Sports fans get thrills out of watching their favourite football players on the field. But, what they may not have known is that many football players find the same type of thrills in casino games. After all, it gives them another place where they can test out their strategies and put their skills to the max.
For most football players, the competitive nature of gambling attracts them to casino games. There is a high level of risk involved, but the reward is worth it to these players. Keep reading as CasinoRIX expert Kris Olson tells us which football players love the challenge of casino games.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Let’s kick our list off with one of the most famous football players, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is known for this strict routine on and off the field. But, what a lot of people didn’t know about him is that he’s a huge fan of traditional casino games. When he's not on the field, you might spot him in a poker room.
As you likely expected, he has been a huge name for casino sponsorships. We have been using CasinoRIX to choose the best casino options for Canadians. Kris informed us that Ronaldo is one of the main football players to promote casinos through Instagram and other social media platforms. Some of the brands he’s collaborated with include PokerStars and 888Poker to promote his favourite game.
Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr is a Brazillian football player who is known for his love of poker. He has participated in numerous tournaments and events throughout the years. However, there has been concerns about his gambling habits. Especially since he lost $1 million gambling while live streaming on Twitch. There was even footage of him playing poker online during his daughter’s birthday.
While some people were concerned about his habits, his love of these games has also led to great opportunities. Taking his passion to the world of online casinos, Neymar Jr has become the Cultural Ambassador for PokerStars. The popular casino brand believes that he’s the perfect choice to shake things up and create an exciting experience for fans.
Gerard Piqué
Gerard Piqué is known for his defence skills when he’s on the field and his intense gambling skills at the casino. Even the pros could learn a thing or two from Piqué’s poker strategies. When talking about his love of the card game, he has compared its thrills to football in the sense that the player never knows what to expect.
Piqué has participated in many high-stakes celebrity poker games, alongside Neymar and other famous athletes, influencers, and celebrities.
Wayne Rooney
In 2020, Wayner Rooney went public about his gambling addiction. He was drawn to the rush of high-stakes games like online blackjack and roulette. A lot of people are under the impression that celebrities aren’t vulnerable to gambling problems because they have so many opportunities to earn large sums of money. But Wayne Rooney’s story shows us differently.
Rooney’s gambling addiction threatened his career. He admits that chasing his losses was one of his biggest mistakes. Every time he experienced a big loss, he would lose thousands more trying to win it back. Luckily, this football player realized there was an issue and was able to overcome his struggles.
Arturo Vidal
In April 2024, it was announced that Arturo Vidal signed up with Estelarbet, Chile’s leading gambling site, as a casino ambassador. There are several reasons why the brand believed he was the perfect choice for the gig. From his love of roulette to his massive 20 million Instagram following. This football player is also known for his high-stakes lifestyle, whether it’s on the field or in the casino.
Conclusion
Casino games and sports have more in common than one would notice at first glance. Many athletes who enjoy gambling have a similar mindset as Piqué, in the sense that in both sports and casino games, you never know what to expect. These thrills keep players on the edge of their seats, delivering a unique level of entertainment.
However, one thing we can learn from Wayne Rooney’s story is that anyone can be at risk of a gambling addiction. Just because a person has a lot of extra money to spare, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t follow responsible gambling practices. Setting limits for yourself is important, no matter what the size of your budget is.