While the vast majority of casino patrons are completely satisfied grinding away at the blackjack tables, a specific breed of gambler craves something much more extreme.
From extreme weight loss challenges to living in absolute isolation, the history of gambling is littered with tales of these ridiculous, high-stakes bets.
A Month in the Dark
One of the most famous and psychologically terrifying prop bets in poker history involved the wealthy professional player Rich Alati.
Incredibly, after 20 grueling days in absolute darkness, the opposing bettor realized Alati was not breaking and negotiated an early buyout, paying Alati $62,400 to end the terrifying bet.
- Prop bets are unofficial wagers made directly between two gamblers, not the casino
- They usually involve bizarre physical challenges, extreme endurance, or strange tasks
- Poker players are notorious for making massive prop bets simply out of extreme boredom
The Extreme Weight Loss (and Gain) Bets
In 2010, they incredibly bet Forrest $2 million that he could not drop from 225 pounds down to exactly 138 pounds within a few short months.
Forrest subjected himself to a brutally extreme, medically dangerous regimen of total starvation and relentless daily exercise.
Brian Zembic's Legendary Bet
Furthermore, the bet stipulated that Zembic had to maintain the implants for one full, complete year to collect the massive payout.
Zembic, utterly fearless and lacking any shame, immediately found a cosmetic surgeon who agreed to perform the bizarre operation.
| Bettor | The Challenge | The Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Zembic | Get and keep surgical breast implants | Won $100k + Annual Residuals |
| Johnny Moss | Win a bar fight against a massive bouncer | Lost badly, but survived |
While highly entertaining to read about, these legendary wagers are a stark reminder of the sheer insanity fueled by massive wealth and boredom.
