888 Founder Dies in Plane Crash, Michael Jordan Gambling 'Never an Issue'

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on

Written by :

Jagajeet Chiba

Published on :

Shay Ben-Yitzhak, one of four co-founders of the global online gambling firm 888, has died in a plane crash.


*No hidden fees.  Everything for $5 per player
*Accepts Amazon Cards, Gift cards, Bitcoin
*Open an account in less than a minute
*2 Week Free Trial
*Hundreds of leagues, live betting - 99.9% uptime
*Mobile platform available
*Live dealer casino
*Offices in Costa Rica, Expansion into Philippines
*Mandarin Chinese, 日本人の, 한국, Fillipino, việt
Click here to visit PricePerPlayer.com

The tragedy occurred on Saturday in Sharon, Israel shortly after takeoff.

Ben-Yitzhak had reportedly been piloting the private plane with his 11-year-old son, who survived but was seriously injured.

The 52-year-old was the last of the four founders to relinquish control of the company in 2010.

Investigations into the crash continues.

While Episode 6 of the hit documentary "Last Dance" touched heavily on the subject of NBA superstar Michael Jordan's gambling, Jordan insists he never had a problem.

The sixth episode of the hit ESPN docuseries covered the Bulls’ 1993 Eastern Conference Finals showdown with the Knicks, when Jordan’s gambling entered the national spotlight. After Chicago dropped the first two games of the series to New York, it emerged Jordan had been in Atlantic City the night before Game 2. 

A New York Times report said he was seen in the casino lobby as late as 2:30 a.m., and Jordan appeared tired in that second game. In a present-day interview, Jordan maintains that it was all overblown, and the Atlantic City trip didn’t affect his play at all. 

“We got a limo, we went and gambled for a couple hours, and we came back,” Jordan says. “Everybody went totally ballistic. It wasn’t late. We got home by 12:30, 1 o’clock.”

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com

Related Content

Knoxville Tennessee is Getting a New Nonstop Flight to Las Vegas

Knoxville Tennessee is Getting a New Nonstop Flight to Las Vegas

Southwest Airlines has announced it will begin flying nonstop flights between Knoxville, Tennessee and Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturdays and Sundays, which will compliment Allegiant Airlines Monday and Friday nonstop flights.
Rare Albino Alligator Sisters to Make This Marksville Louisiana Casino Their New Home

Rare Albino Alligator Sisters to Make This Marksville Louisiana Casino Their New Home

Native American tribes consider albino alligators extraordinary beings that are often associated with spirituality, renewal and the importance of respecting the natural world.
ISPs in France Ordered to Block Polymarket

ISPs in France Ordered to Block Polymarket

France’s gambling regulator said on Friday it had instructed internet service providers to block access to the ​Polymarket betting website, citing concerns that it ‌could expose users to significant gambling losses and that some wagers offered on the platform could be manipulated.
Jemma McColgan's View On Stake's Financial Position in 2026

Jemma McColgan's View On Stake's Financial Position in 2026

As one of the site’s top writers and editors, Jemma has over a decade of experience in this fast-paced industry – meaning she’s witnessed the rise of crypto casinos like Stake from the very beginning.