The Story of Doctor Richard Jarecki, A Brilliant Roulette Winner

It's impossible to say how many gamblers have tried to conquer the Roulette wheel. Like all games at a casino, systems are constantly being created and tried by ambitious gamblers looking to win big. It is, however, rare for a gambler to create a system that can reliably beat the odds.

Richard Jarecki was one of the outliers. A medical doctor by training, Jarecki perfected a deceivingly simple method to become a menace to casinos throughout Europe. From San Remo, Monte Carlo, and even in Las Vegas, Jarecki developed a reputation as a high roller.

Casino owners around the world offered to partner with him to discover his winning technique. He always refused. Jarecki wanted to take money from casinos, not give it to them. That was part of the fun.

Rumors spread around the globe that a mysterious man - a Jew whose family fled Europe after Hitler's rise - had discovered an esoterique algorithm. All day, they said, the world's most sophisticated computers based in London worked to refine his edge. Jarecki was more than happy to let the rumors spread like wildfire.

In fact, according to many, he was the one that created them. When being featured in major media outlets as a gambling prodigy, Jarecki needed a diversion.

What better distraction than technology? At the time, computers were a new development and the public knew little about how they operated.

They only helped him conceal the simple truth from casino owners. He had attained his edge through painstaking labor and observation. In fact, the system he had used to gain worldwide acclaim was not one that he invented but perfected.

According to Gambling News Magazine, wheel design and wear and tear play an important part in predicting roulette spins. By laboriously observing specific Roulette wheels, Jarecki would collect data on slight biases of each wheel. He aggregated data about which wheels were ever so slightly more inclined to return some results more than others. Based on this data, he refined his betting patterns according to which wheel he was playing.

His system was time-consuming, but he was the perfect man for the job. Jarecki put his impressive attention to detail and mathematical mind to work, continuing to study roulette wheels and gain an edge. He did so manually, commuting between his work on the operating table and the casino on the weekend.

By observing, or "clocking" a specific Roulette wheel he recorded slight patterns due to the manufacture or wear-and-tear of the wheel that gave him an edge over the house. According to Gamblers Daily Digest, it is a well-known fact that roulette wheels can become biased due to these factors. Suspicious casinos tried to trip him up by switching the Roulette wheels on different tables in the casino.

Jarecki was too smart for that. With obsessive attention to detail, he memorized tiny defining characteristics of each wheel - a nic here, a scratch there - that would allow him to tell which wheel he was playing on and bet accordingly. At the time, replacing a roulette wheel was an expensive proposition, and Jarecki took full advantage of that fact.

Born in New Jersey, and attending school in Germany, Jarecki continued to put his technique to work throughout Europe. He frequented a casino in San Remo, lining his pockets with winnings. In total, he accumulated some $1.2 million in his lifetime.

He so tormented casino owners that he was once refused entry into the Italian border due to a request from San Remo's authorities. However, he successfully appealed the decision and went on to win big.

Finally, Jarecki's go-to casino replaced two dozen roulette wheels, eliminating his edge. But, it was too late. Jarecki was already a rich man, and he had more casinos to conquer. He'd already purchased a luxury apartment in San Remo, but after such a grand winning streak, he felt it was time for a change.

After many successful runs, Jarecki moved his family back to New Jersey. There he made a name for himself in a different field, becoming a successful commodities trader with the help of his billionaire brother Henry Jarecki.

As he grew older, Jarecki tired of life in the States. He moved to Manila, the home of a growing (and loosely regulated) gambling scene. Even into his old age he continued to gamble, and win.

Inheriting his knack for games, his son became the world's youngest chess master at the age of 9. To this day, the story of Richard Jarecki lives on.

He serves as a pioneer and hero to roulette players everywhere and a cautionary tale to casinos. Today, many casinos are digital, using software and random number generators to determine results.

In his lifetime, Jarecki was banned from casinos several times for being too good. He would often receive payment in the form of promissory notes, having depleted the casino's cash on hand. Today, casinos have learned from their mistakes.

Jarecki also proved that sometimes the simplest of systems is the best way to gain an edge over the house. The idea first occurred to him after seeing casino staff replacing cards to avoid gamblers noticing distinguishing features. Surely, roulette wheels too must develop such features, though they're more expensive to replace.

Lucian Marinescu, a partner at OnlineCasinoGems, states that - "Too often, gamblers look to sophisticated technologies whether they be computer algorithms or magnetic balls to gain an edge." The story of Richard Jarecki proves that it's often the simplest and most labor-intensive systems that are the most overlooked and therefore present the greatest opportunity.

Another important lesson to be learned from the likes of Richard Jarecki is that a winning system need not be illegal. He never needed to break any national or local laws to win.

Rumors always circulated that he was barred from casinos. According to Jarecki himself, however, this was rarely the case. He was a master at befriending casino employees and staff and was therefore rarely denied entry.

Before he passed, Jarecki played a roulette tournament in Manila. He won first place.

Jarecki is survived by his wife, a daughter, a son, and his brother. His brother continues to be a reputable figure and philanthropist, donating millions to educational institutions and charities.