The life of a professional sportsman is unlike any other. Earning millions of dollars throughout their careers, sometimes they just can’t find anything to spend their money on. So where do they turn once they’ve bought that third holiday home or the same sportscar in a different colour? While some choose to invest in business, others turn to the casino or sports betting.
These are the three NBA stars who are known for their love of gambling:
Michael Jordan
Image source: newyorkpost.com
Six-time NBA champion, Michael Jordan is also an avid gambler and loves to dabble in sports betting. From hours spent at the tables to high stakes bets with friends on a round of golf, MJ isn’t scared to splash the cash.
As with most sports stars, Jordan is extremely competitive. Whether it’s an NBA Final, a simple pick-up game or even getting his luggage from the airport, he
has to win – and that competitiveness has carried its way into his gambling.
You might also like: A brief history of basketball
Here are just a handful of some of the more ‘exotic’ bets the record-breaking Shooting Guard has placed:
- $100,000 on games of rock, paper, and scissors against his friends.
- $1.3 million on golf bets – and that’s him playing, not the pros. He also bet $300,000 on a single putt when playing against one of his friends.
- Up to $25,000 on single hands in the casino.
- $900 on whether his luggage would come out first at the airport.
These are just some of the more extravagant bets the NBA star has placed, but there are many, many more.
Take our all new Live Casino for a spin. With cutting-edge technology allowing you to stream every flip of the card and every spin of the wheel it's as real as it gets.
Charles Barkley
Image source: detroitfreepress.com
Charles Barkley was one of the best players to have ever stepped out onto an NBA court. Big and strong, Barkley cut an intimidating figure during his playing time, but the Power Forward wasn’t just aggressive on the court, but at the tables too.
In 2006, the former Suns star lost $2.5 million in just six hours playing blackjack and has admitted that each time he went to Vegas, he would try to win $1 million dollars which went his way at times, but more often than not, he lost.
"I went to Vegas a bunch of times and won a million dollars. Probably 10 times. But I've also gone to Vegas and lost a million probably three times as much."
When you average 22.1 points and nearly 12 rebounds in a 16-year career that included stints for Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston, you get used to winning but a career that long also teaches you how to deal with losing. Barkley has learnt to control his habit and has no problem quitting when he’s ahead.
From the first basket to the buzzer-beater, bet on the NBA action.
Charles Oakley
Image source: newyorkpost.com
During his playing days, Charles Oakley was known for his on-court discipline and ferocious rebounding ability. Off the court though, he is known as someone who loves to gamble, and has even had some trouble with the law because of it.
The most infamous story surrounding the former Knicks star took place in 2000 when, playing against the Sixers in a preseason game, he slapped Tyrone Hill in the mouth and proceeded to throw basketballs at him. It turned out that Hill owed Oakley a $54,000 gambling debt.
More recently, his actions in a number of Vegas casinos have landed him in hot water with authorities. Last year he pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct which took place in Vegas. Oakley was arrested after he was suspected of adding to or reducing his wager on a gambling game after the outcome was known.
Pass time in the Betway Casino
Can the Toronto Raptors create history this year and defend their title? With the start of the new NBA season around the corner, remember that you can
bet on every basket with Betway.
If you're waiting for your bet to result, you can always
play in Nigeria’s most exciting online casino and pass time between kick-offs. We have endless entertainment available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week more than 50 thrilling online and progressive slots, Video Poker and now our all new
Live Casino.
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow
Betway on
Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and
YouTube.
Download the Betway App.