历史上的著名赌徒

　　想到世界上最豪华的赌场里面都是世界上的富人和名人，这是不足为奇的。一些世界上最有名的人一直致力于赌徒这一身份。从古代到近代，一些历史上最杰出的人物，在命运上把握住自己的命运。

　　费奥多尔·陀思妥耶夫斯基

　　他是俄罗斯历史上最伟大的小说家之一，同时也是一个狂热的赌徒。陀斯妥耶夫斯基在赌博的兴趣，逐渐演变成痴迷游戏，是由于他的妻子和弟弟过早死亡。他试图逃避他的痛苦，因而出入赌场，在那里他后来失去了一笔很大的数目。

　　奇怪的是，陀斯妥耶夫斯基他自己可以说是一个浪荡的赌徒，但是他写的他最负盛名的的小说，都是关于犯罪和惩治赌徒的。据传说，陀斯妥耶夫斯基小说中最后一节在几天之内的犯罪和处罚是被迫写的，是为了确保解决他的赌债，从他的出版商那里提前预支。

　　约翰·蒙塔古

　　如果没有赌博的习惯，伯爵约翰·蒙塔古在世界上最著名的一顿午饭就不会有，三明治可能永远也不会被发明。据传说，约翰·蒙塔古迷恋局部的纸牌游戏，有时会投弃权票，而去饮食，以延长他的游戏时间。

　　这是说，蒙塔古最终被迫用方便的零食，在牌桌上维持，并要求公务员把他肉片两片面包之间。这项发明被蒙塔古的赌博哥们证明是他首创，命名为“三明治”。

　　英国王室

　　纯种赛马和皇家赌博的历史，实际上是分不开的。安妮女王时代以来，欧洲皇室承担起主办和组织欧洲最富有和最负盛名的的赛马的责任。

　　这种趋势一直持续到今天，在英国，英国皇家家庭各个成员积极参与赛马。事实上，世界上最大的平地赛会议，在骏景园，实际上是一个庆祝版税和赛马之间的联合。

　　每一年，各个王室成员出席骏景会议，每一天，从赛车与皇家游行开始。此外，激烈的赛车爱好者和纯种马主，可以选择自己的雅士赛车设备。

　　凯瑞派克

　　澳大利亚出版巨头克里帕克被公认为历史上最出风头的赌徒之一。他试图劫持国际板球，在拉斯维加斯玩局部扑克，冒着相当大的风险但是十分乐意把他的65亿美元投注。

　　帕克最有名的一次赌博是赢得3300万美元，是在拉斯维加斯的米高梅大玩21点。当然，后来他也失去了2800万美元，这是英国赌场3个星期的最大损失记录。帕克的到来，赌场的人并不总是欢迎他，因为他证明了自己的能力，多次在赌场上赢取金钱，从而严重的损失了赌场的利润。

　　译文

　　Famous Gamblers

　　Considering the fact that the world’s most luxurious casinos are the playpens of the world’s rich and famous, it is hardly surprising that some of the world’s most famous people have been dedicated gamblers. From ancient to modern times, some of history’s most eminent figures have put their fortunes at the mercy of fate.

　　Fyodor Dostoevsky

　　One of the greatest novelists in Russian history was a fanatical gambler. Dostoevsky’s interest in gambling evolved into an obsession with games of chance after the untimely deaths of his wife and brother. The author attempted to escape his misery by frequenting casinos, where he subsequently lost a fortune.

　　Strangely, it was while Dostoevsky was crippled by gambling debts that he wrote two of his most acclaimed novels, Crime and Punishment and The Gambler. According to legend, Dostoevsky was forced to write the last section of Crime and Punishment in a matter of days, in order to secure an advance from his publisher with which to settle his gambling debts.

　　John Montagu

　　If it were not for the gambling habits of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, the most famous lunch meal in the world may never have been invented. Legend has it that John Montagu was partial to card games, and would sometimes abstain from eating in order to extend his gaming sessions.

　　It is said that Montagu was eventually forced to come up with a convenient snack to sustain him at the card table, and requested servants to bring him slices of meat served between two slices of bread. This invention proved to be a hit amongst Montagu’s gambling buddies, who named his invention the ‘Sandwich’。

　　The Royal Family

　　The history of thoroughbred horseracing and royal gambling is virtually inseparable. Since the days of Queen Anne, European royalty have taken responsibility for hosting and organising Europe’s richest and most prestigious horse races.

　　This trend continues to this day, with various members of the British Royal Family actively involved in horseracing in the United Kingdom. In fact the biggest flat race meeting in the world, Royal Ascot, is virtually a celebration of the links between royalty and horseracing.

　　Various members of the Royal Family attend the Royal Ascot Meeting every year, and each day of racing begins with a royal procession. The keen racing enthusiasts and thoroughbred racehorse owners and own the land upon which the Ascot racing facilities stand.

　　Kerry Packer

　　Australian publishing mogul Kerry Packer is recognised as one of the most flamboyant gamblers in history. When not attempting to hijack international cricket, Packer was more than partial to a flutter at Las Vegas, and quite happy to put sizable chunks of his $6.5 billion fortune at risk.

　　Packer is most famous for winning $33 million playing blackjack at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He is also responsible for setting the record for the biggest loss at a British casino, parting with $28 million over the course of 3 weeks. Packer’s visits to casinos were not always welcome, as he proved himself capable of severely denting casino profits on several occasions.