Popular Footballers That Loved Gambling

Every now and then, we all love to try our luck at a casino hoping to win some extra allowance. But, us mortals are not the only ones enjoying this pastime. Many famous football stars, including some of the biggest names in football, also love to win big. And no, they don’t just play for the thrills, they try their best to win at gambling as they do on the pitch. No matter if online or at a brick-and-mortar casino, here are some of the biggest names in football who love cards and dice.

Diego Maradona

This legend achieved fame on the pitch, but every single aspect of his life was legendary. Maradona was most famous as a football player, but he was also a well-known name in many casinos. He was once even reported for operating an underground casino in Argentina! He was most interested in card games, but every once in a while, he did take a spin on the roulette wheel. Unlike many other big names, he actually took gambling very seriously and was in it for the money, not excitement.

Mario Balotelli

Even though no one knows about Balotelli’s stance on gambling today, this Italian superstar used to be an impressive gambler. Only in 2011, he reportedly won over £25,000 at Manchester235 Casino, most of it on the roulette.

Gigi Buffon

This great Italian football legend used to be a regular poker player. In the past, he spent a lot of time and hard work on making smart wagers and making huge wins thanks to his skills. And he was no amateur for sure. He went as far as to become a face of many poker adverts and signed as an ambassador for an online poker website. His interest in gambling even took him to court when he was investigated for illegal gambling in 2006 and 2012. Of course, he was found innocent and all charges were dismissed. But, as one can see, online poker is as popular with big names as live poker, so if you want to get a taste of superstar life, you can find many great casinos on this site and try out your luck during the pandemic.

Neymar

Football is not the only thing Neymar excels at. When he’s not scoring goals, he can be found playing poker with his buddies, and he is very vocal about his passion for cards. Additionally, Neymar is also a familiar sight in popular online poker rooms, and he even participated in the European Poker Tour in 2015. Is there anything this legend on the rise can’t do?

Cristiano Ronaldo

This 5-time Ballon d’Or winner is not only renowned for his football skills, but also his skills at the poker table. Cristiano Ronaldo is a very experienced and skilled poker player, almost as good at reading cards as he is at reading his opponents moves on the pitch. Both games require focus, dedication, bravery and skills, so it’s not hard to see why the Best Player in the World is successful at poker. Even though people don’t see him at casinos too much, the Portuguese player spends a good amount of time at the table with his friends and other celebrities. He even played the famous professional poker player Patrik Antonius several times and signed to appear in several poker and poker-related commercials.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Not much is known about Zlatan’s success in gambling, but knowing him, he’s probably excellent. No matter if good or bad at it, Zlatan is definitely a fan and is even the ambassador for a betting company Bethard from Sweden.

Stars, they are just like us! To gamble is human, so why not do it, as long as it’s fun for you? Find a good online casino today and gamble safely and responsibly.