Wrestling Stars & Gambling: How Wrestlers Represent Casinos

Wrestling Stars & Gambling: How Wrestlers Represent Casinos
Original Photo Credit: WWE.com

Wrestling, and WWE in particular, has always been chaotic and bombastic. From the larger-than-life characters, such as The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan, who have been stars of the ring for decades, to the soap-style storylines and the demanding life-or-death matches that have become a staple of some of the biggest events over the years, there is a lot to admire about wrestling’s chaos.

Whether you are talking about the drama and pure physical extremes of the Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart Iron Man, match at WrestleMania XII or the infamous Ric Flair Royal Rumble win in 1992 that had a whole host of legends of the sport competing that year, there is a lot to love about wrestling. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as a competitor and a spectator.

The Enticing Chaos Connecting Wrestling and Gambling

The same can be said about casinos and online casinos in the modern day. Gambling is chaos when you think about it plainly. There are no guarantees. You can create and follow strategies, of course, but there is never a play that is 100% guaranteed to win you a hand of poker, to guess the correct number the roulette ball will land on, or for the slot machine reels to fall where you need them to. This randomness is what draws billions of people to gamble and take a chance. Some play for fun and buttons, some play to a higher standard with more money on the line, but at its essence there is chaos that brings people to the table time and again.

It’s no surprise, then, that wrestling and gambling have such strong ties, from casino events linked to wrestling and specific wrestlers getting involved with promotions and playing to a high standard. There is a lot to unpack between wrestling and online casinos.

Calm the Chaos of Online Casinos With Free Slots

There is a link between the chaos of wrestling and the random nature of gambling, but if you are unsure of which online casino to choose, we can help you out.

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All of this is possible without the need to register a new account, download any software, or deposit your own real cash. Once you’ve tried a few different casino brands and slots, you are then ready to play for real, to register and start playing with your money.

Wrestlers and Gambling

It isn’t much of a stretch to see why gambling appeals to famous wrestlers, or to any elite-level sports person for that matter. When you are used to competing at such a high level, where there is a tightrope act to elicit the high-performance levels expected of you, unwinding with a random play must be exciting, especially if you have the funds to play bigger than the average player. There are some high-profile wrestlers that have a history with gambling, from Stone Cold Steve Austin, who love poker, to the wild gambling stories from Shawn Michaels and the thrill that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has discussed in the past that he finds from the occasional bet.

Wrestling Themed Slots

Online casinos are well-known for the weird and wonderful variety of themes that are available to players the world over. From leprechauns chasing the pot of gold to exploration in Ancient Egypt, fishing themes, alien themes, and sporting themes, it’s not a surprise that wrestling has been part of the equation too. There are some incredible wrestling-themed online slots, including:

  • Lucha Libre
  • Nacho Libre
  • WWE: Clash of the Wilds
  • Lucha Legends
  • Lucha Maniacs

Wrestlers and Casino Promotions

Trump has always been a fan of wrestling, and WWE in particular. Back in the late 1980s, Trump Plaza in Atlantic City was one of the main reasons wrestling became so popular to a much wider, mainstream audience as it hosted both WrestleMania IV and V. This was a spectacular time for wrestling, bringing the glamour of the casino lifestyle with the drama of wrestling at one of the high-profile casino venues in the world.

John Cena and a Love of Poker

​​Before John Cena became one of the most popular comedic actors in Hollywood, and whilst he was still one of the top wrestlers on the planet and WWE champion, he also had an interest in poker. He has had a strong connection with casinos and poker specifically for quite some time.

His fascination with the World Series of Poker on TV began during the height of his wrestling fame in the 2000s. He played some hands at online casino games, on PokerStars US and other poker tournaments, loving the battle and the pressure that he likened to being in the ring, even if he didn’t want to mess with the seasoned pros of the poker circuit.

LA Knight’s Commercial Success

LA Knight had a charismatic presence in the wrestling ring, but before all that, he first made ends meet with small acting roles during his early days in Cincinnati and a failed move to LA. He features in a regional casino advert, portraying a masseuse, and was paid $800 for the privilege. It was a sign of the hard work and determination that got him to the top of the wrestling game.

Rey Mysterio and Sycuan Casino

A commercial partnership in 2016 between Rey Mysterio Jr. and Sycuan Casino was a sure-fire winner from the off. The Mexican-American wrestler who has achieved great success in the ring calls San Diego home and uses his charismatic presence at events and promotional appearances alongside the casino, taking to the Spanish-language airwaves to voice a successful radio commercial.

It wasn’t just for a payday, though. Rey Mysterio Jr. was genuinely drawn to the casino that he called his personal urban escape. As you can see, there are some long-standing links between wrestling and gambling, alongside some fun online slots that are wrestling-themed.

Graham Douglas

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