Professional sports players can have involvement in the outcome of fixtures, and to protect the gambling market they are banned from taking part in gambling on the sport they play in.
This is true in pretty much every sport around the world, and when footballers sign their professional contracts there is an agreement that they are not allowed to bet on any football-related activities.
Footballers may have insider knowledge as well as influence so it makes sense that they can’t gamble on the football fixtures, but that doesn’t mean they can’t gamble at all. There are plenty of examples of games and other sports that they can bet on. Some players are also known to be big fans of gambling and have been spotted in casinos.
Casino Table Games
Though footballers aren’t allowed to gamble on their own sport, they’re perfectly allowed to bet and win real money on table games online, or in person. Current Premier League footballers have been spotted at casinos, and James Maddison is one of those who are known to enjoy a flutter on table games such as blackjack.
The world of table games naturally brings a lot of different possibilities, and there are a lot of different games plus variations of those games. For example, if a player wants to take part in some poker, either online or in person, they can play variations such as Five Card Draw or Texas Hold ‘Em among others.
A lot of table games have an element of skill involved and players who are used to spending their days honing their skills in many ways are likely to be drawn to games where they can improve.
Horse Racing
Horse racing and football have been linked for many years. Did you know that there are dozens of footballers who also own racehorses including Michael Owen and Sergio Ramos? Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was known to be a huge fan of horse events and also owned numerous horses.
When footballers aren’t training and playing, it is not uncommon to see them enjoying a horse racing event in the UK. Horse racing is a big industry and there is nothing to stop footballers from getting involved and even putting money into the sport.
Slot Games
There are an unbelievable number of games out there on online casinos as well as in-person casinos. Plenty of footballers are known to enjoy playing slot games both inside casinos and when they are at home or even on their travels. Footballers spend a lot of time on the go so it makes sense that they might entertain themselves with slot games while they travel.
Other Sports
Though footballers can’t bet on the sport they take part in, there is nothing to stop them from getting involved in gambling on other sports. A lot of footballers are known to be big fans of sports where gambling is huge.
Golf is one example of a sport where footballers can gamble, and it is a sport with a lot of different markets, too. Some of the biggest golf tournaments such as The Masters and the Ryder Cup see millions gambled, and as footballers have no impact on the sport, they can gamble on golfing events.
Boxing is another example and lots of footballers are known to be huge fans of boxing. For example, former Premier League footballer Troy Deeney is known to be a big fan and has even taken part in boxing training with Anthony Joshua.
Most sports are absolutely fine for footballers to place a wager on.
eSports
Not many footballers have publicly said that they gamble on eSports, but some of them likely do. Many footballers are massively into video games, and the fact that the gambling market for gaming has grown may see some footballers get involved.
Some of the most popular eSports for gambling include DOTA, and ironically FIFA which is a game based on the sport of football.
Conclusion
Naturally, if you are a professional in a sport that you can impact, it is right that you aren’t allowed to gamble. This could lead to some dishonesty and other issues, which is why there are rules in place to protect us.
When it comes to other sports and casino games, though, there is nothing to stop footballers from getting involved. It is essential that they gamble responsibly and stick to the rules, and this is true for any of us, of course.
Many footballers are known to enjoy a flutter on horse racing, other sports, or at the casino, and in the majority of leagues, all of these activities are totally allowed.