Dana White Fails in Las Vegas $10M Baccarat Tournament

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UFC fans have likely heard of president Dana White’s passion for high-stakes gambling. While it isn’t known if he enjoys playing at online baccarat sites, he did recently take part in an exclusive $10 million baccarat tournament held at the prestigious MGM Mansions in Las Vegas last month.

However, while White is known to have extensive gambling experience, the event didn’t go his way.

A post on Instagram revealed that Dana White received an invitation to the baccarat tournament and expressed his excitement about the luxurious welcome provided by MGM Resorts. Alongside the invite, White received $20,000 worth of promotional chips and a unique framed $1,000 bill from 1934. His participation wasn’t without controversy, as it meant he had to miss attending UFC Vegas 105 and it is rare that White isn’t cage-side at UFC events.

White’s Winning Streak at Caesars Palace
However, his presence at such a high-profile tournament is testament to his status among the gambling elite. He’s no stranger to high rollers and is particularly well known at Caesars Palace, where he famously enjoyed a winning streak amounting to tens of millions of dollars. Speaking on the Full Send podcast, White said:

“Caesars Palace … I clipped these guys for $1 million a night from, like, the first week of January all the way into March. I beat these guys for like $26 million, $27 million.”
White’s consistent success at Caesars Palace has made him a legendary figure in Vegas gambling circles. He is known for having a very disciplined strategy. For instance, on several occasions, he has spoken about winning three consecutive hands and then immediately cashing out, which is an excellent responsible gambling technique but does frustrate some casino operators. Because of his huge bets and winnings, several casinos have refused to accommodate his high-limit play. On one occasion, White criticized Wynn Las Vegas for not allowing him his preferred betting limits.

Things Go Wrong for White
Unfortunately for White the baccarat tournament didn’t result in another massive win. In his characteristically candid style, White openly admitted his defeat in a follow-up social media update shortly after the event. In it, he explained that he would be running a competition to give the gifts he received for taking part in the tournament:

“What’s up everybody. So, I played in the Baccarat tournament at the MGM Mansions. I lost, I’m out. I’m a loser but you’re not. So this is what they gave us in the invitations. That’s a $1000 bill from like 1934 and this is an ounce and a half of gold. So, two of you will have the opportunity to win this. I haven’t figured out how I’m gonna do it yet but stay tuned.”

I played in the @MGMGrand $10 Million Dollar Baccarat Tourney. I’m out!!! I’m a loser but you’re NOT. 2 of you will win these BAD ASS gifts. Stay Tuned pic.twitter.com/7n44Ti6Rtt

— danawhite (@danawhite) April 5, 2025

A $1 Million Baccarat Hand?
While he may not have won the tournament, White’s participation attracted a great deal of attention. Furthermore, his good-natured response to losing further endeared him to fans and was a prime example of the straightforward attitude he’s known for both in business and gambling circles.

Dana White’s love of gambling is well-documented and his participation in events such as the MGM baccarat tournament is entirely in keeping with his reputation as a risk-taking high roller. Unlike most of us, White regularly bets hundreds of thousands of dollars per hand.

White has spoken of his dream of betting up to $1 million per hand on baccarat. However, he acknowledges that this will be hard due to the huge credit limits required. Despite this, White continues to play at exceptionally high stakes at Caesars Palace and MGM’s Bellagio, where his huge bets are welcomed by the house.

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