Famed Sports Bettor Alan ��Dink�� Denkenson Deep in WSOP Super Seniors
In 2012, a movie called Lay the Favorite was released in which Bruce Willis plays Dink Heimowitz, a sports gambler. That character was inspired by the real-life Alan ��Dink�� Denkenson, one of 10 players remaining in the 2018 World Series of Poker Super Seniors Event.
To say Dink is a legend in the sports-betting world would be an understatement. Decades ago when he lived on the East Coast, Dink was one of the biggest bookmakers in the country. He ran a hefty operation and it��s no surprise he crossed paths with poker players, many of who fancy betting sports every now and then.
"I��ve never been to a final table and really looking forward to that."
��I grew up with the Mayfair Club people,�� Dink told PokerNews. ��That��s how I know Steve Zolotow, Mickey Appleman and David Grey. I also know Jess Welman, lots of friends in the poker world. I��ve been around the poker folks from the Mayfair.��
Some run-ins with the law inspired Dink to relocate to Las Vegas more than two decades ago to try his hand as a professional gambler. He specialized in hockey and would wager up to $5,000 a game. He became such a heavy hitter that his bets would often move lines nationwide.
One would think that relocating to Las Vegas and knowing a thing or two about hockey, Dink might��ve made a pretty penny during the Golden Knights recent run to the Stanley Cup. Dink just laughed.
��The Golden Knights, I went to about 15 games,�� he explained. ��I don��t think in any of my 40 years betting hockey I��ve lost more money on one team than the Golden Knights. I was betting whatever they didn��t do. I was over on the unders, when they won I was against them, and the few games they lost I was on the other side. It was an amazing run for them.��
While Dink doesn��t bet as big as he once did, he��s still one of the most famous sports-betting figures in Vegas, a legacy cemented by the aforementioned movie.
��It wasn��t about me; that movie was about Beth Raymer who wrote the book,�� Dink said of the film, which also starred Vince Vaughan, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rebecca Hall. ��She was an employee of mine. She worked for me and worked for someone in Curacao helping him run his sportsbook there. She wrote a great book and made a movie about it.��
The book is titled Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling. It��s the story of her years in the high-stakes world of sports betting while working for Dink. Like so many gambling stories, money, sex and drugs abound.
��It��s going amazingly well because I��m not really a poker player, I��m a sports bettor.��
��I had very little to do with it,�� said Dink. ��I consulted a little on the movie, but the movie wasn��t fueled by anything having to do with my life, it��s all Beth��s life. Beth is my friend, she��s still my friend, and it wasn��t the greatest movie but it was an excellent book.��
As for the Super Seniors tournament, Dink is notching his best-ever poker cash no matter where he finishes. In fact, he��s already guaranteed just shy of $20,000 in prize money.
��It��s going amazingly well because I��m not really a poker player, I��m a sports bettor,�� he said. ��I��m at that age where I can and I had some time so thought I��d play. I play a few tournaments a year. I��ll be very content to [save the money] until next year if I make the final table. I��ve never been to a final table and really looking forward to that hopefully.��
You can follow updates on Dink and the rest of the Super Seniors field via PokerNews�� live updates.
