Modern-Day Robin Hood?
He calls himself “Robin Hood 702.”
He’s a high stakes blackjack player well known in certain Las Vegas casinos for wagering thousands of dollars a hand, sometimes winning (or losing) hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day.
Now he’s offering to use his gambling skills — and his own money — to help a family in financial need, like a modern-day Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He wants to remain anonymous to keep the focus on the good deed he’s ready to do.
“I’m looking for a well deserving family up against hard times” he told me over a recent dinner on the West Coast. “People $25,000 to $50,000 in debt who did right by family or neighbors in the past. Now it’s their time to be helped and I want to be the one to help them.”
He’s created a website, Robinhood702.com, where he’ll collect submissions now through Sept. 15 before choosing a winner. He says anyone can nominate anyone in need, like a friend, relative, neighbor or themselves, by sending a 1- to 3-minute video explaining their hardships, contributions or other reasons they should be selected.
He’ll choose a winner after confirming the details of their story and financial crisis.
Robin Hood 702 promises the chosen family “an unforgettable experience” in Las Vegas or a similar gaming venue (he’s still looking for the right casino to host the event). He’ll fly them in, put them up in a high-roller suite and cover meals, spa treatments and show tickets. Then, at some point he’ll go into the casino’s VIP high-limit room and win the money necessary to pay off their debt.
“What if you lose?” I ask him. “I won’t” he insists.
Then, because he’s superstitious, he asks me not to use the “L” word again, guaranteeing he’ll set aside half the money the family needs to be debt-free and hand it over, no matter what happens at the blackjack table.
“But that won’t be necessary. I’m gonna win the money” he tells me, and after seeing him play, it’s easy to believe the boast.
He says he’s been gambling since he was 16, experiencing every emotion imaginable, “up, down, over and out”, but says he’s figured out after all these years how to win consistently, crediting much of his success to good karma and good luck.
He doesn’t recommend that others try this and says he knows some perceive gambling as “the dark side,” but he believes he can use it to do good and says he hopes to start a national movement, with people using their skills or expertise in other fields to help families in crisis.
For now, he’s focusing on finding the first family, he told me while sipping Evian with a slice of orange (he doesn’t drink alcohol).
“My goal,” he says, “is to save someone’s house, pay their debts and win back their American dream.”
Tags: Robin Hood
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Rick Leventhal is a correspondent in the New York bureau, but has
covered stories in more than 30 states and 20 countries, from Aruba to
Afghanistan. He has also reported from the field for dozens of World
Series games! 
Robinhood did not steel from rich to give to the poor. He stole from the government to give back to the poor.
will he wear green tight’s?
But Robin Hood DID NOT steal from the rich. He stole from Prince John and the Sherriff of Nottingham – THE GOVERNMENT. He stole from them because they were taxing the people to death. Sound familiar?
Let’s hope it’s not a new ploy of Jacko’s to prey on desperate people.
that is so nice of that man… i would so love to enter my brothers name in there because he has a wife and 4 kids, and they barely scrape by… but i dont think he would go to a casino in las vegas, you see my brothers a preacher. he has never done anything to anybody and it just seems like nothing ever works out for them.
Best of luck to him. I hope his good deed is able to help a family get back on their feet.
To the Princes of Thieves,
I think what your doing is absolutely fantastic! Personally, I do alot with charity on a volunteer basis because i don’t have a lot of money and think so few people really care beyond the moment of reading a story. What your doing will change the entire life and future of a family and their well being, mentally, emotionally, and obviously financially. Thank you for taking your time and talents to improve and make the difference in anothers life.
Sincerely,
Matt.
He stole this persona from Barry Greenstein. He plays poker and gives his winnings to a children’s charity. They call him the Robin Hood of poker. It is good that people are following suit, but dont steal a persona for the sake of self-promotion. “Dont let your left hand see what your right hand is giving”
Just want to say that I like the fact that this guy is stepping up to make a difference. Doesn’t have to but is. A true random act of kindness. Thanks for being human!
There are quite a few people that think this way. I know of 2 Las Vegas poker players that are the most generous people I know. They have paid for people’s operations, donated gallons of blood, offered to buy a car for a senior citizen living on social security when they found his car’s AC hasn’t worked in 4 years, and many, many other acts of kindness. They support multiple charities in several states.
It’s called paying it forward, and these two people are the best I know at it.
Yeah, and all this deserving family has to do is give him $3000 so he can get started. Sorry, I have seen this scam before. The last guy that did this was on the run for three years before they caught up with him. Sucker born every minute.
Hm… Out of curiousity I went to this site and it’s not ready yet to take submissions. Interesting jump-the-gun story.
