Flamboyant Old School Bookie Dead: Said Lucille Ball Bet £6m a Night at Craps Table
Famed bookmaker Sid Hill has passed away at the age of 84. He was among the world’s most revered bookies throughout the 1950s, 60s, '70s and '80s while his sister Mable ranked among the biggest gamblers.
Noted for his flamboyant dapper dress style, Hill hung with Hollywood A-List celebrities. They included the likes of “Kojak” star Telly Savalas, who was hardly swayed when the Aussie bookie began bragging about his high rolling sis.
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
After Sid arrived at the prestigious bar and gambling den he was soon drinking with American actor Telly Savalas.
The pair chatted and they talked of gamblers of note, with Sid telling the lolly-sucking actor that his sister was one of the world's biggest gamblers.
"He said to me, 'Sid, that might be okay in Australia but I'm here with a woman that is turning over £6 million a night on the craps table.
"There she is, you might know her from TV - it's Lucille Ball - and last night one of the starchy supervisors here said to her, 'Miss Ball you are losing £3 million so far tonight.' She replied, 'Sonny, I earn half a million dollars American for every show I do in the season and that's about 40 shows, so you start worrying when I lose 20 million!' "
During his lifetime, alcohol was like religion to good ‘ol Sid.
"If you won you celebrate with a drink, if you lost you could drown your sorrows."
Bookies old and new turned up at his funeral.
Sid is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcia, and their daughter Kara, and from a previous marriage, sons Andrew and Chris.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
