Story 1

The Rise of Art Schlichter (https://www.espn.com)

Art Schlichter, who was once a promising young quarterback in the NFL. He saw his career fail due to his severe gambling addiction. Schlichter’s gambling problem started when he was in college which then followed him into the his short lived career in the NFL. This gambling addiction led to numerous legal issues, which ended up bankrupting him and ending his promising NFL career too early.

This story goes to show how gambling can derail a rising star’s future in the blink of an eye.

Story 2

Antoine Walker’s Downfall (https://www.foxsports.com)

Former NBA star Antoine Walker lost nearly all of his $108 million career earnings. Due to his reckless gambling habits during his post NBA career he struggled financially and mentally. This lead to a bankruptcy shortly after his career.

Walker’s story shows the destructive path that a gambling addiction can have on an athlete, even for high salaried players.

Story 3

Pete Rose’s MLB Ban (https://www.theguardian.com)

Pete Rose’s legendary MLB career was cut short due to him being  banned from baseball for life in 1989 after he was caught betting on his games, including his own team and also his teammates. His ban has unfortunately kept him out of the Hall of Fame despite his hall of fame level career.

Rose’s gambling story goes to show how gambling can take over and consume you, causing a lifetime of hardship. If it wasn’t for his gambling problem Rose would be in contention for one of the MLB’s greatest of all time talks.

Story 4

Wayne Rooney’s Casino addiction (https://www.legitgamblingsites.com)

Wayne Rooney, one of the most celebrated professional soccer players of our generation, had an estimated casino loss of over £500,000 in one night due to gambling. His losses ruined his personal relationships and impacted his performance on the field immensely, causing many distractions for both him and his team.

 Rooney’s story is a look at how gambling can affect both the personal and professional aspects of an athlete’s life.

Story 5

Charles Barkley and His Expensive Gambling Addiction (https://www.nextimpulsesports.com)

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has openly admitted to losing around $10 million to gambling, a habit he says he has struggled with the most since retiring. He faced a massive lawsuit over unpaid casino debts before finally deciding to stop his gambling activities altogether.

Barkley’s openness about his excessive gambling addiction has brought light to the fact that anybody can get help when struggling with a gambling addiction.


All of these stories bring to light the ever complicated and damaging addiction that gambling can have, not just on ordinary people but also on professional athletes that are often seen as role models.