It’s awful generous of him, and can’t say I feel any sympathy with big casino owners. But as Qui-Gon Jinn once said, “if you gamble enough, eventually you’ll lose.”
Robinhood? Steal from the rich and give to the poor? Sounds like Obamanomics.
I would like to point out a significant difference between Robin Hood 702 and the Robin Hood of Medieval England. 702 does not _steal_ from the wealthy, he just wagers and sometimes wins a card game against the rich who also are betting their money. The Robin Hood from England actually _stole_ from the rich, notably King John, and gave to the poor. Calling someone Modern day Robin Hood can actually be taken as an insult, because 702 is actually _winning_ not stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Vast multitudes of Americans give to the poor with their earned money, and singling out one person as The Provider to the Poor is also an insult to other charitable Americans.
I think that what this Robin Hood 702 is doing is wonderful. I do hope that he helps the right people out that will take this gift and do good by him. Thank you for your efforts to help out someone in need. Goodluck.
Hey, I thought McGovern got out of politics? That’s what Obama and his Merry Men are trying to do as well. Maybe Obama should team up with this “Robin Hood”, slip into a pair of green tights and dance around Vegas. That’ll get him some additional press coverage for his inflated ego.
sounds like a nice guy, but anyone who thinks they can consistently beat blackjack is a fool.
You’re awesome Robin Hood 702! You’re about to change a lot of lives. Have you ever thought about running for President?
All the best to you and the family that’s chosen,
Mm
Dear Mr. Leventhal:
Robin Hood took from the government and gave to the poor – like a modern-day conservative.
Thanks,
Bill Davenport
this is a wonderful idea but I have 1 problem.. If he wants people that are that broke, how can most people record a video without the equip. my cell doesnt have a camera, and I can barely afford internet which I wouldnt have except my company pays for it
I think this is a great idea! I use to go to the riverboat casinos and play slots and alot of the times I was hoping to win so I could help my grown kids out with things like: tires for their car, or help with repairs and alot of the times when I was playing for these reasons and not my own gain I would win! One time I won enough to help a friend get his teeth pulled and get new dentures. He never fails to tell me how much it meant to him that I did that for him. Its a great feeling to give when its not expected or asked for.
Take from the Rich and Give to the Poor ? This sounds like B.H.Obama who wants to be our President?????
i would like to participate in the Moderday rodin hood but have no way to video, is there a way to email
This guy should be commended for his good deeds, maybe win one of those Nobel Peace Prizes. His efforts are well deserved.
I think it’s a great thing…and I support him on this adventure. I only hope more people will follow suit on this in which ever way they can.
Wow, what an idea. Take some poor family who probably don’t know how to earn much of a living on their own and swoop in and “rescue” them. That’ll teach the children a lesson about how to THINK the world works.
How about using his forum to send the parents to skill training classes, money management counseling, etc?
I hope he picks someone who is in financial straights because of something truly out of their control, not just foolishness or overspending. Take a look at that family near Atlanta who recently filed bankruptcy after ABC’s Home Makeover “rescued” them.
Paying off someone’s bills for them doesn’t teach them a thing except that maybe it’ll happen again someday- just like gambling.
One time, I went to the Casino with $200 and promised God that if I could just leave with what I went inside with ($200), I would give whatever I made over that amount to the church the following Sunday. I always assumed that whatever I walked in with was lost to the Casino… and it usually was. On that particular night, I left with $285. I put $200 back in the bank, and kept my promise with God and gave $85 to the church. I have not gone back since
I hope he breaks the house. Best wishes.
This isn’t one of the two guys claiming to have bigfoot is it?
ok most people in debt do not have ways to submit through video. but this is good that someone is willing to help others in their time of need.
I went to the website and encountered the same problem…I dont have a video camera and neither does my cell…it would not take my submission without a video. Oh well, I am sure there is a family out there who has a video camera that is worse off than me. My debt could likely be paid off with what he is wagering…never mind his winnings!
I AM 80 YRS OLD. VETERAN OF KOREAN WAR, LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 22 . I AM $ 15000.00 IN DEPT AND WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR IT UP BEFORE I PASS OVER. I COULD SEND “ROBIN HOOD” $ 100.00 TO GAMBLE FOR ME AND HE CAN TAKE ANY AMOUNT OVER 15000.00 FOR SOMEONE ELSE. I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF DEPT WHICH I HAVE BEEN IN ALL MY LIFE. JUST A FEW YEARS OF NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE INCOMING BILLS. I DON’T WANT ANY OTHER BENEFITS THAT HE WOULD OFFER. I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF DEPT.
thank you soo much! We need more people like you in this World.
privacy @robinhood702.com this email address is in the terms and conditions on the web site and it is not a valid email has fox really checked this guy out?