Tony Ansell: Football Betting Ace

If you want a story about the biggest u-turn in history, you only need to look as far as Tony Ansell. Not concerned with the best online casino games, Tony focussed on football and made an absolute mint out of it. In fact, it’s estimated the man has made over £750,000 just by betting on football games alone. A mathematician at heart, Tony was a chartered accountant for many years before making the switch to full time gambling. And it looks like the move has paid off spectacularly
 
Betting on a range of leagues and matches, there were some weekends where the probability guru was able to make profits in the range of £50,000 to £80.000. Ansell was so good at spotting the correct results in fact - that he even started pricing up football games for some Scottish bookmakers! We would say that’s back of the net material for sure.
 
And there you have it; four amazing individuals who not only beat the house, they practically destroyed it. These examples show it’s entirely possible to make a full-time career out of gambling - you just need to find the right opportunity. And of course, a little bit of luck doesn’t hurt either!