The Pittsburgh Steelers have some of the best players in the league. What you may not know about your favorite Pittsburgh football stars is that some enjoy gambling during their leisure time. With the NFL cracking down on gambling, several players do not want to expose their gambling habits. They now prefer to gamble on slot machines and table games at Canadian or overseas online casinos like SlotsCity using their mobile devices. Regardless, here are some Pittsburgh Steelers who enjoy gambling.
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Michael Vick
Former quarterback Michael Vick played for 13 seasons in the NFL. He is the first quarterback in the league to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Vick received the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Besides Vick's accomplishments in football, he is known for his love of gambling. He didn't participate in sports betting or play casino games like slots or poker. Vick preferred to gamble on dog fights.
He owned a property in Surrey County, Virginia, used as a main staging area to train and house dogs for his co-owned dog fighting operation. The dogfighting operation ran for six years before the authorities raided the property. The winning dog will win a minimum of $100 and a maximum of thousands of dollars for the fights. After pleading guilty to his involvement in the dogfighting operation, his career came to a halt.
Vick was suspended by the NFL and made to pay back the signing bonus from the Falcons' $130 million contract. He lost all his lucrative sponsorship deals and was sentenced to 23 months in prison. After his release, Vick rejoined the NFL, but his arrest garnered him notoriety among fans in the US and Canada (CA). In a recent interview, Vick revealed that one person had warned him about how his passion for gambling on dog fights could screw up his career, but he ignored it.
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Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis, nicknamed "The Bus" is a former running back in the NFL. Bettis made it to the Pro Bowl six times and helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl title. He is among the greatest power runners and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Bettis' nickname stemmed from his tendency to run over his opponents. However, during an interview, he said he did the same to his teammates at the poker table.
Bettis said he and some of his teammates used to play poker every week. He finished sixth place in the World Series of Poker Fourth Annual Ante Up for the Africa Charity Tournament, winning $22,624. On the red carpet of the tournament, during an interview with the poker daily, he shared that he enjoys poker.
"Being retired, everything is sporadic, but I enjoy poker. Whenever I get a chance, I’ll try to get out and play a little more," said Bettis.
Bettis enjoys poker as a recreational activity. He once stated that he would never endanger his NFL career for any gambling possibilities and would always conform to the NFL's policy.
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Steelers' Jerome Bettis running with the football against the Bengals.
Responsible Gambling
Gambling on sports activities or casino games like slots and poker provides a thrilling and immersive experience. When gambling at new or reputable online casinos, you must exercise caution as you can become addicted to it. Here are tips on how to play it safe when gambling at online casinos like SlotsCity Canadian Casino.
Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Do not borrow or use money for bills to gamble in hopes of doubling it or striking big.
Do not chase your losses. It all starts with trying to make the $5 you lost to the slot machines for your first spin, and then losing your entire balance.
Only gamble at a licensed traditional or online casino. Slots City Canadian casinos provide several tools on their site to help you monitor your play and set budget limits to prevent poor gambling habits.
Conclusion
Football and poker share similar characteristics like strategic thinking, and require a strong mental game. This is why several NFL players enjoy playing poker rather than new slots at their leisure, and a few have pursued the WSOP title. If you want to develop your poker skills like your favorite Steelers, do it on a trustworthy platform like Slots City Casino. It is a licensed and reputable platform that allows players in Canada (CA) to experience the glitz and thrill of playing poker from the comfort of their home.
