ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Man who bet life savings on single roulette spin returned to Vegas 15 years later to pick red again

In 2004, Ashley Revell from London won $270,000 in one of the most stunning events in gambling history.
UPDATED DEC 22, 2024
Representational image of gambler next to a roulette (Cover image source: Getty Images | Jovan Doncic)
Representational image of gambler next to a roulette (Cover image source: Getty Images | Jovan Doncic)

In one of the greatest gambling bets in history, Ashley Revell from London won $270,000. In 2004, Revell bet his entire life on a single roulette bet at the Plaza Hotel and Casino, in an event that was covered on TV. He ended up winning the $136,000 bet and thought he would never have to do it again. However, 15 years later, Revell found himself standing at a table in the same casino placing another important bet. 



 

In a recent interview with Discovery UK, Revell shared how it all unfolded. He said that he initially came up with the plan to sell everything and gamble along with a friend who also loved gambling. However, his friend pulled out but Revell decided to do it. 

Screenshot from the video | YouTube | Discovery UK
Screenshot from the video | (Image source: YouTube | Discovery UK)

He said one of his friends worked at a production company through which he got in touch with Sky TV.  The production house wanted to make a three-part show of the Revell's ordeal. With this Revell got to selling. He said the big items like his BMW car and Rolex watch brought in the big bucks. He even sold his name to a company for 10,000 pounds (~$13,300). 

Revell said that he sold everything even his clothes and emptied his life savings to raise $136,000. This was all going on a single bet in Las Vegas. He said that Hard Rock Cafe Casino refused to shoot the show with him as they suspected foul play. 

Eventually, the Plaza Casino agreed to do the shoot. Thus, Revell went in and cashed the money into chips. The only decision he had to make was to bet it on Red or Black. With his friends and family in the audience, Revell picked red and bet all his life on it. 

Screenshot from the video | YouTube | Discovery UK
Screenshot from the video showing a casino (Image source: YouTube | Discovery UK)

After the huge suspense, the ball eventually landed on "Red 7". The room erupted in cheers as everyone knew how significant the win was for Revell. He went on to double his money and walk off the table with $270,000. 



 

Revell's dramatic win has been viewed by millions around the globe and it even inspired Simon Cowell’s reality television show ‘Red or Black.’ However, Revell said that at the time, he didn't want to do it again. This changed about 15 years later. 

To honor Revell's bet that became a sensation, the Plaza launched a special promotion in 2019, called the‘Red 7’. Under this, the casino set up a new roulette table where the guests would get a $25 promotional chip every time the ball lands on the lucky Red 7.

Thus, 15 years after his big win, Revell was invited to return to Las Vegas where the Casino commemorated the win and its new single zero roulette table. The legend even placed a ceremonial bet, but the stakes were obviously not as high as before.  

Plaza Hotel & Casino | Getty Images | Photo by George Rose
Plaza Hotel & Casino (Image source: Getty Images | Photo by George Rose)

“I have said that the roulette spin at the Plaza was the most amazing moment of my life,” Revell told 3News, at the launch. He expressed that the Single 0 roulette wasn't available when he placed the historic bet and a lot has changed in gaming since then.

This article originally appeared 2 months ago.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The owner of the collection of Danny Lyon SNCC Civil Rights Posters was left astonished in the end.
3 hours ago
After Harrison bought a signed speed bag for $250, he happened to meet the star at a dinner.
6 hours ago
The contestant, Doug, had a hard time coming up with a sensible answer.
9 hours ago
While Jennings performed a half-baked trick, it still managed to thoroughly entertain the fans.
1 day ago
The player, Andy Schwartz registered the first loss of a car since Seacrest took over as host.
1 day ago
The guest kept his grandparents' antique instruments under his bed for years.
1 day ago
Harris wasn't the only one who came up with an answer that shocked everyone.
1 day ago
Despite getting a high auction estimate, the owner of the Meiji Period lamp chose to keep it.
2 days ago
The player, Gabriel Berkowitz pulled off a perfect night winning over $45,000 and a car.
2 days ago
Harvey showed no mercy after he found out that Sweet Lou Dunbar didn't know how apps work.
2 days ago
The founder of Plop Star made an unforgettable entry and a sad exit from the show.
3 days ago
The host is otherwise quick to reprimand families for backing absurd answers.
3 days ago
While the Marvel comic book fetched a $50,000 appraisal, Harrison felt it was too rich for him.
3 days ago
Jimmy Alexander became the first player to lose a brand-new car on season 43 of the show.
4 days ago
The contestant, Brianne Peterson got extremely unlucky with her letter picks for the final puzzle.
4 days ago
The guest was told that the Jasper Johns Flag Print wouldn't be valuable but it was worth thousands.
4 days ago
It didn’t help that Alvin Rosales was playfully scolded by the host just before losing the Bonus Round.
5 days ago
The photos featured some looks of the show's legendary former host, Alex Trebek, as well.
5 days ago
The player, Kate Stuntz, pulled off a miraculous win to take home over $68,000 and a trip to Iceland.
5 days ago
The owner couldn’t believe the value of Jane Peterson’s "The Floats" gouache painting.
6 days ago