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Stunt Pays Off - Betting Brit Doubles Life Savings on One Spin

L A S V E G A S, April 12 ? Ashley Revell was greeted with raised eyebrows and chuckles when he said he'd bet his life savings on one spin of the roulette wheel, but now he's laughing all the way to the bank.

Revell's chances were 50/50. He could have walked out of the casino with $270,600 or just the rented shirt on his back.

Revell, who sold everything he owned in order to raise money for his stunt, says he plans to buy some of his old stuff back, after he goes shopping for life's essentials.

"I'm going to buy some clothes, some fresh underwear," Revell said in an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS' Good Morning America after a night of partying at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, where he placed the bet.

A crowd of onlookers, including Revell's own mother and father, watched as the ball made its way around the slots and stopped on red 7. Revell cheered as the ball landed, doubling his money.

Revell said he chose to put down his pile of chips on red, instead of black, at the last minute.

The 32-year-old Londoner said he'd heard that most people following his stunt on TV wanted him to bet on red.

Revell said his father, who was dead-set against the stunt, is much happier now that he has won. However, the young gambler says his father would be happier if he finally settled down.

"I still think he wants me married off. The night is young, so we'll see what happens," Revell said.

If the ball had landed on black, Revell would have been headed home to London with just his mom and dad.

In the week before placing his all-or-nothing bet, Revell seemed down on his luck. The young Brit had tried to increase his pool by gambling with a smaller chunk of change, just $3,000. By the end of the week, the pool was down to just $1,000.

Before he tried his luck with the wheel, Revell said his carefree life allowed him to take a chance most would consider unthinkable.

"I find that being 32, not having a wife, not having any kids, seems like the perfect time to do it," he said.

The gambler said he did not allow himself to think of what might happen if he lost before spinning the wheel.

"It's only now that I realize what would have happened if I had lost. I was pretty mad to do the bet in the first place," he said.

Revell said he had planned to have a friend videotape his big bet, but Britain's Sky One television stepped in and offered to produce Revell's stunt for a reality show called Double or Nothing.

Revell handed the croupier a $600 tip and began to party when he hit red.

Revell, a professional gambler, says he won't be trying his luck on the roulette wheel again, but he will be playing in the upcoming world series of poker.

Posted by thinkum at April 12, 2004 01:50 PM