Although the days when stepping foot in a casino was prohibited for NFL and other pro football players are now long gone, it still isn’t a commonly discussed hobby among players. But with more gambling connections and advertizing around the game than ever, things are changing fast.
In fact, these days various current and former NFL stars are often seen at poker tables or in and around Las Vegas casinos. However, the below players went further than a casual gamble. Not all of them got themselves into trouble, but their gambling exploits were definitely notable.
Former Cowboy Emmitt Smith Is Quite Good at Poker
The NFL’s all time rushing leader and former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmit Smith is not only a top-tier football player but he’s also a bit of a card shark.
The three-time Super Bowl winner has won a few poker tournaments at tribal casinos in Mississippi. He also hit the top 50 of the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.
Of course, you don’t have to posses the fortune of a three-time Super Bowl champ to put down a wager online. You can try soccer betting today for minimal deposits that won’t break the bank, but on great odds that could see you win big. And if you don’t, there’s always top bonuses and promos to get you back in the game.
Smith’s love of poker hasn’t diminished since then either, as he continued to pursue the game as a serious hobby. In 2021 he made another deep run in the $10,000-entry WSOP Main, bagging $160,000 for an in-the-money finish on Day 3.
Paul Hornung and Alex Karras Were the First NFL Gambling Suspensions
If there’s any sporting story that shows how much US attitudes to gambling and betting have changed since the 1960s, it’s the suspensions of Paul Hornung and Alex Karras in 1963.
The pair were the first two NFL players ever suspended for gambling. Despite no proof either player bet on their own team. Hornung, a star running back for the Green Bay Packers, was suspended alongside Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras.
In 1964 their suspensions were overturned, after Hornung apologized and admitted breaking the NFL’s strict gambling rules. He also volunteered to stay away from Las Vegas as well as the Kentucky Derby, which he had previously attended (and bet on) every year.
However, it has since been suggested his close friendship with influential coach and later Super Bowl trophy namesake Vince Lombardi was also a factor in the outcome.
The positive public opinion of Hornung and Karras remained largely unchanged after the scandal. This demonstrated to the NFL the changing American attitudes to gambling. Both players eventually made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Karras died in 2012 and Hornung in 2020.
Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick Ran Illegal Dogfight Gambling Ring
So this one was just too mad to pass up on including. Where to start?
Despite being a star quarterback earning millions a year, former Atlanta Falcons man Michael Vick decided the excitement wasn’t enough – and sometime in mid 2003 he decided to host an illegal dogfighting gambling ring at his rural Virginia property.
In 2007 however it all came crashing down after federal and local law enforcement raided the property. Around 70 fighting pit bulls, tens of thousands in cash and illegal gambling records were seized in the police swoop.
Although Vick was apparently only really involved in the operation during the off-season, it was a significant illicit money maker for him and two fellow ringleaders.
After the scandal broke, Vick was suspended from the NFL and spent 17 months in federal prison. He was however, later welcome back to the NFL after a public apology and doing charitable work for animal-related causes. His future football career didn’t spare him from length bankruptcy proceedings however, which lasted for years.
Interestingly, in 2011 Vick became the first professional athlete to re-sign a promotional deal with Nike after being dropped for a controversy.
Bonus: Peyton Manning Is Boss at Roulette
For a final cool story we have Peyton Manning’s incredible roulette story. Although not widely known as a gambler, two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Manning hasn’t been shy doing promotional work with sports betting operators or attending functions with industry connections.
So, that may have been how he found himself at a party with a private roulette table. As the story goes he walked past half a dozen or so people playing, and they asked him to join. He declined, but told them “how about that red 18 fellas?” and tipped his hat before leaving.
The story goes, all dozen roulette players put their bets down on 18 – and it came in, giving everyone a 35x payout. Cue celebration, which Manning wasn’t even there to witness. 18, by the way, was Manning’s jersey number throughout his career as one of the greatest in the game. Legendary.
