Super-Highroller Lost £7m in Three-Week Spree

AUSTRALIA/ LONDON, UK As reported by the (London) Times: "It is probably more than five years since Kerry Packer was a regular visitor to London's gaming tables, but in his prime his fortunes could dictate whether a casino company would be able to meet market forecasts or have to issue a profit warning.

"Packer was one of perhaps a dozen super-highrollers in the world who could win or lose £10 million at a single sitting. Roulette is said to have been his favoured game, although he also reckoned himself to be a dab hand at blackjack.

"...Packer was an aggressive player who could be a bad loser, and stories of overturned blackjack tables have become part of London casino folklore. "He was very arrogant and could be rude and obnoxious if the cards started going against him," one source said..."

2005-12-30