The Gambler
The gambler is a 2014 crime drama about a literature professor who is addicted to gambling. It goes through how his high rolling bets land him in trouble and pits him against his worst enemies. The original version of the movie was actually released in 1974, long today todays online bingo world came to the fore!
The film is the story of the impasse of a gambling addict. It leaves viewers with valuable lessons and many thought-provoking reflections as it highlights the destructive nature of not knowing when to quit.
More about the Gambler
Jim Bennet (Mark Wahlberg) is a professor of literature who comes from a family that is well off with a stable family life. However, this does not seem to be enough for Jim, and his life takes a turn for the worst as his gambling addiction takes over his whole life.
The more Jim plays, the more he loses, and he finally has to borrow money from loan shark bosses to feed his addiction and to gamble on the red game. His debts keep growing, and it reaches a stage where no one is willing to lend him money, and he has to repay his $260 000 debt within seven days. Unable to do this, the loan sharks go to his mother who gives Jim the money to pay off his debt. Of course, he does not do that, though. His gambling blood takes him to a casino where he loses it all in one night.
With a considerable dilemma on his hands and the repayment date near, Jim plans to flee. However, he is hunted, arrested and beaten by the loan shark. Jim has to repay the debt, and with no way out, he decides to take a risk playing a gamble which pays off.
Conclusion
The film The Gambler details the self-destructive nature of gambling and how reckless players become, hoping for that big win that never.
About Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon aka “Tricky Dicky” was a card shark that partially funded his first run for Congress with his substantial poker winnings.
Nixon, a former US President’s passion for Poker, began when he was at the US Air Force base in the Solomon Islands in 1943. There, he first encountered card games like five-card stud and five-card draw. Nixon was drawn to these card games and learnt that playing tight was the way to go. He became obsessed with the game and would often pass up dinners and one special dinner in particular which was with the famous cross Atlantic flyer Charles Lindbergh.
Richard Nixon was by no means interested in the social aspect of the game. He just wanted to win money. This money assisted in getting him elected into Congress, and the rest is history.
Poker and Politics
Raised in a Quaker family that disliked gambling, Richard Nixon became obsessed with the game as it helped pass the days in the Navy and it was profitable.
A serviceman by the name of James Stewart taught Nixon strategies like play a tight hand and limit bluffs. Nixon was a high roller who played a quiet game but was never afraid of taking chances. He had the ability to smell weakness and would win the pot at all costs by bluffing.
Nixon made more money playing Poker than he did while serving in the Navy as an ensign and pocketed over $150 or more per month. One of his most memorable wins came in 1946 and the $5000 winnings he parlayed into an unbeaten congressional run, money well spent when looking back.
Conclusion
Richard Nixon’s name is synonymous with Mafia bosses and the Watergate Scandal. However, he was a brilliant Poker player and that funded his political career taking him to the White House.
This professional Norwegian female gambler made history as the youngest ever WSOPE ( World Series of Poker Europe ) bracelet winner in 2007 and has the nickname the Huntress. Annette was born on the 18 September 1988, and besides playing Poker professionally, she also runs a YouTube Channel called Annette’s Makeup Corner.
She started her Poker playing career at the age of 15 using the online screen name Annette_15 and never made a deposit. Instead, she made her initial bankroll by winning Freeroll Poker Tournaments.
Annette Obrestad’s Poker Career
The “Huntress” started her big winning streak between September 2006 and February 2007 where she won over $500 000 on Pokerstars, $200 000 on UltimateBet and $136 000 at Full Tilt Poker. She was ranked at no 51 by Pocketfives.com in 2008 and was also the site’s top-ranked player in previous years.
Her luck continued, and in 2008 she won $20 000 and came first in the Stars Sunday Hundred Grand Tournament with a buy-in of only $11 and a field of 20 000 players. Her winning streak continued, but what put her on the map was her win at the World Series of Poker Europe, Main Event. This happened just before her 19th birthday. She won $2.01 million making her the record holder for a single event payout to a female player. The record was previously held by Annie Duke who won $2 million at the 2004 Tournament of Champions.
Conclusion
Obrestad currently holds second place among Norwegian Poker players in the all-time money list in live tournaments. She came close to winning her second major live title in November 2007 and finished 11th alongside Phil Hellmuth at the 2010 WSOP. As of 2020, Obrestad’s total live tournament winnings exceed $3.9 million, and she has no intention of stopping!