Sam Angel, a colorful character known as the “Suitcase,” launched himself into the Vegas limelight in the 1950s. We don’t know that much about his early life, aside from that he served in World War II. But once he stepped onto the Vegas scene, the arc of his remarkable life becomes quite clear.

Sam Angel was hired as a driver by Nick “The Greek” Dandalos, a legendary high-roller, which gave Sam his entry into the world of high-stakes poker. Angel began to gain his reputation as a poker player by the 1960s. And as his reputation grew, he began to sit in on some of the town’s biggest games.

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