Mickey Appleman looks like a hippie, plays like a prince, and once ranked as the biggest sports bettor in the US (one bookie nicknamed him the Handicapping Jesus). He’s nearly always in action and arouses fear at the poker table. Appleman has won four WSOP bracelets from 25 final table appearances and has earned $1.5m in tournaments.

When did you realise that you had a knack for picking sports?
In 1973 I was playing poker and somebody gave me a parlay sheet. I hit three out of four winners. During the next three weeks, I went four for four each week.