This Dude Won $15 Million At Tropicana

Don Johnson Blackjack Player
Don Johnson

Don Johnson is the dude that won $15 million in Atlantic City last year by playing blackjack.  He won $6 million from Tropicana, $5 million from Caesars and $4 million from Borgata in 6 months.  His action was too high for Resorts and Trump Taj Mahal (and probably the other Trump properties too).  He seemed to be working on his own, with his own special methods.

Johnson, who declined to call himself a professional gambler, would not divulge his betting strategy. However, he emphatically said he is no cheater and denied being part of any gambling ring.

“I’m not breaking any laws,” he said. “I’m beating them with my own skills.”

It’s pretty clear he was out to make money and not for a good time with booze and fancy meals.  Further,

Jim Wortman, a former Atlantic City casino executive and nationally recognized gaming expert, said it was entirely plausible for one player to win so big at the blackjack tables – if he had sound knowledge of the game, deep pockets and exercised self-discipline.

“There are a lot of people who have the knowledge and who have the bankroll, but they fall short of discipline and start changing to losing hands,” said Wortman, gaming director at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.

Discipline and bankroll is something I don’t have and that’s why I gamble for fun.  Maybe someday I’ll grow older and become a smarter gambler, but I like my Grey Goose a bit much when I’m at the blackjack table.

Photo: Atlantic City Press

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Las Vegas Writer, Marketer, Consultant. I love Vegas and everything about it. When in Vegas do 3 things: eat, drink & gamble.

4 Comments

  1. Jake

    Bankroll & disipline- I knew there was something I was missing! Love my vodka too!
    I’m already old,and gamble for fun also.Hope to continue til I leave the planet.

  2. JMP

    he basically said ‘I count cards’ without saying “I count cards”. what boggles my mind is why the casinos didn’t 86 him. they probably thought they’d eventually get their $ back.

    • Marc

      Absolutely. The casinos are desperate for a win, so I’m sure they invited the action. He says he didn’t win all the time so I’d have to imagine they were hoping for those big losses to repeat.

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