Sports betting industry has its’ followers pretty much everywhere. In fact, sometimes you can even see well-known people engaging in casino games, which definitely proves that gambling is open for everyone. So it won’t come as a surprise that some famous soccer players also like to gamble from time to time. It is completely understandable considering that a lot of online gambling sponsors are supporting the best football clubs. In this article we’ll talk about people who don’t just advertise gambling for business purposes, but actually enjoy spending time with online casinos.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Source: elsport.com
This famous Portuguese forward is used to being the first on various football lists and we won’t be the exception. One of the best players in the history of soccer is well-known for his talent, but also for his considerable wealth. Apart from being among the sport’s highest earners, Ronaldo has multiple partnership deals with world-famous brands, including some online gambling companies. He also doesn’t hide his affection towards gambling, particularly casino games and online slots. Some say that Cristiano is prone to placing bets on himself in matches and if he does it so can you. Visit sportbet.one website and learn more about soccer betting (crypto included). Ronaldo’s favorite games are poker and roulette and, as reported, he donates most of his winnings to a charity.
2. Neymar Jr.
Source: theguardian.com
Another great football player, who has expressed his affection towards casino online gambling, is Neymar Jr. Immensely popular, the Brazilian superstar has taken his incredible skills from the football field to a poker table. He participated in quite a few competitions and poker games for charity. As one of the most followed football players around the world, Neymar has deals with the famous online gambling platforms. Moreover, he was promoting a couple of popular websites and mobile apps where you can play poker, blackjack, and many other games. Neymar is known for being very active on social media and streaming platforms. Besides playing and promoting gambling sites, you can find many videos where he is playing video games like Fortnite and Counter-Strike.
3. Gerard Piqué
Source: tennis365.com
Of course, we also have to mention one of the best defenders of his time – Gerard Pique. This famous Spaniard definitely has a passion for his game and it’s not just football. Gerard admitted himself that he’s a fan of poker games and even took part in some of the biggest competitions like European Poker Tour. Sadly, he never won, but managed to take second and third prices with him. And judging by Piqué’s career, he won’t stop there and will definitely get his win in the future.
4. Zlatan Ibrahimović
Source: vk.com
Gambling is not only suitable for youngsters and our next famous footballer is the proof of it. Zlatan Ibrahimović, a great professional from Sweden, has been in the professional soccer for over thirty years and he keeps giving his A-game every time. Zlatan also likes spending his free time with playing poker and some casino games like roulette and slots. By the way, have you ever heard of a gambling brand called BetHard? Well, you better find out more, because Zlatan is the co-owner there, and this fact once even got him in trouble with FIFA. Football players must be aware that sports betting is not allowed for them in most countries because it can lead to fixed results. People are placing bets on kinds of things, from the possession, yellow cards, to even less important details like who will take the first pass at the start of the game, and more.
5. Gigi Buffon
Source: sportsnet.ca
We haven’t mentioned any goalkeepers in our list yet and it’s time to change that. Italian Gigi Buffon is fairly considered to be the best shot-stopper in football history. He’s won pretty much every football prize possible and continues to develop his career in the Parma club. Gigi also likes spending time in various casinos in Italy, playing his favorite games and exploring in order to open his own venue after retiring.
Conclusion
Based on everything said before, the conclusion seems obvious – professional football and gambling are definitely tightly connected. Some of the greatest soccer players of all time can definitely prove that. They like to participate in various popular gaming tournaments and raise money for charity this way, and also just have a good time playing poker and other casino games. We also mentioned that a couple of those gambling fans are actually owning or considering opening their own gaming house. And if that isn’t proof that gambling is for everyone, then what is?
We have mentioned only some of the most popular players, but there are many other active and former stars that love to test their luck from time to time. The Brazilian Ronaldo is known for promoting a popular poker app, but he was also playing this game a lot, in both sit-n-go and tournaments.
Another great example is Wayne Rooney. He even lost more than $60k once while playing in a casino. It is not a surprise that so many football players love playing casino games. First of all, they are not allowed to play any sort of sports betting. Therefore, this is the only way for them to test their luck. Luckily, the offer is huge these days since they can choose to visit land-based casinos or play online. Also, they can play games that require a strategy and experience, such as poker, roulette, or blackjack, or simply have some fun while spinning the reels on some slot machine, or waiting for the right numbers on keno or bingo.
If you want to play the same games as your favorite football players, keep in mind that strategy and a good plan are crucial. These stars made a lot of money in their careers, and it won’t be a problem for them to risk a couple of thousands from time to time.
If you have a limited budget, the first thing to do is to set some limits. For example, determine that you can spend only $100, and set some rules according to that. If you want to play slots, you can start with only $1 per spin, and you will still have a great chance to win a big prize.
Moreover, keep in mind that these games can be very addictive since they are entertaining. The issue with that is that you could lose focus and start spending more than you can afford. In that matter, the best solution is to stay concentrated and follow your rules. The great example is a progressive strategy, where you will increase or lower the bet according to your balance.
In the end, you can always combine these casino games with sports betting and increase your chances of winning. The great thing about betting on sports games is that you can use analyses and stats to predict some games with higher accuracy. On the other side, most of the casino games require only pure luck to win.
