Football players are celebrities who have very little room for hobbies and leisure because of their tight schedules. But beyond the entertainment they share on the field, they are constantly looking for ways to take off the stress and pressure of the sport. One popular activity that attracts many footballers is gambling at casinos and online. 

While visiting land-based casinos can be difficult regularly, players take advantage of casinos online to satisfy their needs. With all the money earned from their football career, many have been seen promoting and playing their favorite casino games. 

Now gambling is not for everyone, but there is something for all players or characters. Below we have prepared a list of top football players who love gambling and playing different casino games:

6 Famous Football Players That Love Gambling 

Gambling is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress and have fun playing exciting games. Players take great pleasure in participating in games with Live dealers. Some of these players have even walked away with huge amounts of money, so let us dive into the list to know more.

Neymar 

The iconic Brazilian football star is known for many things apart from his exceptional football skills. The Brazilian is known for partying and traveling; he occasionally gambles at casino games such as slot machines, online poker, and even bingo. His social channels often discuss his love for luxury and showcase his gambling activities. Unsurprisingly, he is an avid gambler, mainly because he is an entertainer on and off the pitch. 

Cristiano Ronaldo 

One of the best football players to ever play the sport, Cristiano Ronaldo, loves to gamble. The famous Portuguese forward is well known for his football career, having scored over 800 goals and won 30 individual trophies. Regarding football, Ronaldo shows exceptional commitment, hard work, dedication, and sheer will to be the best. His commitment also led the talisman to excel in his leisure activity, such as gambling. 

His favorite games are poker and roulette, which he plays very well. It is also reported that he donates most of his winnings to charity. He often promotes his affection towards gambling and partners with several online gambling companies. 

Wayne Rooney 

Rooney is an English Premier League legend who has scored a massive 208 goals for Manchester United. Throughout his career as a player and manager, he has been spotted visiting casinos in and around Manchester, the USA, and Derbyshire, England. His passion for gambling led him to play all sorts of games.

However, despite his love for gambling, he has faced several losses where he has lost over 65,000 pounds in a single night. Regardless, you will always be hopping towards the nearest casino, the most popular, London’s infamous Grosvenor casino.

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Our list would be incomplete if we didn’t mention one of the most famous and witty football players –– Zlatan. Being one of the most famous icons in professional football, he has often shown his love for casinos wherever he travels. He is skilled in games like poker, slots, and roulette and loves taking them on when the stakes are high. In fact, he signed as an ambassador for a Swedish betting company which even got him into trouble with the authorities at FIFA. Regardless, Zlatan loves to gamble and take on different games at casinos around the world. He is a regular at the casino in Monaco and constantly gives his A-game, whether at the tables or the field. 

Gianluigi Buffon 

Another popular football personality is the one goalkeeper ever to win a Ballon d’Or, Gigi Buffon. This Italian goalkeeper recently retired from professional football but was one of the best shot-stoppers ever to grace the field. With such a high-caliber football career, he was also renowned for his gambling antics. Buffon loves poker and loves spending time at casinos in Italy, exploring and playing his favorite games. He is also a passionate sports bettor ranging from basketball to Formula One. In fact, his passion even led to several investigations during his football career, and he even endorsed PokerStars in 2012. He loves gambling, whether it is sports or casino games like poker, slots, roulette, etc. 

Gerard Pique 

Lastly, Gerrard Pique is one of the best defenders of this generation, as he and his team dominated football in the first half of the 20th century. The Spaniard’s passion for the game took him to great heights, and he won several major trophies, including the World Cup. His desire and passion for gambling ignited during his brief stint at Manchester United as some of the club’s top players enjoyed the city’s luxurious casinos. During that time, he enjoyed poker games, and today, he is revered by many poker professionals for the skills he has developed. Pique even participated in poker tournaments but has yet to win. However, he managed to take second and third places with him. And I’m sure his love for poker will definitely help him get his win in the future.

Final Thoughts 

Footballers are like us, looking for ways to relax and have fun. The only difference would be the high wages they receive each week, but it all comes down to the simplest ways to de-stress. Considering that these are some of the top players, the stakes are high, and the outcomes are high, whether win or lose.