Who Was Akio Kashiwagi?

If you want to be a high rollers player in the casinos, most people would say NOT to do it like Akio Kashiwagi. While he certainly shot up as an amazing gambler, and as one of the biggest high-stakes gamblers in the United States...he ended fatally stabbed in his home in Japan with major gambling debts. In 1992, Akio Kashiwagi was found stabbed over 150 times at his home in Japan. He was one of the high rollers who left major debts at the casinos in Nevada and Atlantic City totaling as much as $9 million! At his death, Akio Kashiwagi was 54 years old and was a Tokyo based real estate investor. He was discovered near his Mount Fuji home on January 3rd.

Where Akio Kashiwagi Began

Akio Kashiwagi was a Japanese property developer who had made a fortune and enjoyed spending it as one of the top high rollers. During the 1980s and early 1990s, he loved to play Baccarat with credit lines in the millions. He was often seen gambling $100,000-200,000 in one hand! He was dubbed "The Warrior" by casino executives for his fearless gambling as one of the major high rollers. He would often play for days without sleep, and would then go to bed only to gamble some more. He was one of the few players who was granted more than $1 million lines of credit!

Akio Kashiwagi Owes Millions

While Akio Kashiwagi was one of the world's high rollers, he got in over his head in the end. He died owing the Las Vegas Hilton about $5 million in gambling debts! He also owed the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City about $4 million. In May 1990, he apparently went on a baccarat binge at the Atlantic City casino. Akio Kashiwagi walked out of the baccarat game with $2 million in chips after he lost $10 million when he said that the casino had reneged on a deal to let him win or lose $12 million. Both casinos were apparently planning to take legal action against Akio Kashiwagi through his estate after he died to collect what they say they were owed. An Atlantic city executive said that the Trump Plaza had already been willing to write off $1 million of the debt that Akio Kashiwagi owed.

Akio Kashiwagi Negotiated Hard

Apparently, according to sources that saw him play and negotiate, Akio Kashiwagi was a tough negotiator. Along with being one of the high rollers, he could negotiate his debt with a fierce enthusiasm. He would often negotiate his losses to minimize what he had to pay. Akio Kashiwagi had his biggest win when he won $6 million from the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City in February, 1990. He was wagering $200,000 on each hand at the rate of $14 million an hour! He was actually up more than $7 million at one point. High rollers indeed!