Even for the reckless noughties, it was an act that almost defied belief: a young man from Kent sold everything he owned to fund a trip to Las Vegas where he gambled the lot on red rather than black coming up in roulette.

The audacious all-or-nothing bet at the Plaza Casino made that young man briefly famous – or infamous – around the world and even inspired a Simon Cowell-backed TV game show.

Now, 21 years on from that crazy but ultimately triumphant moment – which saw him double his £76,840 assets in one turn of the wheel – Ashley Revell has spoken about what it was like to risk everything and how it changed his life to win.

And recalling that extraordinary moment when he walked away with £153,680 rather than nothing, he told MailOnline: ‘Things have always just worked out for me.‘I’ve just always been very lucky.’

Ashley, now a married 53 year old businessman and father, had flogged all his earthly possessions, making a symbolic point of selling even almost worthless items like his old school cricket jumper to raise funds to make the all-or-nothing bet.

He was a junior media worker who had pitched the idea to Sky TV and they followed him to Nevada to record what happened next.

The audacious all-or-nothing bet at the Plaza Casino made Ashley Revell briefly famous - or infamous - around the world and even inspired a Simon Cowell-backed TV game show

The audacious all-or-nothing bet at the Plaza Casino made Ashley Revell briefly famous – or infamous – around the world and even inspired a Simon Cowell-backed TV game show

Now, 21 years on from that crazy but ultimately triumphant moment - which saw him double his £76,840 assets in one turn of the wheel - Ashley Revell has spoken about what it was like to risk everything and how it changed his life to win

 Now, 21 years on from that crazy but ultimately triumphant moment – which saw him double his £76,840 assets in one turn of the wheel – Ashley Revell has spoken about what it was like to risk everything and how it changed his life to win

Ashley, now a married 53 year old businessman, has two children with his wife Tamara, 51 ¿ Flint, 17, and Scarlett, 15

Ashley, now a married 53 year old businessman, has two children with his wife Tamara, 51 – Flint, 17, and Scarlett, 15

In fact he was so junior that one of his jobs had been to play the part of the ‘news bunny’, a gimmick on short-lived L!VE TV in which role he would stand behind news readers during bulletins dressed as a giant rabbit.

Ashley had initially suggested using a friend as the gambler with his role being that of producer but when that friend pulled out at the last minute, Ashley felt he had to do it himself or see the idea cancelled.

He explained ‘I literally sold everything, even to the point where I did a boot sale to get rid of the small stuff.

‘I even sold my name – the gambling company Blue Square paid me £10,000 to change my name to Ashley Blue Square Revell.

‘Some of the things I now wish I had not sold, the sentimental stuff like my school cricket jumper, a football tie that I got playing for the county.

‘I had literally nothing left.

‘It felt quite liberating. I had no responsibilities – all I had was a black or red question.

‘I wasn’t fully sure which I was going to bet on. I was hoping for some divine inspiration, but it never happened. In the end it was just instinct.’

Recalling what it felt like to settle on red and load all his chips – representing his lost possessions – he went on ‘It was such a crazy moment – watching the ball spinning.

Ashley had flogged all his earthly possessions, making a symbolic point of selling even almost worthless items like his old school cricket jumper to raise funds to make the all-or-nothing bet

Ashley had flogged all his earthly possessions, making a symbolic point of selling even almost worthless items like his old school cricket jumper to raise funds to make the all-or-nothing bet

Recalling what it felt like to settle on red and load all his chips - representing his lost possessions - he went on ¿It was such a crazy moment - watching the ball spinning'

Recalling what it felt like to settle on red and load all his chips – representing his lost possessions – he went on ‘It was such a crazy moment – watching the ball spinning’

After his astonishing win, Ashley briefly achieved enormous media attention on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing on huge shows like Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America

After his astonishing win, Ashley briefly achieved enormous media attention on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing on huge shows like Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America

‘When it landed on red it was the biggest adrenaline rush of my life and I was jumping around pumping my fist in the air!

‘It was a mixture of relief – as I had been telling everyone I was going to win – and euphoria.

‘I tipped the croupier $600 and went straight to register to play in World Series of Poker main event.’

