The Man Who Beat Casinos for $15M: Don Johnson

In this exclusive interview, meet Don Johnson, the man who took Atlantic City by storm and walked away with $15 million in winnings! Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of this Blackjack Hall of Famer, who went from being a horse jockey to a high-stakes gambler, using his insider knowledge to beat the casinos at their own game.
Discover how Don negotiated his way into favorable terms with casinos, leveraging loss rebates to gain a massive advantage at the Blackjack tables. He shares his insights on what it takes to win big, the importance of discipline and strategy, and the behind-the-scenes tactics that helped him secure his legendary victories.
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0:00 - Introduction to Don Johnson
0:37 - First Steps in Horse Racing and Gambling
3:26 - Developing an Edge in Blackjack
5:37 - Negotiating with Casinos
11:53 - Major Wins and Casino Reactions
17:42 - Handling Variance and Losing Streaks
20:55 - Backoffs and Tactics in High-Stakes Play
24:02 - Stopping a Game for Days
28:07 - Finding Games After Success
34:49 - Gambling with Bruce Willis
43:47 - Phil Ivey Stories
46:31 - Philanthropy and Future Endeavors

[@mirrorportal1587]

I’ve always been curious about this guy’s story and how he made his 15 million. Finally a long interview, thanks Colin!

[@MrFlynn-bt6mt]

Yeah, its about time we see the full story.

[@gunsandgaragegear601]

I would like 15 million that’s for sure! lol

[@pozkodeth]

Yeah Colin, this is a great contribution to the blackjack community. Thanks!

[@samweirich5973]

Don has such a pleasant voice and friendly way of speaking. He seems like a great guy to just sit down with, have a couple of beers and just chit chat about random gambling topics.

[@craptor1234]

I love the fact he knew something was up when he saw who phil was with and just yolo'd in.

[@mrtheominousone]

Thank you so much for this interview. Loved the documentary with him awhile ago. Now two of my favorites in one interview is awesome. Keep up the awesome content Colin.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Thanks!!!

[@Jeffs9304]

Thanks Colin, guys a true stud !

[@asentientgoose]

Thanks for this episode! The production and quality is excellent.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@robdickson6705]

Mirror some comments, but true, really like Don and his story and actually what Don is doing today, as well as Colin and his team. Thank you for sharing, this is a FANTASTIC interview and another learning tool. Thank you

[@leopabe]

Great interview! I could listen to Don talk all day. Please do more of these interviews :)

[@rhymetimeuk]

The legend, so awesome to have this length of an interview, thank you both! Fantastic insight!

[@dannyneff4195]

Wow, what a stellar interview this guy is a legend, I've always wanted to know what kind of AP was going on at that level, I've seen documentaries about him and I always figured he had some kind of edge figured out. Also what a high note of praise for Colin and everyone at BJA that Don said they're stuff is really on point. Bravo!

[@johnlittle8267]

always love listening to Don Johnson - so impressive in many ways! thanks for bringing him to us!

[@pnr8uk]

Truly fascinating and honest. Good to hear the gambler is not complaining non stop about the business model. Also Colin, your interview style is perfect, you ask questions and let the interviewee speak. Not like todays average interviewer who seem to feed the interviewee with answers and words.

[@pmzmdf]

So interesting. Thank you Colin.

[@blackjackshooter6547]

Great interview! Enjoyed it very much. ♠️♥️♣️♦️

[@chimbolo89]

Awesome interview! Thanks!

[@user-zu2ge9vs6y]

Casinos are your friend when you are losing to them 🤣🤣 nice friendship 👍🤣

[@CBPowerPlays]

Great stuff guys. I had heard his name and story before, but this is the first good interview I have seen with Don.

[@justinmorris1134]

Great interview! Love his connection to Ivey.

[@TMJJack]

I'm really proud of everything I've learned and how much I've built my bankroll over the course of going on four years. It feels like a lot, but then stories like this humble me. I cannot imagine $1M in a year. $15M in even less time is insane.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Me either!

