Two Great Athletes who Left Too Much for Chance - Literally

Spinning the reels of a slot machine from time to time is an innocent form of entertainment. Millions of people play online slots at Euro Palace and other gaming venues day after day, and it's perfectly OK. I say "entertainment", because that's exactly what the Euro Palace offers its players: an amazing variety of games to play with, and maybe even win a bit of money in the process. Yet all Euro Palace games can also be played with no cash involved, focusing on the fun of the game alone because that's what casino games are about: fun.

Yet sometimes people go too far. Online gaming venues like the Euro Palace have measures and policies in place to prevent such an outcome of things. Other gaming venues - especially if they operate on the verge of legitimacy - may often lack these, so getting mixed in such a company may cause more harm than good. Like in the case of these athletes, who almost let their careers be ruined by their gambling habits.

Art Schlichter

Schlichter had a history of gambling dating back to his college career, often spotted at the Scioto Downs racetrack, yet never got in trouble due to this. Once he's gone pro, he continued to bet, which in turn became a problem sooner rather than later. After being signed by the Baltimore Colts, he blew all his signing bonus by midseason. His habit was out of control - once he lost a $20,000 bet (over $40k in today's dollars) on a college football bet. Reports speak of a $700,000 (over $1.5 million) in gambling debts accumulated by the player in a matter of months. Since gambling was prohibited in the NFL, his bookies started to threaten him with exposure if he didn't pay up. Ultimately, Schlichter went to the FBI and testified against his bookies, and was suspended from the NFL indefinitely.

In the coming years, Schlichter was in and out of the NFL, mostly because of his gambling habit.

Pete Rose

Betting is one thing but an athlete betting on a game he is involved in is another. Yet this was exactly what Cincinnati Reds Outfielder / Infielder / Manager has done, both while playing for and managing the team. This habit of betting on his own team (not against it, reports, and Rose himself, claim) cost him his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame - he made it to the "permanently ineligible" list.

Although Rose never admitted to betting against his team, and the investigations never produced decisive evidence, the very fact that he, as a manager, took decisions that could influence the outcome of his bets put him in a very controversial (and, according to MLB rules, illegal) situation.

His value, both on and off the field, was recognized by his team - he made it to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2016.