After his astonishing win, Ashley briefly achieved enormous media attention on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing on huge shows like Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America.

He stayed on in Sin City for six more months, getting to live out his long held dream of playing in the World Series of Poker which had been his first thought once rich.

Ashley didn’t win the tournament but believes he did well enough and only narrowly missed out on a high finish: ‘I made it though to the third day and just missed out on the money. I went all in with around $40K with a pair of aces and got called by a player with a pair of queens. A queen came on the flop and I was busted out.

He said: ‘Signing up was $10k well spent.’

When he returned to England, still with no possessions to his name, it was at the airport that he now insists he really got lucky, thanks to an encounter with the woman who would become his wife.

Ashley had initially suggested using a friend as the gambler with his role being that of producer but when that friend pulled out at the last minute, Ashley felt he had to do it himself or see the idea cancelled. Pictured: With his dog Betty

Ashley had initially suggested using a friend as the gambler with his role being that of producer but when that friend pulled out at the last minute, Ashley felt he had to do it himself or see the idea cancelled. Pictured: With his dog Betty

Ashley now says that his lovely family are ¿the most important piece of luck¿ in his life ¿ but he still yearns to again feel the rush of putting it all on the line

Ashley now says that his lovely family are ‘the most important piece of luck’ in his life – but he still yearns to again feel the rush of putting it all on the line

He was so junior before he did the show that one of his jobs had been to play the part of the ¿news bunny¿, a gimmick on short-lived L!VE TV in which role he would stand behind news readers during bulletins dressed as a giant rabbit. Pictured: Ashley as a News Bunny

He was so junior before he did the show that one of his jobs had been to play the part of the ‘news bunny’, a gimmick on short-lived L!VE TV in which role he would stand behind news readers during bulletins dressed as a giant rabbit. Pictured: Ashley as a News Bunny

He had met Tamara months earlier, just before heading to Vegas, at a bar in Fulham – what he calls the ‘meat market’ of the Pitcher and Piano – and then bumped into her by chance at arrivals at Heathrow and this time got her number.

He then used his winnings to buy a motorbike, a Triumph Tiger and an outfit to ride it in, before setting off biking across Europe. And it was then that he visited Tamara in Holland and they fell in love.

He and former headmistress Tamara, 51, now have two children together – Flint, 17, and Scarlett, 15.

He said: ‘The first time we met we both went to this bar and she said, what do you do? I was like, “Well, this sounds a bit odd but I’m just about to sell everything and gamble it all.”

‘When she went back to Holland she saw it on the news. She said: “Even if you lose, I’ll still be interested.” But I never got to put that to the test! We’ve been together ever since.

The roulette money from his spin helped him set up a series of businesses, buy his home in the rural commuter town and take five years out of work to watch his children grow up.

Ashley now says that his lovely family are ‘the most important piece of luck’ in his life – but he still yearns to again feel the rush of putting it all on the line.

He continued: ‘I’m healthy, I’ve got a lovely family, I feel extremely lucky. I think my biggest piece of luck was meeting my wife.

When he returned to England, still with no possessions to his name, it was at the airport that he now insists he really got lucky, thanks to an encounter with the woman who would become his wife. Pictured: With Tamara

When he returned to England, still with no possessions to his name, it was at the airport that he now insists he really got lucky, thanks to an encounter with the woman who would become his wife. Pictured: With Tamara

Despite his new-found fortune, Ashley never managed to get any of his things back. His father tried to rescue a prized Dunhill lighter, but his auction bid was unsuccessful

Despite his new-found fortune, Ashley never managed to get any of his things back. His father tried to rescue a prized Dunhill lighter, but his auction bid was unsuccessful

‘I’ve thought about doing it again. When the kids are 18, so in a few years’ time, I think yeah – but it’d be a much bigger bet than last time!

‘But I guess, eventually, luck has got to catch up with you, right? I’d only do it if I felt really confident that I was that I was going to win. But yeah, it has crossed my mind quite a few times. I wouldn’t rule it out!

‘Once the kids have grown up, I can start taking a few more risks because that’s where the excitement is. You’ve constantly got to measure risk versus reward versus your responsibilities.

