In the flamboyant world of Las Vegas, where fortunes cascade with the flip of a card, one man’s legendary status is hitching ever higher. Dana White, the defiant impresario of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has added another illustrious chapter to his story – one that unfolds not in a hexagonal cage but against the lush green felt of Caesars Palace’s baccarat tables.
Earlier this year, with the strategic acumen of a seasoned warrior, White navigated the vagaries of chance to emerge triumphantly, his pockets deepened by an estimated fortune of $26 to $27 million. A windfall gleaned from the very hands of fate between the months of January and March. “Caesars Palace… I clipped these guys for $1 million a night,” White recounted on the “Full Send” podcast, painting a picture of his relentless string of victories.
This high-stakes colossus has more than earned his renown; Caesars itself bows to his audacity, allowing White the rare privilege to wager up to $350,000 a hand – a tribute to the heavy purses and iron nerves of the gaming elite. While such steep play can yield dizzying wins, it also holds the threat of ruinous loss. White concedes that a gambler, regardless of bankroll, can find themselves “wrecked” under the weight of six-figure bets that go awry.
His love affair with Caesars Palace is not a solitary dalliance; he is also a cherished patron of the Bellagio, operated by MGM Resorts International, where he savors the thrill of $400,000 per hand. It’s a loyalty born out of necessity and preference, as he’s found other Las Vegas establishments less accommodating to his intimidating style. After being barred from his desired level of play at Wynn Las Vegas, he didn’t mince words, disparaging their decision vehemently.
Yet White’s gambling ventures stride beyond the Strip’s golden mile. At Red Rock Resort in Summerlin, owned by the former UFC investors, the Fertitta brothers, White gambles, albeit more modestly, as their sole clientele privileged to play hefty-stake hands.
His relentless drive pushes him toward an even more daring goal: to stake $1 million per hand. It’s a feat he dreams to achieve in his lifetime, envisaging a scenario where a casino would grant him a staggering $30 million line of credit for this single-handed pursuit. But even the UFC titan knows this is a reach too far, with no casino on the globe likely to acquiesce to such a gamble.
White’s saga is one of high risks and higher rewards – a testament to the allure and peril that beckon from the world’s ultimate adult playground. His tale, woven from the rich tapestry of Las Vegas legends, continues to capture imaginations, inspiring awe and perhaps a touch of envy from fellow high rollers and dreamers alike.
