Early Life

Stu Ungar left a lasting impression in the world of gambling. He was born in New York City and grew up in the Lower East Side. His gambling career started early in his life and he was a proficient gambler by the time he reached fourteen. This early introduction into the world of gambling was due to the untimely death of his father, a bookmaker and bar operator by profession.

Even at a young age, Stu Ungar was an unbelievably talented gin rummy player. In 1963, as a 10-year-old, he scored his first victory.  He achieved this feat in the first gin rummy tournament he attended, held at the Catskill Mountain Resort. This was an opportunity presented to him while he was on a holiday with his family. By the age of 14, he had started playing on a regular basis and repeatedly defeated top free bingo players in New York. He discontinued his formal education at 15, when a renowned bookie got him to participate in the "$500 buy-in" at a popular gin rummy tournament. Stu Ungar won a $10,000 cash prize at this event. What was astounding was the fact that he never lost a single hand in that game. His record is still unbroken in the New York City card rooms. Though he did give his parents $1000 from his winnings, a week later he lost the rest at the Aqueduct racetrack while betting on the horses. His callous attitude and on-the-edge lifestyle were telltale signs of the impending dangers that were soon to be a part of his life.

A Shift to Greener Pastures 

Stu Ungar soon relocated to Miami, for this is where the most lucrative Gin bingo games were played. As expected, he was a winner but his penchant for sports and track betting ensured that his winnings never lasted for long.  He was broke when he reached Las Vegas in 1976. One way or another, he raised enough cash to participate in a $50,000 tournament. During this game he accurately predicted the losing player's cards for the last two hands. This precision of his prediction was an inimitable skill. Though he received accolades and praise for his accuracy, it made others cautious of him. It caused others to realize his potential and they feared his talent. The outcome was certain; he was no longer welcomed to participate in any smaller casino games apart from the tournaments. This obviously cost him dearly, as there was no way he could make money on the road. Stu Ungar soon turned to blackjack. It was a timely career move since he had already had a spate of winning streaks on poker tables, all the way from Nevada to New Jersey. 

One night, his winnings were stopped at $83,000 at the opulent Caesar's Palace when the manager chose to stop play. Stu Ungar got even by predicting the remaining 18 cards in the single-deck shoe. This ability to forecast all of the houses deck cards could have cost casinos millions, around the world. Almost immediately, the end for single deck blackjack tables was evident. These were banned from Caesar's Palace, and subsequently other casinos. Stu Ungar's picture was placed in the security rooms of many casinos. This was not an award, but a declaration that he was not to be permitted to play at these casinos.

Streak Of New Associations

Stu Ungar soon chose to bet takers $10,000, to count down the final 2 decks in a six-deck shoe. No one took up the challenge. In January 1977, Bob Stupak, ex-owner of Vegas World and designer of the Stratosphere Tower, presented him with a new deal. He staked $100,000 for Stu Ungar to count down the last three decks, halfway through a six-deck shoe. From Stu's standpoint, if he lost he would be liable to pay Bob Stupak, $10,000 (i.e., the original stake he had proposed). An unbelievable feat, Stu accurately predicted all 156 cards. Bob Stupak gave him a $100,000 check and this also was the start of a lifelong friendship between the two. He took part in his first world championship at the age of 24 in 1980.  He won that year and provided a repeat performance the following year. After this, he lost $900,000 in RAZZ games in an afternoon and on another occasion, $1m in a craps session.  His extravagant lifestyle and quick money caused him to turn to drugs, an addiction that would cost him dearly.

In 1990, he entered the WSOP Championship. When play bingo started on the third day he was backed as a strong front runner, but when the play kick started he wasn't present. They broke into his hotel room and found Stu unconscious on the floor.  Nevertheless, he came back in the competition, finished 9th and won prize money of $20,500.

The End Of A Legend

When the 1997 WSOP tournament was announced, Stu had literally gone unnoticed for many years.  He had been seen around Vegas playing in small games, but nothing remarkable. At the time, he didn't even have the money to participate in the Championship event. However, about an hour before the start of play, an unidentified sponsor paid $10,000 on his behalf. Four days later, he had a record of three victories. This was hailed as the greatest come back ever. Stu Ungar won 10 major No limit Hold 'em tournaments out of the 30 he participated in. Within 2 months he was broke again.

Bob Stupak offered to pay Stu's debts, provide him with a membership to participate in commissioned card play and even gave him $2,000 to spend. Two days later, on Nov 22nd, 1998, Stu was found dead at the Oasis Motel, at 1731 S. Las Vegas Blvd. He left behind a 15-year-old daughter.

The Clark County Coroner's office declared that narcotics and painkillers had prompted a heart condition and caused Stu Ungar's death. Toxicology tests confirmed traces of cocaine, methadone and the painkiller Percodan in his system. The tests proved that any one of the drugs was not enough to cause his death. It was declared an accidental death by a heart condition, which had developed over time and occurred because of his lifestyle. In his honor, a film called "High Roller" was made in 2003.