Athletes who love to gamble

Professional athletes are no strangers to gambling, which is why they can often be found in casinos or gambling houses. After performing physical and mental “feats”, the body needs a release. Gambling or sporting events are ideal for this purpose. Despite bans by coaches, associations and people close to them, athletes cannot refrain from betting. Here is a list of world stars who regularly try their luck in gambling establishments.

Floyd Mayweather

The famous boxer has not lost a single fight during his professional career. A successful man is successful in everything. Floyd has repeatedly snatched big money in casinos and betting shops. In his native Las Vegas he is known as an avid gambler, for which he was nicknamed “The Money”. Mayweather has posted sports betting coupons or casino winnings on his social media pages on several occasions. A notable story is when the boxer wanted to bet $400,000 on his win. The bookmaker refused to accept the bet, citing that it was against the rules.

Wayne Rooney

The famous England and Manchester United player was known for his aggressive nature. Wayne could kick an opponent regardless of the authority of the coach or the calls of the fans. After the game Rooney liked to relax in the casino. As unearthed by journalists of the British tabloid The Sun, the evening in a drunken binge “Shrek” has flushed in Black Jack half a million pounds. According to witnesses, Rooney was very upset the next morning: “He muttered swear words and could not believe he had spent a fortune in a casino.

Mario Balotelli

Super Mario once had great promise in football. Experts ranked him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But Balotelli was more attracted to nightclubs and casinos than gruelling training. He once won £25,000 in one of Manchester’s underground gambling establishments. On his way home, Mario met a homeless man to whom he gave a thousand. Eyewitnesses said the homeless man even shed a few tears as the money enabled him not to go hungry for months.

Michael Jordan

“His Air” loved not only basketball, but also gambling. After the games he never missed an opportunity to play poker or roulette. Jordan was not stingy with his bets: it is a proven fact that he once bet $165,000 on a game against the Kicks. While history is silent on the big winnings of one of the most famous basketball players, they certainly happened with such a passion for gambling.

Other celebrities

In the world of sports, a huge number of celebrities are into gambling. Alex Rodriguez, a baseball player for the New York Mets, is a case in point. The paparazzi filmed him together with Phil Helmut at an underground casino in the USA. Let’s also remember John Daley. During his sporting career, he “flushed” at least $50 million in gambling establishments. Basketball player Charles Barkley was often in Las Vegas. He left at least $20 million there. He was later sued by his creditors, trying to collect on numerous debts. Ironically, the addiction helps athletes. According to research, gambling stimulates mental activity and allows a new perspective on reality. They increase the release of adrenaline, and stimulate the brain, muscles and other body systems to work hard. Time spent at the gaming table can be compared to a unique training session. In a real competition, sportsmen use their skills of non-trivial thinking and psychological readiness for risk, than stump the opponents. We conclude: not everything is clear-cut with gambling.