Haralabos Voulgaris

Haralabos "Bob" Voulgaris (born 4 July 1975) is a Greek-Canadian professional gambler and principal owner of Spanish soccer club CD Castellón.[1] Formerly the director of quantitative research and development for the Dallas Mavericks,[2] Voulgaris was considered one of the most prolific NBA sports bettors in the world.[3][4]

Haralabos Voulgaris
Nickname(s)Bob
Born (1975-07-04) 4 July 1975
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)None
Money finish(es)1
World Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)2
Money finish(es)11
European Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)None
Money finish(es)1

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.[5] 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.[6]

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).[7] 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.

He came in fourth place in the 2017 WSOP One Drop event for his largest tournament win, pocketing $1,158,883.[8]

Voulgaris also participates in Live Cash Games, and as such, appeared on PokerGO's revived version of Poker After Dark. He played a super high stakes, $300/$600 NLHE cash game session against Phil Galfond, Bill Perkins, and others.

Tom Dwan's alleged million-dollar debt

During an interview given to Joe Ingram back 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. The poker scene did the rest, with influencers such as Doug Polk speculating on the identity of said poker player, and coming to the conclusion that it could be Tom Dwan, a rumour that has not been confirmed.[9] On Joe Ingram's 7 October 2022 podcast, Voulgaris referenced the multi-million dollar debt and acknowledged that Tom has repaid him.[10]

Dallas Mavericks

On 4 October 2018, the Dallas Mavericks hired Voulgaris as Director of Quantitative Research and Development.[11] 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.[12][13]

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.[14] CD Castellón plays 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.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Livingstone scores a success with the sale of CD Castellón". livingstonepartners.com. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. "Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with Haralabos Voulgaris". ESPN. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  3. Eden, Scott (21 February 2013). "Meet the world's top NBA gambler". ESPN. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  4. Hill, David (28 April 2011). "Betting It All On Basketball: A Gambler's Grind In The NBA". Business Insider. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  5. Volz, Adam (23 February 2023). "Haralabos Voulgaris: The Story Of A World-Class Bettor - Net Worth". Casino.org Blog. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. "Meet the world's top NBA gambler". ESPN.com. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  7. "Haralabos Voulgaris' profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. "Full list of WSOP One Drop Entrants". PocketFives. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  9. "Haralabos Voulgaris's Life: Biggest Profits, Losses and Net Worth". Somuchpoker. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. "WTF!! New Information!!!! Robbi Vs Garrett | Day 45" – via YouTube.
  11. Adrian Wojnarowski [@wojespn] (5 October 2018). "ESPN reporting with @Zachlowe_NBA [...]" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 October 2018 – via Twitter.
  12. "Inside the Mavericks front office, Mark Cuban's shadow GM is causing a rift with Luka Doncic".
  13. "Reports Conflict On Whether Haralabos Voulgaris Will Remain With Mavericks". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  14. "Haralabos Voulgaris Purchasing a Spanish Soccer Club". pokernews.com. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  15. "An ex-NBA exec and gambling maestro wants to take on Real Madrid and Barcelona. Will his latest bet lift an underdog Spanish soccer team?". ESPN. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
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