[@tonyjaz]

Congrats Colin on reaching 500k 💥Subscribers ‼️👍🏼

[@markhuber8345]

Colin, thanks.. this was a really nice piece of content.. I thoroughly enjoyed it.. he seems like a classy guy.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheRussianConcussian]

What an incredible guest

[@cadillacmoto]

I like this guy. Talks about being honest and the impotance of honesty, but not like the mob guys that found a career on podcasts and talk about respect like its their middle name. Great video.

[@slaniejode2318]

Great interview jonzee!!!

[@AndrewRowe89]

Wow! What awesome stories and game play talk!

[@roccoconte2960]

Great video very interesting . Fantastic interview with a great guest.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Thanks!

[@rrek7]

Another great interview

[@njh4473]

Great interview great video

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sleong]

This man is a legend

[@roy5737]

excellent video!

[@Phlegethon]

The dig at Kelly Sun lol

[@bjkjoseph]

That was a good interview

[@DadeMurphie]

Wow, I didn't know what Don Johnson looked like before this video but I do know I've seen that man playing $500 hands of blackjack at Paris on the strip. He was getting a massage at the table and seemed emotionless about wins or losses.

[@EfficientRVer]

He has very varied circles of friends, so I hope he had a fun and interesting life in more ways than just the gambling. On the other hand, most of the gamblers I know with interesting friends, pretty much only know them in gambling settings. As he said, you know you're just a gambling buddy when you don't even get invited over when they're flipping burgers in the back yard for their neighbors.

[@user-lj5gl7le9d]

Best video ever

[@mdaje]

watched that video with Trish Regan about ten times. Glad to see him on BJA. It was you gamble 200.00, Jim Murren said, he can comp you about $80.00 worth of stuff. From my years of playing its more like they have a chart on you, figure if you gamble from $2,000-$3000 you will probably get your room comped and some beverage and food credit. At Don's level, sky's probably the limit, but he's right over the years, corporate has tightened things up quite a bit. Learn so much from BJA and LVA. Dave

[@kevinbarber4986]

What a G 🏅

[@sophiasavanna1329]

A fascinating life

[@btsdancestudio5691]

Forget Blackjack playing...you can be the best podcaster on YT...Like Lex Friedman 2.0! I love how genuine your interest to learn something new and you are so charming without being fake. Dan Brazilian drives me crazy. So pretentious and not real..at all.

[@chrisklupenger4999]

Really good interview. Just wish he described more about how the rebates work

[@yeungx]

The rebate works simply. First he found casinos with good high limit rules (he said he can get as low as 0.2% house edge, so basically a coin flip). Then He negotiated that if he lose 500k, he would be able to get 22.5% of that lost back, for simplicity sake, lets day 100k. But you still lose 400k, how do you make money. But lets say you go 2 days. day 1 you win 500k, day 2 you lose 500k. This is pretty likely, especially if the rules make it a coin flip anyways. Normally you would be even, but with the rebate, you would be 100k up. The key is to play very aggressively. You are a little bit negative on every hand, so you want to win or lose 500k in as few hands as possible. This way, you can maximize the rebate returns.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

I think we have a SUPER old video about them and a blogpost maybe.

[@markchalled3976]

Thanks for the interview. Has Don Johnson ever written a book about his experience?

[@gabrielrobinson2253]

"Okay okay sure sure." That was the best deflection of the fact they fu8& Phil!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😅❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@NickLPhoto]

You should ask him why he never paid Deadmau5 the $200,000 he agreed to for playing Living on a Prayer at XS!

[@tmasst07]

Dealer: Blackjack congratulations Brice Willis: Yippee kai yay, motherf....

[@trentbrown5091]

That Phil Ivey story 😂

[@senseihitmanwayofkempo8305]

The true value of each card ..... not the simple +-1

[@randyharris3175]

In the beginning AC had early surrender. A gift for card counters.

[@asmoday8382]

You should try and interview dom the dominator from golden touch craps talk to him about dice control

[@ronaldjtriumph5985]

Seems like a really cool guy - looks like he has very sound morals ...

