www.DontBetYourLifeOnIt.com
Jimmy Della Valle
Motivational Speaker
High Schools / Universities / Corporate Events
Any Function You May Be Having
ACTOR / COMEDIAN / REFORMED GAMBLER!
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BOOKING INFO:
TMG/THE MICHAELANGELO GROUP
SPEAKING TOPICS:
WHY SHOULD I BOOK JIMMY?
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About Jimmy Della Valle’s ‘Don’t Bet Your Life On It’ focuses on America’s increasing past time of gambling, which is now affecting a new generation of young gamblers. Being a successful stand-up comedian for over twenty years and now a reformed gambler, Jimmy’s honest no-nonsense comedic approach to this serious issue is shared at high schools, universities, corporate events and comedy clubs across the country. Gambling is sweeping the nation; Jimmy will show you how to vacuum it up. Jimmy grew up in New York where he learned to gamble at a young age. At 5 years old, he learned to play poker at Christmas dinner with the relatives for pennies and was instantly addicted. At age 10, Jimmy was picking the horses and winning while sitting on his father’s lap at the horse races. He bought his first Atari Video game system from his horse winnings on a Trifecta. He would gamble against his father for his allowance. He gambled against his friends on the street by playing craps or at the bus stop for his lunch money. Jimmy's gambling and late night card playing got so bad he barely graduated high school. He finally did so by making a bet with his father that if he graduated he would be compensated. As a teenager, Jimmy’s addiction escalated to stealing, pawning items that were his and not his, and scamming people. He borrowed money to gamble and made promises he couldn't keep. At 18, his first casino experience launched his addiction to the casino gambling atmosphere. It started with visiting the casino two to three times a day where he would win and then lose money. For almost three years, Jimmy chased the money he had lost from casino visits, never to end up getting even. One day at a casino, a Pit boss couldn't watch Jimmy lose anymore money. He knew that if Jimmy was employed at the casino, he could no longer gamble there since it was grounds for termination. In the last 3 years, Jimmy had lost $30,000 dollars at this establishment. The Pit boss became a mentor. With his guidance, Jimmy took all the casino classes and became a casino dealer for the next 10 years of his crazy addicted life. Jimmy loved his new job, started saving money, didn't gamble for six months and thought he might be cured of his addiction. Unfortunately, the gambling itch reappeared and he lost control. He went to a casino in Connecticut with co-workers from the New York casino. All the hard work of avoiding gambling was over and he was hooked again. Within a half hour, Jimmy lost his savings of $2,400.00 and was broke. For many years, this became a regular cycle for Jimmy - to stop gambling, and then start back again; until one day he figured out his own way to stop for good. Jimmy has gambled for almost his whole life at Craps, Blackjack, Poker and every other game you can think of. He has won and lost in practically every casino in Las Vegas and casinos all over the country. There are over 200 casinos in Las Vegas and Jimmy has been given free luxury rooms, plane tickets, limos, show tickets and meals at nearly all of them due to his high roller status. Jimmy will inspire you on how not to ‘bet your life on it’. The lessons Jimmy provides are from the school of hard knocks. At his lowest point, he contemplated suicide more than once as his only way to win. He will teach you how to avoid the many pitfalls from which he struggled to climb out. Jimmy discusses the dangers of this addiction, and the fact that he lived through it. He speaks from the heart on what bets to make that really count in life: family, friends, and your well-being. Although he never attended college, his Master's degree in Street Smarts and Gambling provides his audience with a unique message that can only be learned from a true compulsive gambler. Have you, a family member or friend ever gambled on anything? Played bingo? Scratch off ticket? Flip of a coin? Played the lucky numbers from your fortune cookie? Bet on two cockroaches racing? Gambling affects all genders, ages, nationalities, and different classes of people. We gamble for different reasons such as family problems, relationships, ego, escape from reality, boredom and debt. As a result from Jimmy’s gambling, he has won and lost more money in one day than most people make in a year. Due to these personal losses, Jimmy’s passion inspires, educates and motivates people to change the way they live and look at gambling. Jimmy has been happily married for over 5 years, and currently lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife. He almost lost her several times due to his stupid gambling. Jimmy no longer gambles – on anything – and is just taking his new life one day at a time. Today, Jimmy did not gamble. Did you? Change your choice, change your bet, and remember “Don’t Bet Your Life On It." Jimmy is one Speaker YOU CAN BET ON!
Bio Jimmy Della Valle, born and raised in NY, now living in Los Angeles, confesses - "Once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker." His streetwise edgy flare, macho vulnerability, and blue-collar twists are what allow Jimmy to keep audiences on the brink of laughter. For over a decade, he has been a stand up comedian entertaining at clubs, corporate events and colleges with his quick comedic timing, and his uniquely skewed observations. Jimmy's television appearances have included “Without A Trace”, “My Name Is Earl”, “Unfabulous”, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", HBO's "The Sopranos", "OZ" and "Sex And The City". He has also appeared in numerous feature films, print and national commercials. Most recently, Jimmy was on the hit summer NBC show - "America's Got Talent" where Piers Morgan said, "I wanted to hate you with every bone in my body, but I loved you! You are hilarious!” |
