Sports have long been a historic pastime around the globe as they bring together different cultures and generations who share a similar interest. That’s where we come in—filling you in on all the latest sports news and highlights.
Most people that enjoy sports also listen to analysis shows, and some even follow more detailed information like stats and predictions. March Madness and the Super Bowl are the perfect examples of the popularity of mainstream sports and gambling, with countless office pools made around the country. Sports and gambling have a storied history, and many of our most beloved professional sports athletes have a rich history at the table or on the betting line.
Check out the list below for some amazing tales of gambling from some of your favorite athletes! And if after, you want to see what these athletes love so much about the competitiveness of gambling, you can right from your home with online casino nj!
Poker
Michael Phelps
United States Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, taking home 28 Olympic medals for his country. Retiring in his early 30s from professional swimming, Phelps has taken up other interests in his downtime, including poker.
For the last several years, Michael Phelps has been at the poker table with some of the best in the world. Having competed in the World Series of Poker in 2017 and 2018, it seems the competitive spirit hasn’t yet left Phelps.
Alex Rodriguez
One of the greatest baseball players of our time, Alex Rodriguez, is known for his 22 seasons studded with professional accomplishments. From 1994 until his retirement in 2016, A-Rod pushed the limits of the game and helped usher in a new era, both on and off the field.
Outside the ballpark, Rodriguez is known for his enjoyment of playing the table. Favorite casino past times for A-Rod include high stakes gambling and placing exciting bets during these games. As he transitioned into his retirement from the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez kept up this hobby and since has brought his gambling career into resurgence.
John Daly
With a professional sports career spanning almost 35 years, John Daly is one of the best golfers the world has known. Known for his powerful golf swing that generates ridiculous amounts of distance off the tee, Daly has won numerous tours on four continents.
Equal to Daly’s passion for playing world-class golf is his passion for casino games. In his more than three decades traveling the links, Daly has had the opportunity to visit hundreds of first-rate casinos around the world. With slots topping Daly’s list of favorite casino games, Daly has been known to play thousands to win thousands.
Sports Betting
Charles Barkley
As the last few people on our list, Charles Barkley has been known to enjoy some casino games occasionally with his favorite seeming to be blackjack. He has, however, been known to enjoy sports betting more frequently and with much more enthusiasm.
Having a professional basketball career spanning 16 years from 1984 to 2000, two-time gold medal Olympian Charles Barkley retired, earning more than 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in his career. Betting on sports has become something of a passion for Barkley with him speaking out about it in multiple interviews since his retirement from professional basketball.
Michael Jordan
Four-time gold medal-winning Michael Jordan played professional basketball for 15 seasons before retiring in 2003. Often cited as the best basketball player of all time, Jordan has also joined the ranks of the World Series of Poker. For more than a decade, Jordan has been a fan of spending time around the table at the casino, even owning a stake in one himself.
In addition to his love of poker, Jordan is also well known for his friendly, but high-stakes wagering on his own golf-games. Often golfing with some of the greatest in the world, Jordan isn’t afraid to have a friendly bet on these games. Beyond golf Jordan also enjoys friendly wagers with his friends. There is a well-known story of him bribing baggage handlers to help him win a bet about whose luggage would appear first on a trip from the Barcelona Olympics.
Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather is known for his flashy ensembles and big-ticket lifestyle. This is no exception when he is betting on sports games. From baseball to boxing, MMA to football, Mayweather is fond of showing off his frequent 6 and 7 figure winnings from betting on games and matches.
Floyd is just as famous for his 8 figure bets as he is his illustrious boxing career, which sees him at 50-0 and one Olympic medal. There is no sports team at any level on which Mayweather won’t wager. Often betting when traveling, Mayweather often shows off his winnings (or losings!) on social media.
Horse Racing
Pete Rose
Like our previous mentions who loved sports betting, Pete Rose was a long-time friend of the horse track betting office. A professional baseballer from 1963 until 1986, Rose followed this career with three years of managing until 1989.
After leaving the sport of baseball for good, Rose continued to enjoy sports track betting and the occasional sports betting from his new home base of Las Vegas, Nevada, world-famous as center of the gambling universe.
These athletes are some of the best in the world. Although some are in retirement, they have since reignited their competitive spirit with gambling and betting. With several Olympic medalists on this list, it is no wonder that the excitement and thrill gambling brings you is like that of a few other sports.
