What Are The Games Played In Casino
Professional soccer players earn more than the average business person, lawyer, or doctor. Some might even say that footballers earn more than they deserve, but that’s not really our topic here.
The thing that makes us impressed and curious is that a lot of soccer players play casino games. If you know that low-paid Premier League footballers make at least $3.5 million a year, it will probably surprise you to hear that some of them want to make even more through gambling.
It doesn't get much easier to learn than Casino War, a variation on the classic game War. Players set their wagers, then compare their card with that of the Player / Dealer. All players with higher cards win. In case of a tie, players who choose to play must match their original wager. The traditional way to deal Casino is two-by-two, to each player and the middle. The first turn goes to the player to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise. Each player makes a play with one card from his hand in an attempt to capture as many cards as possible.
Who are the most famous footballers who played casino games? We can think of many names, but the list you are about to see consists of elite soccer players/gamblers. Let’s check it out!
Top 5 gamblers among footballers
There are hundreds of well-known gamblers among soccer players, but we want to minimize the list and describe the most popular cases only.
Here are our top five picks.
1. Diego Armando Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona was not only one of the best footballers ever to play the game but also a stubborn gambler. Maradona didn’t spend much time on Casinosters, but he did play some serious poker games back at the time. His gambling habits were to be expected because Maradona was very prone to all sorts of vices such as drugs and alcohol. For him, gambling was just a natural addition to the list.
2. Neymar
Neymar is an elite soccer player and a member of a star-packed PSG Club. One of the reasons why he picked a Paris-based team is gambling. Namely, Neymar is a passionate casino player who loves all sorts of games. However, poker remains Neymar’s heavy favorite as he even took part in the European Poker Tour. Unlike many other gamblers, Neymar is not afraid of stating it publicly. On the contrary, he often publishes images from his poker games on his social media accounts.
3. Gianluigi Buffon
You don’t need to be a football geek to know Gianluigi Gigi Buffon, aka the best goalkeeper in history. He is known to be a nice and friendly person, but that doesn’t stop him from sports betting and casino gambling. The Italian soccer association launched two processes against Buffon for illegal betting, but they dropped charges after investigations. At the same time, Buffon plays poker quite regularly and you can even see him promoting poker websites from time to time.
4. Daniel Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge, a former Liverpool striker, was suspected of illegal sports betting a few years ago. The case was a massive affair because Sturridge actually bet on himself leaving Liverpool and joining the Italian club Inter Milan. This was the only official report of Sturridge participating in gambling-related activities, but many reports claim that he used to be a regular casino visitor.
5. Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli is a controversial football figure and a person who always provokes incidents. As such, Mario definitely doesn’t hate casinos and gambling. Back in 2011, he won $25 thousand playing roulette in Manchester and gave $1,000 to the homeless person outside the casino.
Honorable mentions
The players we’ve shown above are famous for both their football skills and gambling prowess, but it would be unfair not to mention a few other footballers who really enjoyed spending time and money in a casino. Here are a few honorable mentions:
• Michael Chopra: A famous English striker scored more than 100 goals for Sunderland and Cardiff, but he also accumulated over $2 million worth of gambling debts.
• Joey Barton: The bad boy of football loved gambling and sports betting so much that it turned into an addiction.
• David Bentley: If you are looking for the youngest footballer-gambler, David Bentley is your man. Bentley started gambling when he was only 14.
• Dominic Mateo: A former Liverpool player went through loads of trouble due to the gambling affairs. Mateo loved casino games, but it led him all the way to bankruptcy in 2015.
• Dietmar Hamann: A reliable German midfielder, Dietmar Hamann, once lost nearly $300 thousand when placing a wager on cricket game Australia vs South Africa.
The bottom line
Playing soccer professionally gives athletes a whole lot of privileges, including the privilege of spending large sums on casino games. Some footballers are passionate gamblers and they don’t even try to hide their gambling affinities. We showed you the most famous gamblers among soccer players, but we also added a list of honorable mentions. Have you ever heard gambling-related stories about your favorite soccer players?
AUTHOR BIO
Jeremy Raynolds is a content writer who makes high-quality research papers and college essay reviews. He is also a blogger who specializes in sports betting, gambling, e-sports, and social media marketing. Jeremy is a passionate traveler and a stubborn long-distance runner.
As the casino industry goes from strength to strength, gambling fans (and even people who don’t gamble) might be wondering what were the most popular casino games that kept people coming back in 2019? In this article, we take a look at the most-played games in both real-world and virtual casinos.
Real world casinos
For many casino players, nothing beats the exciting atmosphere of a real world casino. With its mesmerizing lights, bright, flashy colors, and bustling activity, the casino offers many players an escape into a new and thrilling world.
With that in mind, here are the casino games that many players enjoyed during 2019:
Baccarat
While Baccarat may not be as popular as it once was (particularly when a certain fictional British spy was all the rage), it is still one of the most enjoyed card games at the casino.
In a game of Baccarat, there are two “individuals” taking part: the player, and the banker. When playing, gamblers place bets on whether the player’s or the banker’s cards will be the closest to a total value of nine. The dealer reveals cards for the player and banker, and whoever has the highest value without going over nine, wins the round.
Gamblers can also place bets on whether the player and banker will tie, or whether the player or banker will receive a pair of cards. These bets have a greater payout but are also riskier.
Blackjack
The game of blackjack, also known as 21, has been enjoyed by millions of players all across the world due to its simplicity, affordability, and the social atmosphere between players.
In this iconic casino game, players compete against the house to achieve a score that is equal or as close to 21 as possible. Any player that has a total of more than 21 at any point in the game is “bust” and loses the game immediately.
