A lot can be said about the connection between sports and gambling. For one, sports betting has often been compared to gambling. To the point that many would argue it is gambling. Indeed, a lot of people believe that online sportsbooks are a part of the iGaming industry.
Online Casinos & Sportsbooks
It makes sense to think so, as a lot of sportsbooks do double as casinos, or vice versa. However, for the most part, an online casino Netherlands website sticks to casino games, and bookies focus on sports betting. Still, there are other connections that we can make.
A big connection is the one between athletes and gambling. There are quite a lot of well-known athletes that have either admitted to or been seen gambling in top-tier casinos all over the world. In this article, we would like to take a look at some notable athletes that enjoy gambling.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is an American icon and a National Basketball Association (NBA) legend. His time with the Bulls resulted in the worldwide popularization of basketball, and especially the NBA. To this day, many consider him the greatest player of all time, though LeBron fans would beg to differ. Of course, quite a lot of fans are aware of Jordan’s love for the casino.
Not only has the superstar player been seen playing blackjack and poker, but he has also openly talked about his gambling. Purportedly, Jordan has wagered on various sports, most notable golf. He has also played high-stakes poker, and quite a few fans have noticed him playing blackjack and baccarat in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Jordan’s love of gambling has been well-documented. The player has shared a lot of gambling stories, many of which have become a part of his legend. Jordan claims that he is just as competitive when gambling as he is when he is playing basketball, which has resulted in some trouble for the NBA veteran.
Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather is well-known for his flamboyant and lavish lifestyle. Certainly, the former heavyweight champion can afford to live on the edge. Though recently, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and MMA in general have taken over the fighting scene, boxing remains a lot more popular worldwide. And for a long time, Floyd Mayweather was the king of the ring.
The top-tier boxer has knocked out and outperformed some excellent players, and even took down Conor McGregor in the MMA fighter’s first ever boxing match. But, it seems Mayweather is not content with just fighting. He also frequently engages in high-stake gambling and sports betting. In fact, anyone who follows him on social media has certainly seen him post some of the slips he has wagered on.
Charles Barkley
The Round Mound of Rebound, Charles Wade Barkley is one of the NBA’s biggest stars. He has won numerous awards, proven himself on a number of All-Star and All-NBA teams, and has been named one of the top 50 best players of all time. Barkley has played for the American Olympic team, as well as for the 76ers, Suns, and Rockets. Without a doubt, he is one of the greatest basketball players in history.
What Barkley has on the court, it seems he lacks in the casino. The player has, on several occasions, talked openly and honestly about his gambling habits. He claims that he loves gambling, but that he is not very good at it. In fact, in a particularly interesting interview, Barkley claimed that he had lost over $10 million at a Las Vegas casino.
Which brings us to a very important point regarding gambling. Unlike Barkley, most gamblers, whether they are playing online or in land-based casinos, are not millionaires. Which is why it is important to set up a bankroll before one starts to gamble. Sticking to a bankroll can ensure a safe experience, and greatly minimizes the risk of problem gambling, which is an issue that many new players have to deal with.
Wayne Rooney
So far, we’ve talked about American athletes. So, it is only fair that we take a trip across the pond to England, and take a look at a soccer star. Wayne Rooney is one of Manchester United’s most celebrated players. To this day, Rooney retains the record for most goals scored for Manchester United, and up until recently he held the record for the most goals scored for the national team as well.
There is no doubt that he is one of the best strikers that England has ever produced, and his history, performance, and honors speak for themselves as far as that is concerned. What may intrigue some is that, on many occasions, Rooney has talked about his passion for gambling. Like Charles Barkley though, Rooney does not seem to have a talent for cards.
As many may be aware, football players are prohibited from betting on soccer. Those that want to gamble must find other avenues. Rooney certainly did, as he has talked numerous times about his love of casinos. According to fans and reporters, Rooney has been spotted several times in English casinos, and many purport that it seemed like he suffered some serious losses.
Whether United’s former player is not as great at cards as he is at soccer, or whether he simply had a string of bad luck we can’t say. What we can say is that during his time with Manchester United, the player was often seen frequenting casinos. It seems that, recently, he has cooled off a bit, and does not enjoy playing games as much as he used to.
Some Final Thoughts
Gambling is a hobby as old as humans. Evidence shows that people have been playing dice games since the Paleolithic era. Over the course of history, the way we gambled has certainly changed, but the fact that we gamble has not.
Like the average person, celebrities are only human. That means that many of them have the same hobbies and interests as us. So, it isn’t a surprise that some of the best athletes of all time also enjoy rolling dice now and again.