The world of gambling is reaching whole new heights, catching the interest of many more people. While some take it more seriously and view it as a way to make money, others engage in the fun and excitement packaged in this sport. Many top online casinos now provide no deposit bonus codes and an attractive offer for players to play online pokies and earn without funding their bankroll. Gambling can be extremely fun and addictive, so it’s no surprise that several popular political figures have liked it.
Most of these government officials are known to spend some time playing poker and card games with friends and close associates in a separate room – basically a hobby. After all, being a person of high reputation doesn’t stop you from having some fun. With that being said, let’s find out who these reputable politicians are.
George Washington
It’s only fitting that we kick off this list with one of America’s greatest presidents ever, Sir George Washington. The 1st ever US president was a notably avid fan of gambling. Prior to the beginning of the war that secured America’s independence, Sir George demonstrated his expertise in discovering war strategies and combat layouts. His ability to solve war puzzles and combat tactics successfully were often alluded to as his impressive gambling skills.
Many people were aware of his love for gambling, where he usually fancied wagering on sports. Some of the common games include:
- Horse racing
- Bingo game
- Cockfighting
Washington was quite meticulous with his gambling strategies and games, so much that he got himself a personal note exclusively for recording all his favourite games. So you can understand why one of his most popular quotes talks about gambling; “Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.” People often attributed his success on the battlefield to his willingness to take risks, similar to playing a table game or racing. Check also whether mini-casinos will replace department stores as anchors at shopping malls.
Abraham Lincoln
Gambling goes way back to 3000 BC when the refugees in Mesopotamia wagered on six-sided dice. So it’s not much of a surprise that the great Abraham Lincoln was into this game of chances. Lincoln’s love for gambling ignited at a young age when he started as a referee in cockfighting. He often fancied his chances of winning a wager on cockfighting and poker – which was a very common sport at the time.
At the age of 19, Lincoln’s interest in poker games developed while working for a wealthy Indiana riverboats owner on the lake of Ohio and Mississippi. During this period, he sold flat boats and cargos but also picked up a few skills and knowledge of gambling on poker. After his encounter with this game, Lincoln became quite addicted to poker and continued gambling for a long time whenever he had the chance. He also coined his own *betting strategy” – starting every eager with a 1-cent coin. Abraham Lincoln kept no secret about his passion for gambling. After his death, many companies created vetting cards with his image printed on them.
Donald Trump
There’s just something with US presidents and gambling, almost as if it’s a presidential ritual. From the early 1700s to the 21st century, gambling has always appealed to many respected persons across the globe. Before he was appointed the 45th president of the United States, wealthy businessman Donald Trump was keen to eclipse Las Vegas as the most sought-after and largest gambling city in the country. Trump owned many business industries, most notably a casino centre in Atlantic City.
Many believe that Trump’s undisclosed love for gambling instigated his spiralling into gambling. However, most of Trump’s optimistic business ventures in the casino industry were often a failure and yielded no significant result. Some theories suspect Trump’s gambling addiction got the best of him, which consequently affected his casino financing. Look through also some blogs by Josh Willis and gambling with Earth.
Raj Grewal
The former Canadian liberal MP isn’t quite an honourable mention here but makes our list. Grewal was a gambling addict who eventually had to resort to medical treatment to resolve his addiction. After his remission, Grewal opted against returning to the office and disengaged from any political activity. In September 2020, Grewal faced multiple charges of breach of trust fraud, where he allegedly embezzled and squandered over $1 million to his chronic gambling issue. He also incurred several million in gambling debt.
Raj, now 36, no longer sits as Canadian MP and is standing trial for his acts. It’s unfortunate to see a promising political career cut short by gambling addiction. With the way things are looking, the former politician might end up filing for bankruptcy to resolve this debt issue. Although gambling can be fun and exciting, it can also be addictive. Well, as they say, “Always gamble responsibly.”
Richard Nixon
Not many people find a way to make a lot of money from gambling and still become president of the US. But Richard Nixon did it. In his biography – Nixon: A Life, the one-time US president was fascinated by the game of poker after spending the night watching fellow officers play the game. This was the beginning of a newfound hobby that soon helped Nixon rake in some winnings and even fund his first run for Congress. Nixon became a poker enthusiast and regularly found time to play the table game with other officers.
In no time, Richard Nixon became a master at the game, and as former Navy comrade James Udall recalled, “He was the finest poker player I have ever played against.” After his period of military service, the former US Navy lieutenant returned home with thousands of dollars which were sufficient to enable him to pursue his political aspirations. And this accumulated winning yielded positive results as he won a California congressional seat in 1946 but became the 37th president of the United States.
Conclusion
Gambling is a game of chance that can be fun, quite thrilling, and entertaining. Even famous world leaders and political icons have proven to be massive enthusiasts of the various casino games available. Politics and gambling are not one combination that we see every day. And while some have been able to separate their political lives from personal gambling periods, others have failed to control their addiction to the game, leading to bankruptcy, fraud, and, in most cases, indebtedness.