Toni Baloney – the Gambling Phoney

A Quick Word From Toni:
"I'm a street smart Italian-American gambler/con artist/swindler and magician.I grew up in Staten Island with my two older brothers and my younger sister. Like so many Italians, my great grandfather came over to U.S. from southern Italy in the 1890s and set up a tailor's business in Staten Island, my mother and father still have that business today.

Although my mother wanted me to go into the priesthood to save my "rotten soul" and my father wanted me to work alongside him with my older brothers in the family business, I preferred to hang out on the street with the neighbourhood kids making a fast buck. Gambling is where my heart lies, and after one too many trips to Juvenile Hall, my parents sent me off to work for my Uncle Benny at his dry cleaning business in Las Vegas Nevada.

In Las Vegas I did my share of cleaning, but it was more like cleaning up at the tables than shirts and suits. Mixing with crooked gamblers, con artists, loan sharks and even magicians, so it wasn't long before I got barred from all but a few casinos on the strip, the result ? - I started charging people to see how gamblers cheat. And now YOU can see how the real work's done. “

Although your guests WILL leave empty handed, at least they'll have had their fill of laughter, amazement and fun. So that's it - Toni Baloney - 'The Gambling Phoney'.

Here’s the Deal
Toni will turn up at your event already in character and will remain in character throughout to maintain the illusion. He will bring with him his own height-adjusting casino-style table and performance mats, complete with two chrome barstools for seated participants.

His 15/20 minutes cycling performance normally includes cards, coins, sleight of hand and other everyday items, all with a gambling theme. Mixing comedy, storytelling and the audience around him, Toni weaves 'tall tales' of his 'colourful past' whilst enthralling his audience with eye-popping gambling trickery. Shiny blue-suited and decked out in the most flamboyant of jewellery, Toni would put Liberace to shame, in fact you could say that he puts the 'bling' into gam-bling !

Also available is Toni’s hilarious 45 minute gambling-themed cabaret act.

Make your casino night uniquely magical and invite the unforgettable Italian Stallion with the Golden Medallion - Toni Baloney. Just make sure he stays away from the casino!