You might call it a pub crawl on steroids. Search ‘Pub Crawl Las Vegas’ on google and you’ll find a litany of outfits offering party goers a whirlwind tour of pubs and drinking establishments. Companies like Sin City Crawl Club, Vegas Pub Crawler and Turnt Up Tours have been providing such fun for years. In and out, a few libations at each stop, a great night. The idea of a pub crawl is usually reserved for college and university students, the younger crowd, and those unafraid of the impending hangover. What about a casino crawl? Well, that takes a higher education.
In October 2017, two colleagues at Marquette University in Milwaukee traveled to Las Vegas and smashed the world record for most casinos visited in 24 hours. It’s hard to believe, but Kimo Ah Yun, the dean of the college communication, and Gary Meyer, the senior vice provost, managed to get to and gamble at 74 casinos in 22.5 hours, shattering the previous best by five. It was the ultimate casino crawl.
“Although it was a world record about gambling,” Ah Yun told the Marquette Wire, the school newspaper, shortly after inking his name in the record books. “It really has nothing to do with gambling. It’s about planning a route.”
It should be noted, it wasn’t their first attempt. Two years earlier, they only managed to tie the record of 69 after 23.5 hours.
So, they decided to try again, and this time they took it seriously. Thanks to a strict training regimen, and hours of studying and planning new routes away from the Las Vegas strip, Ah Yun and Meyer finally left their mark. Securing an A+ on a brand-new world record.
Fun Fact: The record for the most casinos visited belongs to Edwin Wheeler, an American who, between September 1955 and September 2002, visited a total of 358 different casinos. He has made 372 visits but overall, some casinos more than once.
Guinness World Records
Did you know Guinness World Records, originally The Guinness Book of Records, the ultimate global authority on record-breaking, started out as an idea for a book of facts designed to solve arguments in pubs? In the early 1950s, Sir Hugh Beaver, managing director of the Guinness Brewery, became embroiled in such an argument while attending a shooting party. He and his hosts couldn’t agree on the world’s fastest game bird. Not long later, 1954, as part of a Guinness promotion, Beaver decided to compile a book of facts and figures on the premise of settling pub disputes.
He enlisted the help of twins Norris and Ross McWhirter and, after an initial research phase, work began on writing the book. “Little did the McWhirters know that taking shape was a book that would go on to become an all-time best-seller and one of the most recognized and trusted brands in the world,” reads the ‘History’ section at guinnessworldrecords.com.
Over 60 years on, the Guinness World Records brand is a household name, and the book continues to be a best-seller each year.
Gambling & Casino Related
Ever thought about it? Trying to get your name in the record books? We’ll give you two-to-one it’s tougher than it looks. For instance, it was an utter long shot to claim the largest online gambling jackpot ever. But that’s exactly what a 36-year old cleaner from Berlin did in 2018. Her name is Christina, and she was the lucky winner of the $105,121,000 EuroJackpot, as paid out by Lottoland Limited (Gibraltar). $105 million? Wow.
It’s also highly unlikely you’ll be as fortunate as Hong Kong’s Lin Haisan, who won the World Series Baccarat Championship for a whopping 119,000,000 HKD ($15,339,600 USD). Setting the record for the greatest prize money ever won in a baccarat tournament. He pulled off the feat in 2015 at the Sands Cotai Central Sheraton Ballroom in Macau.
The recipe for success on a world record includes luck, skill and hard work. And maybe a sprinkle of good timing, too. Throw in a teaspoon of dedication, along with a dash of passion, and you’re all set to begin your quest.
Slots Anyone?
Slot enthusiasts worldwide have been relegated to online action since March. Thanks to the worldwide coronavirus lock down. And Maple Casino has been there to help. As Canada’s premier authority for online casinos, we are devoted to connecting Canadian players with the best online gambling sites in the country. As you browse and play, remember the name Jon Heywood.
The British soldier, who served in Afghanistan, became an overnight multi-millionaire in 2015 after hitting the largest jackpot ever on an online slots machine. On a measly 25p wager (about 50 cents), Heywood hit it big for £13,209,300 ($20,062,600) while playing Microgaming’s Mega Moolah on Betway.
“I never even dreamed of driving a Bentley, let alone owning one,”. He was quoted afterwards in the UK daily Metro. “I’ve got a Fiat at the moment.”
As for the largest slot machine tournament, that record was set in 2016 at Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, Washington. Organized to celebrate the casino’s 21st anniversary, the event attracted 3,173 players with Benigno T. finishing in first place. He pocketed $21,000 in cash and a four-night trip to Las Vegas. A far cry from Heywood’s haul, but not too shabby.
On achieving the record, Muckleshoot’s GM Conrad Granito called it “a thrilling honour.”
Blackjack or Bust
It’s not just the players who are making headlines by breaking records, the dealers are too. In 2001, Malta’s Stephen De Raffaele put in a marathon performance at the Oracle Casino in Qawra. He dealt the game blackjack for 51 hours and 33 minutes. Incredible. He set the new benchmark, yes, but he was likely saying “Hit Me” on a much-needed manicure.
Here’s a record you wouldn’t ordinarily think of; the largest functioning blackjack table is measured at 206.85 m (2,226 ft 6 in) in surface area. It was created in 2013 by the Viejas Casino in Alpine, California, to commemorate its 21st anniversary. One hand of blackjack was played by six guests of the casino. And a dealer using oversized casino chips and cards that matched the enormous scale of the table.
Itching to Scratch?
Just last year, the Idaho Lottery wanted to do something big for its 30th anniversary. So, it decided to celebrate in style by holding a huge bash for its dedicated player base at the Payette Brewing Company in Boise. Close to 500 people turned up (479) and, after a beer or two, they all scratched their scratch cards. They set the world record for largest gathering of people scratching scratch cards. An obscure record, but a record nonetheless.
Pardon the pun, but we’ve barely scratched the surface. Next week, Team Maple will examine some other gambling records. Things like the largest poker tournament ever, the longest marathon poker session and poker’s largest prize ever.
Stay tuned.
