I thought it was because he literally didn't have that much money on hand. Plus he probably thought he should have won those bets, so he was extra pissed that he mushed out and blew the bridge loan and had to pay it back. Hesh called it - what he made went right out the door. He had an exceptionally large overhead; ivy league tuition, cars for his kids, his wife's pet projects/jewlery/clothes, plus his gambling, boat and all that other shit.

Throughout the series he made references to having money overseas (and we see how he sends it there in Season 3) so I'm sure he had a nice nest egg, but besides whatever cash he got kicked up to him that current week I'd guess he had no liquidity.

In real life, I bet any of the bosses anywhere in the country would be happy to make the kind of money they portrayed him making on that show.