Many people dream about beating casinos through skilled play and winning lots of money. However, the truth is that it's not easy to outwit casinos - otherwise everybody would be a winner. But there are some extremely skilled players who've managed to get rich through gambling and here's a look at some of them.

5. Joseph Jagger

Back in 1873, roulette wheel bias was a virtually nonexistent idea that had yet to take form. However, Joseph Jagger changed all of this when he hired six clerks to travel to Monte Carlo and record wheel results. The six clerks then returned with data that Jagger used when he went to Monte Carlo and played roulette. After making sense of the data, the British engineer made what amounts to around $4 million through wheel bias.

4. Domonic LoRiggio/Frank Scoblete

Some people don't believe in controlled shooting, or the idea that players can influence craps results by throwing dice a certain way. But doubters should look at the story of Domonic LoRiggio and Frank Scoblete, who teamed up to win a fortune through controlled shooting. Now banned from most casinos, these two spend their time offering classes to craps enthusiasts.

3. Edward Thorpe

Contrary to popular belief, mathematician Edward Thorpe did not invent card counting. However, he did refine the practice so much that players could finally beat the blackjack house edge. His 1962 book Beat the Dealer became an immediate hit and inspired numerous other successful card counters - including the MIT Blackjack Team (discussed later).

2. Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo

One of the more modern roulette wheel bias success stories is Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo. The Spaniard spent countless hours watching roulette wheels in casinos and recording spins. The goal was to find wheels that favored certain numbers so he could later take advantage of them (like Jagger). Garcia-Pelayo's hard work paid off too because he made a rumored $2 million in profits before being banned in most Spanish casinos.

1. MIT Blackjack Team

Rather than an individual person, like with what we've discussed before, the MIT Blackjack Team operated more like a corporation when they counted cards. This collection of Massachusetts Institute of Technology students grew as large as 80-90 players, and they traveled all around the world working as teams to beat casinos. What's particularly neat about the MIT Blackjack Team is how they were staked by investors, who then received dividends on their investments. With such an intricate operation, it's no wonder why the MIT Blackjack Team inspired the major motion picture "21."