The game begins with each player receiving two cards. Players assess whether they want to “hit” or “stand”. A hit means the dealer will hand them an extra card, while stand means they will keep the cards they currently have. The anticipation of each hit not only brings each player closer to victory, but also closer to defeat, as the chance of tipping over 21 increases with each card.
Poker
If the only marker we were judging games by were how often they appeared in movies, poker would undoubtedly be the clear king of the casino. While this card game is undoubtedly popular across many areas of society, it doesn’t quite reign supreme in the real world casino space, thanks to the other, easier to pick up and play card games that many casinos offer players. It is, however, still an incredibly popular choice amongst slightly more competitive players.
In a game of poker, players attempt to gather the right combination of cards in order to build a strong hand. They then place bets depending on how strong they think their hands are, or how strong they want their opponents to believe their hands are.
Yes, a lot of what makes poker such an exciting experience is the bluffing aspect of the game, although experienced players will develop the skills necessary to read through bluffs, whether that’s having a good understanding of their odds, or simply through reading other players.
Roulette
There are few casino experiences that are as mesmerizing as the game with the spinning wheel in the center of the table. Yes, roulette has captured the attention of players around the world for many years, and continued to do so in 2019.
In this game of chance, players can choose to bet on a variety of options, including the first 12, second 12, third 12, odds, evens, or the black or red pockets in the roulette table. Your odds, should you win, depend on the type of bet you place.
However, these are not the only betting options. More experienced players know that they can make more advanced bets, such as corner or street bets, which again, offer players a different set of odds.
After players have placed their bets, the dealer will start the game, and close betting. Fate will then decide which players have won, and which have lost, once the ball stops and lands in a pocket in the roulette wheel.
Slots
Since their invention in the early 20th century, slot machines have become a key part of casino culture. They are extremely popular for the simple reason that they are easy to pick up and play. Players insert a certain amount of money into a machine, pull a handle or push a button, and hope for the best. If the right combination of symbols appears on the reels, players might take home the jackpot (or some part of it).
Digital slot games have evolved to offer a more in-depth experience for those who want more variety to their slots. Today, many video slots offer bonus games that alter the dynamic of the game. For example, the cascades bonus game changes the game so symbols fall from the top of the screen, whereas the free spins bonus game offers players additional spins for no extra cost.
Online casinos
While virtual casinos may not offer the excitement of leaving your house to immerse yourself in the casino experience, they do have one major advantage: convenience. Whether you want a quick game over lunch, or just feel like playing during your downtime at home, online casino games are just a few clicks (or taps) away.
Here’s what digital gamblers enjoyed in 2019:
Bingo
While many people are familiar with the popular catch phrase “bingo”, there are many people who haven’t actually played the game.
In bingo, players have cards with numbers randomly assigned in a grid. An announcer calls out numbers that are chosen at random, with players marking off each matching number. If players have a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of matching numbers, they’ve won the game, which is usually followed by the iconic victory cry “Bingo”!
The simplicity of the game, as well as its greater accessibility, has made its online counterpart a popular alternative to the traditional game.
The Best Casino Games
Blackjack
What Games Are Played In Casinos
Apart from being more convenient, online blackjack typically offers players greater variations on the standard rule set, as well as greater variety in terms of betting.
Online casinos, also typically, offer more bonuses and VIP rewards for all of their games, including blackjack, and offer greater privacy for players who don’t necessarily want to be distracted by other games or people on a live casino floor.
Three popular online blackjack titles that you can play are Premium Blackjack Pro, Multi-Hand Blackjack, and Vegas Downtown Blackjack.
Poker
Online poker goes from strength to strength, with one of the world’s biggest tournaments offering a $75 million prize pool. It’s unsurprising to find that this popularity has spilled over into the online casino arena, even if the prizes offered in these smaller games don’t come anywhere close to the prizes offered to the poker playing elite.
Like online blackjack, online poker offers players much more variations on the game, making it far easier for players to mix it up a little if they get bored. Combine this with the ability to play multiple tables at once and it’s no surprise that hardcore poker players are flocking to online casinos.
Some online poker titles include Casino Hold ‘Em Poker and Double Double Bonus Poker.
Roulette
Roulette is another popular casino game that continues to thrive in the online space. Again, like many other games that online casinos offer, players have access to a greater variety of options, such as American or European roulette.
Another major benefit of online roulette is that you don’t have to play at the dealer’s pace, but can play as quickly or slowly as you’d like. This is a key advantage for players who like to think about their decisions without being pressured into reacting.
Two popular online roulette games are Black & Yellow Roulette and American Roulette Pro.
Slots
Online slots epitomize the variety aspect of online casinos, with gambling sites offering literally dozens of variations of games for you to play, as well as greater winnings, incentives, and bonuses.
Slot tournaments, which are sometimes offered in traditional casinos, are also more regular online, and offer players higher winnings than regular play. The online versions of these games also have much more flexible buy-in, allowing players to play for as little as a few cents per game.
A few of the many titles available are Starburst, 88 Fortunes, and Mercy of the Gods.
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Games At A Casino
Whether you are new to the online casino experience or not, if you’re interested in online gambling you should check out BetMGM.
BetMGM’s online casino is one of the many gambling services offered by Roar Digital, including their sportsbook and online poker site. At our online casino, you can enjoy many digital versions of the classics games that you love, including slots, roulette, and blackjack. However, if you enjoy the classic casino experience, we also offer live casino services in an online format, which allow you to take part in real games, no matter where you are.
BetMGM has a casino games app so you can enjoy many of these services from the comfort of your mobile device.
If you want to play in a premium casino online, be sure to visit our site today!