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Nikolaos Andreas Dandolos (Greek: Νικόλαος Ανδρέας Δάνδολος [niˈko.la.os anˈðɾe.as ˈðan.ðo.los]; April 27, 1883 – December 25, 1966), commonly known as Nick the Greek, was a Greek professional gambler and high roller.
On Christmas Eve 1966, “Nick the Greek” took his last breath, leaving behind an almost-mythical life spent as the high-stakes “Gentleman of gambling.” Many Greeks have made history in the United States, but Nick Dandolos is one of few who is remembered the most. Frank Sinatra and Aristotle Onassis were two of his biggest fans.
Nick Dandolos is one of the more extraordinary characters in the history of gambling in the twentieth century. Known in the gambling world as “The Greek” (Dandolos was born in 1883 in Rethymno, on the island of Crete), he has represented, since the 50s, the idea of the professional gambler who does not play mainly for the prizes up for grabs but for everything that gravitates around a bet ...
Nick Dandolos was what one may consider a well-rounded gambler, as he excelled at betting on horses and playing poker throughout the early to mid 1900s. His friends called him, “Nick the Greek,” and his reputation spread across Europe as being a world-class gambler.
It’s a way to make sure he’s being exactly who he is, Nicholas Andrea Dandolos, celebrated gambler and gentlemen extraordinaire. “I play for the risk, not for the money,” he once said.
Nick ( whose real name was Nicholas Andrea Dandolos ) was the son of a rug merchant and the godson of a wealthy shipowner. When he was 18 years old, his grandfather sent him to America, giving him an allowance of $150 a week.
On Christmas Eve 1966, “Nick the Greek” took his last breath, leaving behind an almost-mythical life spent as the high-stakes “Gentleman of gambling.” Imagine America at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Dandolos died Sunday night at Mt. Sinai Hospital of massive internal bleeding Hospital records gave his age as 80. The suave, soft-spoken gambler often claimed that he had gone from rags to riches 73 times in his life. He once estimated that he alternately had won and lost more than 3500 million.
In 1919 Nick Dandolos arrived in Chicago from Greece, pursuing the American dream. Instead, tempted into a high-stakes game of cards, he is driven to humiliation and defeat.
We're not sure these anecdotes will make you feel any better, but if you don't want to play games of chance yourself, here are a few interesting facts about one of history's most legendary...