[@Meeky815]

Can you do an audio version of your book

[@jeffv3296]

I thought it was Grant Cardonne when I saw the thumbnail. lol. Needless to say, I’m happy that it isn’t Grant. lol

[@NewAgeDabbling]

Hey Collin. I don’t know if you have ever talked about this but are there any bet progressions for a super negative count? I feel like when the count gets really bad I tend to win since I know little numbers are ahead. I was thinking about starting to increase my bet during these times to take advantage if there is any. I hate having to count 4-5 hrs and wait for that good count. Please let me know if anyone has ever figured this out completely.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

The only useful thing you can do during a negative count is not play. The more you bet with a disadvantage the more you will lose in the long run. You can't create an advantage by changing your betting.

[@NewAgeDabbling]

@@Blackjackapprenticeship okay. Is there any math to back this up. I believe you just would like to see simulations or something.

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Simply the math that if you're going to lose more than you win, you will not win in the long run - which makes sense. You don't begin to win more than you lose until +1TC in most games. Thats why bet spreads start increasing at +1 and continue as the count rises to take advantage of larger edges.

[@NewAgeDabbling]

@@Blackjackapprenticeship gotcha thanks. Do you know if this has been a thought across many counters in the past? I’m sure it has been can’t find much online

[@mytouch2085]

The (real) most interesting man in the world

[@connorrowley2849]

Of course the casino owners son is having a BAR MITZVAH

[@You2oob]

Who's the Colin of the UK or London?

[@dirkdiggler9174]

In my experience every casino or bookmaker cries foul when you beat them .

[@KingSeven007]

3:56 techniques like intimidating the dealers?

[@daveforeman6931]

INteresting story- but until I see his I.R.S. tax forms showing the winnings, I reserve judgement. He would have had a wopper of a tax bill. Would love to see his 1040.

[@MrSunil92]

Hey, what’s the best app to play blackjack online?

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

We're a little biased towards our own app if you're trying to train and learn strategy and deviations. If you're just looking to play for fun then ours won't be what you're looking for.

[@MrSunil92]

@@Blackjackapprenticeship I was actually talking about playing with real money online. Do you have any recommendations?

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

We recommend not to do that for a few reasons, we discuss it in another video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4Kno62Ae51loZIsi=MJchTfd9L2nbF-Dg

[@sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

Crocket went to Vegas after beating Miami?

[@KingSeven007]

Don has the voice of your girlfriend’s favorite suga dd.

[@ico2525]

lol joe748 popping in

[@Joe_748]

Who?

[@willphill419plus1]

What does C.T.R mean?

[@Blackjackapprenticeship]

Currency transaction report

[@LuisSanchez-hc3sl]

how much do you recomend to read a book of blackjack to leanrd how to play? I bought the blackjack for blood book but I didn't started yet.👀

[@tommyfu9271]

Blackjack for blood is pretty dated. It's an entertaining reason but not much is applicable today. Blackjack attack is an excellent book.

[@AngelNortje-wx6ww]

0:08

[@ny_wonders]

Im not sure if he was banned because I was playing at a table in AC at Harrah's and he was sitting there with a female

[@carlknight6597]

Gotta play no mid-shoe entry...wayyyy better

[@chunckyfreshnut]

Would they let you card count?

[@slaniejode2318]

Hell yeah Don Johnson the whale!

[@vp6019]

sounds like he sold action, which I can understand, ran into him once at cosmo they wouldnt even allow him to play bartop 21 lol

[@JayAr709]

Bill Benter.

[@tommyfu9271]

About 15 years ago I saw Ivey playing 100k a roll on craps. At the time I just thought he was a degenerate. After the edge sorting thing it made me think he was just setting the casino up for later on playing the long game.

[@huckleberryfinn8795]

It is a sad time in human history when a grown man is scared to say Redskins.

[@lwmitcham]

I can’t believe he was scared to say redskins

[@cornellirons5348]

You read and get educated but the others at the table do the direct opposite.

[@E.Asinus]

A jockey? Is he really that small?

[@princehawker2072]

I think it was so cringe that Bri was asking who she would bone at the end, like feeling out who she would do stuff with to climb a ladder. Why was she pushing for Dave Portnoy so hard?

[@torryminers2177]

Is this ai generated?

[@whereisroom3204]

Yes

[@alexmacdonald9182]

what a low IQ question

[@SEANPOL203]

😄

[@davidjohnson2587]

Yes the whole thing