The richest gamblers win big. Some players risk their entire life savings on a single bet or game. But why gamble at all? What drives them? How much have they won?

The average gambler loses over $1 million before he wins. If you are willing to risk it all, you might get rich from gambling. Below is a list of the richest gamblers in the world.

Richest Gamblers in the World

1. Steven Cohen – $11 billion

Steven Cohen is one of the greatest gamblers who has ever lived. At just 30 years old, he’s already worth more than 1/10th of the US GDP. He was the biggest loser in poker history until 2010 when he turned his 8-hour marathon losing streak into a 5-day winning streak. In 2014, he made an estimated $700 million playing blackjack alone. Today, he invests and builds companies where he doesn’t work for himself.

2. Barry Greenstein – $3.5 billion

Barry Greenstein isn’t someone that you’d expect to be a high roller casino gambler. He’s been successful in business for more than 25 years. Over this time, Greenstein has created one of the largest commercial construction contractors in North America by building offices and hotels all over the world. And after almost 40 years of living in Las Vegas, Greenstein says he can never leave because “the lifestyle is incredible! It’s about being able to provide for yourself… I don’t know anyone my age anywhere who’s done what I’ve built myself; who owns their own businesses in this economy.”

Greenstein also enjoys playing with other people’s money in addition to his own. Three decades ago, he was a regular in Monte Carlo but eventually decided to open his own hotel room bank account and use this to place cash bets at European casinos. He always uses the same teller, who doesn’t ask any questions, and yet he still manages to come out ahead.

In recent years, Greenstein started investing in cryptocurrencies. Greenstein bought as many as seven different Bitcoin accounts in 2014, leading several news outlets to label him the first major celebrity bitcoin investor (and his net worth took a huge hit soon after). Since then, he seems to have settled on Coinbase as a preferred exchange due to its global reach and cheap trading fees.

3. Philip Jeng – $3.4 billion

Philip Jeng may not look like your typical billionaire. Jeng comes off more like the stereotype of a Taiwanese millionaire than the stereotypical tech titan. However, Jeng has used his wealth to become one of the biggest online poker players in Asia, and he actually holds a valid license to operate an offshore sportsbook.

He’s so devoted to the game, he once hired a coach and fitness trainer to play along with him while he exercised. His self-improvement routine involved taking part in three hours of exercise every morning and practicing three hours of table tennis every night.

How to Become a Rich Gambler

The rich gamblers spend more time playing games instead of working. They play games because they enjoy it. Games allow us to take our minds off real problems. And there’s something else. Gambling helps us relax and forget ourselves for a short period. When we lose money to a game, it becomes the ultimate stress reliever. We can relax, even if we don’t make any money.

If you really want to be a winner, then learn how to avoid losing. Here are some of the best tips:

• Play with friends who know what they’re doing. You can find such people in casinos.
• Be prepared. Read through betting rules and know your limits.
• Don’t ever gamble when you first wake up in the morning. It’s too early and you haven’t had enough sleep.
• Avoid negative emotions like nervousness, depression, anger, greed, and thrill-seeking. These will affect your results. Always stay positive!
• Know yourself. Are you prone to panic attacks in crowded places? Do you often feel anxiety? Do you tend to think about things that worry you? Do you frequently imagine how your luck could change? Then this is not the right game for you.
• Stick to one casino. That way you won’t have to deal with constant distractions and temptation.
• Never place bets bigger than your bankroll. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t bet more than your bankroll but rather that you should only bet so much that you can cover losses as well as gains.
• Keep track of your wins and losses. Knowing where you stand after each session and bet allows you to analyze the results. After every win, make sure to give back part of your winnings.
• Learn how to use “the mathematics of probability.” Understand the odds and try to predict an outcome. For example, always choose a number between 0-100 and never bet above 100. Also, choose numbers that match your bankroll size.
• Don’t expect immediate success. Only when you are good at calculating odds, do you become a successful player. However, don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’ll instantly become a lucky loser just by following these simple rules. Luck eventually runs out.
• Become a seasoned gambler. Gain experience and see if you can apply your knowledge to other games. Try new ones until you find the game that fits your personality.