Communicated Content – The love for gambling is widespread and not restricted to the masses alone. Even the elites also like to do a little gambling from time to time. Regardless of where you turn in the United States – NY, Indiana, Texas, LA, or anywhere else, you will find many celebrities and sports superstars who engage in casino or sports betting. Most especially, many of them enjoy poker, since it is one of the most popular and skilled-based games.
If we take NY as an example, some of the poker websites in NY state have hosted many of these superstar athletes since many of them want a private life. However, many are bold enough to enjoy the games in public glare. In fact, some compete professionally at world poker championships.
Going by what they earn from their careers, it is safe to say many of these athletes bet for fun. They love poker and other casino games and want to enjoy the experience that comes with them. After having a great time at casinos, if they’re lucky to make winnings, most donate them to charity or put them back into the gambling industry.
Below is a list of five famous American athletes you may run into in a casino.
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Mike Tyson
One of the fiercest fighters of his generation, Mike Tyson developed a reputation as one of the greatest athletes in America in a boxing career spanning over 25 years. He was once the youngest heavyweight champion in history, a multiple times heavyweight champion of the world, and formerly the record holder for the most consecutive wins in boxing.
Apart from his sports excellence, Tyson also has a strong passion for gambling, as he often celebrates in casinos after winning fights. He has even won millions of dollars playing casino games. One would think Tyson would give up gambling after retiring from boxing. He didn’t, if anything, his love for gambling waxed stronger.
After retiring from boxing, Tyson began to explore other forms of gambling, like video poker and roulette games. He was once seen in a casino in Vegas making a public appearance when he was promoting his movie ‘Undisputed.’
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Michael Jordan
Michael is one of the most outstanding basketball players in history. You can’t make a list of the greatest players in NBA history without including Jordan in the list. He was very competitive in basketball, pushing himself hard to excellence. He was not only competitive in the court alone but just about anywhere he could place a wager – a casino and in his everyday activities.
However, unlike other celebrities, his gambling was documented because he mostly placed bets on anything he imagined, like whether his luggage would be the first to arrive at the airport, the outcome of rock-paper-scissors, etc. He once placed a wager on a single hole of golf, staking a whooping sum of $300,000, and he lost.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Another great fighter to ever grace the rings, Floyd Mayweather Jr., also enjoys time at the gambling houses. As an excellent fighter, he has often been the focus of most people’s bets. However, he’s also a gambling enthusiast and is known to bet enormous sums of money on various sporting and casino events.
Rumor once has it that he was planning to bet the sum of $400,000 on himself to beat Connor McGregor, the UFC star, in a fight but decided not to go through with the bet when many bookies began to ask questions about the legality of such a wager.
He once made a big wager in 2012, which he posted on his social media handle. In that wager, Mayweather staked $1.1 million on an Oregon vs. Arizona college football game. The fighter was lucky to win this bet, making an additional $1 million profit when the game ended in his favor.
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Tiger Woods
When we talk about a man who knows all about playing for high stakes, we’re talking about Tiger Woods. This famous and enormously gifted American golfer is often in some of the most famous casinos in Vegas whenever he’s not having a competition at hand or practicing.
His betting isn’t petty. His bankroll is whatever he chooses it to be. For him, a wager of $25,000 is usual. This sum shouldn’t be surprising because he earns big from sports tournaments and brand endorsement. He is also one of the first billionaire sports celebrities.
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Conor McGregor
Connor McGregor is another American sports celebrity who enjoys gambling. He has repeatedly made headlines as one of the best mixed martial arts fighters during his active days. However, apart from fighting, he also enjoys gambling.
UFC president Dana White once said Connor McGregor tried to place a $3 wager on himself once in 2015 when he was to fight Chad Mendes. Of course, he wasn’t successful in placing such a wager. However, the act shows how confident he is in himself and how much he loves to gamble. Connor McGregor loves gambling on sporting events and also at casinos. He has also won a couple of million from his gambling activities.
Final Thoughts
Obviously, gambling is not restricted to a particular set of people. People who play casino games and wager on sports results come from different walks of life, including sports celebrities. This article has examined five famous American athletes who love to gamble. Bear in mind that this list contains just a few of the numerous as several sports superstars who love and indulge in gambling often. Gambling is an activity many of them love and will continue to engage in.
