Haralabos Voulgaris
{{Short description|Greek-Canadian professional gambler (born 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox poker player
| name = Haralabos Voulgaris
| nickname = Bob
| image =
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| residence =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|07|04|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| wsop bracelet count = None
| wsop money finishes = 1
| wsop main event best finish rank =
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| wpt titles = None
| wpt final tables = 2
| wpt money finishes = 11
| ept titles = None
| ept final tables = None
| ept money finishes = 1
| updated = 2014-12-03
}}
Haralabos "Bob" Voulgaris (born 4 July 1975) is a Greek-Canadian professional gambler and principal owner of Spanish soccer club CD Castellón.{{cite web | title=Livingstone scores a success with the sale of CD Castellón | website=Livingstone | date=2022-07-20 | url=https://www.livingstonepartners.com/sv/transactions/livingstone-scores-a-success-with-the-sale-of-cd-castellon/ | language=sv | access-date=2024-07-23}} Formerly the director of quantitative research and development for the Dallas Mavericks,{{Cite news |last=Townsend |first=Brad |date=2021-09-23 |title=Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with Haralabos Voulgaris |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/09/23/dallas-mavericks-have-parted-ways-with-haralabos-voulgaris/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |work=DallasNews.com |language=en}} Voulgaris was considered one of the most prolific NBA sports bettors in the world.{{Cite web |last=Eden |first=Scott |date=21 February 2013 |title=Meet the world's top NBA gambler |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/dollars/post/_/id/2935/meet-the-worlds-top-nba-gambler |access-date=5 December 2014 |website=ESPN.com}}{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/sweat-in-the-game-a-gamblers-grind-in-the-nba-2011-4 |title=Betting It All On Basketball: A Gambler's Grind In The NBA |author=Hill, David |work=Business Insider |date=28 April 2011 |accessdate=5 December 2014}}
Early life
Haralabos Voulgaris was born in Canada to Greek immigrant parents. His father had a successful Greek restaurant and commercial real estate business in Winnipeg.{{Cite web |last=Volz |first=Adam |date=2023-02-23 |title=Haralabos Voulgaris: The Story Of A World-Class Bettor - Net Worth |url=https://www.casino.org/blog/wild-life-worlds-best-nba-bettor/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Casino.org Blog |language=en-US}} At 18, he took a gap year, traveling to his parents' birth towns of Argos and Tripoli. He then joined his father in Las Vegas for two months, staying at Caesars Palace.
He studied philosophy at the University of Manitoba.
Gambling career
In addition to NBA betting, Voulgaris is also a poker enthusiast who has cashed for $3.090 million in live tournaments ({{as of|September 2020|lc=yes}}).{{Cite web|title=Haralabos Voulgaris' profile on The Hendon Mob|url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=33445|access-date=10 September 2020|website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database|language=en}} He won that sum over the course of 14 years and 19 different events.
One of his biggest wins dates back from September 2007, when he finished 3rd in the $10K NLHE Championship event at the WPT Borgata Open for $434,560.{{Cite web |title=World Poker Tour - WPT Borgata Poker Open, No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=27915 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}
He came in fourth place in the 2017 WSOP One Drop event for his largest tournament win, pocketing $1,158,883.{{cite web |url=http://www.pocketfives.com/articles/full-list-wsop-one-drop-entrants-released-top-prize-set-18-million-587503/ |title=Full list of WSOP One Drop Entrants |work=PocketFives |date=30 June 2014 |accessdate=5 December 2014}}
Voulgaris also participates in Live Cash Games, and as such, appeared on PokerGO's revived version of Poker After Dark.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Will |date=October 23, 2017 |title=Relive "Perks of the Trade" on PokerGO |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/relive-perks-of-the-trade-on-pokergo |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=PokerGO Tour |language=en}} He played a super high stakes, $300/$600 NLHE cash game session against Phil Galfond, Bill Perkins, and others.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Matt |date=October 16, 2017 |title=Rick Salomon Kicks Off "Perks of the Trade" Week in Style |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/rick-salomon-kicks-off-perks-of-the-trade-week-in-style |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=PokerGO Tour |language=en}}
Tom Dwan's alleged million-dollar debt
During an interview given to Joe Ingram in 2015, Voulgaris mentioned a "former NVG superhero" poker pro owing him millions of dollars after he agreed to place bets for him with an unknown bookmaker. Influencers such as Doug Polk speculated that it could be Tom Dwan.{{Cite web|date=20 August 2020|title=Haralabos Voulgaris's Life: Biggest Profits, Losses and Net Worth|url=http://somuchpoker.com/haralabos-voulgaris-life-biggest-profits-losses-private-life-net-worth/|access-date=10 September 2020|website=Somuchpoker|language=en-US}}
On Joe Ingram's 7 October 2022 podcast, Voulgaris referenced the multi-million dollar debt and acknowledged that Tom has repaid him.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VGk5Xzegg8 | title=WTF!! New Information!!!! Robbi Vs Garrett | Day 45 | date=7 October 2022 | via=YouTube }}
Dallas Mavericks
On 4 October 2018, the Dallas Mavericks hired Voulgaris as Director of Quantitative Research and Development.{{cite tweet |author=Adrian Wojnarowski |user=wojespn |title=ESPN reporting with @Zachlowe_NBA [...] |number=1048028513578745856 |date=5 October 2018 |access-date=5 October 2018}} On 16 June 2021, just two days after an article was released about conflicts involving Voulgaris that had arisen in the front office, conflicting reports surfaced that Voulgaris and the Mavericks parted ways.{{Cite web |last1=Cato |first1=Tim |last2=Amick |first2=Sam |date=June 14, 2021 |title=Inside the Mavericks front office, Mark Cuban's shadow GM is causing a rift with Luka Doncic |url=https://theathletic.com/2649806/2021/06/14/inside-the-mavericks-front-office-mark-cubans-shadow-gm-is-causing-a-rift-with-luka-doncic/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Kevin |last2=Lambre |first2=Wosny |date=June 16, 2021 |title=Reports Conflict On Whether Haralabos Voulgaris Will Remain With Mavericks |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/262982/Reports-Conflict-On-Whether-Haralabos-Voulgaris-Will-Remain-With-Mavericks |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=RealGM.com}}
CD Castellón
Voulgaris acquired Spanish soccer club CD Castellón in July 2022. The move came one year after Voulgaris departed his role as Director of Quantitative Research and Development for the Dallas Mavericks.{{Cite web |last=Sofen |first=Jon |date=July 24, 2022 |title=Haralabos Voulgaris Purchasing a Spanish Soccer Club |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2022/07/haralabos-voulgaris-soccer-club-41739.htm |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}} when CD Castellón was playing in Spain's third division, Primera División RFEF – Group 2. When Voulgaris purchased the club, the team had not reached the top-level Spanish soccer league La Liga in more than three decades. In 2024, the club reached Segunda Division.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/1696-haralabos-voulgaris Card Player profile]
- [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?n=33445 Hendon Mob profile]
- [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=244 WSOP profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Voulgaris, Haralabos}}