‘The passionate thing is it’s got to be everything. All or nothing – and at the moment it’s nothing. I’m in a good place and I’m happy so there’s no reason to do it.’

Despite his new-found fortune, Ashley never managed to get any of his things back. His father tried to rescue a prized Dunhill lighter, but his auction bid was unsuccessful.

When they settled down together in London in 2005 Ashley used his winnings to set up his own company – an online poker room.

He said his bet had allowed him ‘scratch the itch’, and for the next five years he was ‘enjoying the ride’ as he and Tamara built their life together.

But his company suddenly plunged overnight in 2010, after America passed a bill regulating online poker – wiping out 95 percent of his customer base.

He said his bet had allowed him ¿scratch the itch¿, and for the next five years he was ¿enjoying the ride¿ as he and Tamara built their life together

He said his bet had allowed him ‘scratch the itch’, and for the next five years he was ‘enjoying the ride’ as he and Tamara built their life together

The ball lands on red in las Vegas in 2004 - doubling Ashley's fortune in a second

The ball lands on red in las Vegas in 2004 – doubling Ashley’s fortune in a second

Selling off what was left of the company’s assets, he still made enough to be able to take the next five years off as a ‘housewife’, relishing the opportunity to be a stay at home father to his toddler children.

He said: ‘It was almost overnight, from having a business which I loved and which was starting to make really good money – overnight, it was pretty much over.

‘I looked after the kids full time from zero to five and it’s given me a really good relationship with the children.

‘It’s really important, I think, to have that bond with them. That really carries through. It’s been a real blessing.

‘That’s been the most important piece of luck. It stops you then needing to go and find ways of getting your kicks!’

In 2014 he returned to the 9-5 commute for the first time in a decade, working for a cyber security firm to support his family.

And he ventured into the unknown again in 2022, setting up his own company. He is currently taking some time off as he is looking towards creating another startup.

But even as he lived a quiet, suburban life, Ashley’s luck had different plans for him.

When they settled down together in London in 2005 Ashley used his winnings to set up his own company - an online poker room. Pictured: At the Plaza casino in 2004

When they settled down together in London in 2005 Ashley used his winnings to set up his own company – an online poker room. Pictured: At the Plaza casino in 2004

He again hit the headlines in 2017, after a miraculous discovery while metal detecting – a hobby he has loved since childhood.

Digging up a hunk of metal, he initially threw it into a bin of ‘scraps’ where he and fellow detectorists were putting valueless rubbish they had dug up across the permission, before heading off for a cup of tea.

It was not until the Medway History Finders’ club chairman reacted in shock that he realised it was something special – a Bronze Age ingot.

The inconspicuous lump of metal was often melted down to make axe heads, the Holy Grail for many enthusiasts.

Ashley explained: ‘I love detecting. It’s got a big correlation with gambling – you’re trying to find valuable things, and it’s a feeling of finding something that has been lost.

‘I headed back like the pied piper with a trail of metal detectorists behind me and people dug up about seven axe heads – it was the find of a lifetime and I chucked it in the bin!

‘It was a nice story because it meant more to the other guys than just me finding it on my own.’

The 2,800-year-old axe heads were donated by the club to the Dover Museum – alongside 23 ingot fragments including a rare two kilo complete ‘bun’ ingot.

Now, 20 years on from his roulette miracle, Ashley says people still remind him of the moment as they recognise him in the street

Now, 20 years on from his roulette miracle, Ashley says people still remind him of the moment as they recognise him in the street 

Now, 20 years on from his roulette miracle, Ashley says people still remind him of the moment as they recognise him in the street.

He said: ‘I don’t talk about it as such, but a lot of people have heard about it. They have this sort of warped idea, it’s like Chinese whispers about what actually happened.

‘Occasionally it does the rounds and I get a few messages from people saying it just popped up on their feed.

‘My daughter said she got a message from one of her friends saying: “Is this your dad?” They had used it in one of their maths classes to talk about probability.’

He added: ‘Everything always falls in place…..‘I’ve never tried to worry too much about what will happen in the future because it always seems to work out.’

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