Life Savings Staked, Red Emerges Victorious at Roulette: Unprecedented Thrill, However, a Regret Persists
Over two decades ago, a Brit named Ashley Revell, at the height of the wild 'n' reckless noughties, came up with a mind-boggling plan: he sold all he owned, including worthless trinkets like his school cricket jumper, to raise funds for an outrageous gamble. His audacious decision made him internationally famous, if briefly, and even inspired a TV show backed by Simon Cowell.
Now, 21 years on, Ashley has shared his experiences and the incredible impact this high-risk, high-reward gambit had on his life. A 53-year-old businessman and father, Ashley had sold his soul to the roulette wheel at the Plaza Casino, Nevada.
Before his life-changing spin, Ashley was a junior media worker who moonlighted as the news bunny, a quirky gimmick on now-defunct L!VE TV. He initially intended for a friend to make the gamble, serving as producer, but a last-minute pullout from said friend left Ashley with no choice but to go all-in himself.
"I sold everything, from big-ticket items to small knick-knacks," Ashley recalled. In a symbolic act, he even auctioned off his name, earning £10,000 from betting outfit Blue Square to change his name to Ashley Blue Square Revell. Sentimentality took a back seat as he had nothing left but the question "black or red?" looming large.
His moment of truth came when the ball spun on the roulette wheel, and he placed his fate—and his lost possessions—on red.
"It was insane, watching the ball spin," Ashley conveyed. "I was hoping for divine inspiration, but it never came. In the end, it was just instinct." When the ball landed on red, Ashley experienced a surge of adrenaline that drove him to register for the World Series of Poker's main event.
Ashley's victory landed him on the covers of major magazines and earned him appearances on major talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America. However, his post-gambling escapades were far from over. Ashley decided to spend his winnings on a motorbike, dramatically heading off on an adventure across Europe.
Fate kept up with Ashley when he reached Holland and encountered Tamara, the woman who later became his wife. They have two children, Flint and Scarlett. Meeting Tamara, Ashley believes, was the "most important piece of luck" in his life.
The roulette winnings not only provided Ashley with some much-needed spontaneity, but they also helped him set up a series of businesses and buy his home in a rural town. Ashley still cherishes his family as his most precious blessing and confesses to occasionally fantasizing about repeating his daring gamble once his children are 18. However, Ashley remains content with his life and family and contemplates taking on new risks only when the time is right.
Despite his initial plan to reclaim his possessions, Ashley was never able to get them back. Little remains of his past life as he embraces his new chapter filled with love and family.
- After selling everything he owned, including sentimental items like his school cricket jumper, Ashley Revell, a businessman and father, gambled his fortunes at the Plaza Casino in Nevada.
- The gamble, which made Ashley internationally famous, was initially meant to be made by a friend, but a last-minute withdrawal left Ashley with no choice but to place the bet himself.
- After winning at the roulette table, Ashley used his winnings to set up a series of businesses and buy his home in a rural town, transforming his life within entertainment and general news.
- Despite occasionally fantasizing about repeating his daring gamble, Ashley remains content with his life and family, valuing them as his most precious blessing.
- Ashley's life post-gambling has been filled with excitement, from appearing on major talk shows to embarking on a motorbike adventure across Europe, where he met his future wife, Tamara.
