Most of us equate a round of poker to a scene from a James Bond film. Occurring behind closed doors within a room filled with smoke or taking place beneath the glittering lights of a massive casino, some of these games offer jackpots worth well into the millions.

However, you might be surprised to learn that many well-known sports personalities enjoy these competitions just as much as seasoned poker veterans. Let’s first take a look at why such a card game appeals to sports professionals before moving on to highlight some players who take the game of poker quite seriously.

A Unique Synergy of Traits

As this article highlights, poker is a game defined by both skill and luck. Even the most seasoned of players will be dealt poor hands on occasion and therefore, everyone participating has the opportunity to walk away a potential winner. This is likely one of the main reasons why it has resonated with sports professionals. Furthermore, many personalities within the sporting community actually enjoy the thrills associated with risks and uncertain outcomes. Sometimes referred to as “alpha” personalities, they tend to thrive on the unknown and they will also react well under pressure. This is even more relevant when referring to top-tier competitions such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

All About the Opponent

Unlike many other table games such as blackjack or roulette, poker is played within a community. While such platforms are certainly fun in and of themselves, many do not offer the level of interpersonal competition that has come to define games such as Texas Hold’em and five-card stud. Once again, we need look no further than the psychology of sports personalities to understand why this trait is so attractive. The decidedly physical nature of poker requires the ability to read what others may be holding, to call their bluffs on occasion and to double down in the event that one believes he or she has a winning hand. In other words, no one ever truly knows what each round has in store.

A Growing Popularity

Thanks in part to the online gaming community, a surprising number of sports professionals now enjoy playing poker on a regular basis. A handful of examples include (but are by no means limited to):

Note that this is only a short list of the many personalities who have become enamoured with the world of poker. The same holds true in terms of celebrities such as Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Tilly. Indeed, the chances are high that many others hit the digital tables on a regular basis without publicising their passion. There might even come a time when you are unknowing facing off with your favourite player while attending a virtual poker tournament. Anything is possible in this day and age!

Who Gambles More: Boomers & Millennials?

Gambling is a popular pastime for both boomers and millennials. However, while earlier generations usually prefer to visit land-based casinos, millennials are more likely to gamble via the Internet. Thus, online casinos like Vegas Casino remain popular destinations for millennials over land-based casinos as the said demographic enjoys the convenience and flexibility of the Internet vertical.

But then, in recent years, the online casino industry has seen an increase in the number of boomers playing games such as slots, blackjack, and roulette. This is especially the case for the last three years when the Covid-19 pandemic led to the closure of virtually all brick-and-mortar casinos across the globe to curb its spread.

The question of who gambles more between boomers and millennials is difficult to answer definitively. However, there are some differences in how they approach gambling that can help us understand why one group may be more likely to gamble than the other. So, let’s explore these differences and come to a conclusion about which generation gambles more.

The Art of Gambling

Technology has definitely influenced every aspect of our day-to-day lives, including gambling as well. At the present stage of world development, you can gamble online at any time with the simplest of devices as long as you can access the Internet. In addition, you can play your favorite games, win, earn real money, and even play with your friends online.

All the mentioned factors make gambling more attractive to millennials and also contribute to a relatively outdated image of land-based casinos in the minds of younger generations. Meanwhile, the number of visits from earlier generations to physical casinos remains quite active. Although, after the pandemic crisis experienced worldwide over the past few years, many casinos were shut down, giving iGaming the opportunity to rise and gain a whole new customer base. This means that boomers may still gamble a whole lot, but millennials are very active in the game thanks to the emergence of iGaming.

Land-Based Casinos Versus Online Gambling

In the past, it was more likely to spend your free time on activities like gambling as there were limited sources of entertainment. This meant that there was a high influx of clients at land-based casinos, coming to spend their time and money playing gambling games at arcades, pubs, and casinos.

However, things are different today, with Internet casinos and several other entertainment sources, including video games, Netflix, YouTube, and social media websites like Instagram and Tik Tok. It is, therefore, less likely for a millennial to leave their home to go gamble at a casino with all these options at hand.

And while there are hundreds of online casinos and games where millennials can get their fill, there are other reasons millennials aren’t very keen on gambling either:

Are Land-Based Casinos Outdated for Millennials?

Land-based casinos gave rise to the gambling industry and have been a popular pastime for hundreds of years. The boomer generations frequent land-based casinos to date though they quickly realize that they can also enjoy themselves via the Internet. However, for millennials, outdated games that are often featured on casino floors may deter them from visiting brick-and-mortar gaming facilities.

Meanwhile, access to technology and the Internet allows millennials much more opportunity to gamble more frequently. But, on the other hand, advanced technology may be a significant deterrent for older generations making them less likely to gamble online.

For sports betting, however, data shows that millennials do participate in the activity more, especially thanks to the facilitation of the Internet, especially in markets like the USA. In addition, due to the popularity of sports like soccer and basketball among younger generations, betting on the events is usually more prevalent among them.

So Can We Determine the “Winner”?

It might be challenging to establish whether millennials or boomers gamble more than each other though technology has made it relatively more accessible for the former to do so. Additionally, online casinos and gambling sites require little information to sign up and gamble in this day and age.

Not to mention the online banking industry, which makes depositing and withdrawing funds incredibly fast; all these opportunities make it easier for people to gamble. And millennials, being more exposed to and informed about technology, have higher chances of accessing these gambling facilities. If you occasionally enjoy gambling games, how old are you, and where do you prefer to gamble? Let us know right here in our comments section.

In a thrilling Men’s heavyweight semifinal, Jack Marley secured his place on the plane to Paris 2024 with an impressive performance.

The twenty-year-old boxer from Dublin showed tremendous resilience, bouncing back from a first-round loss (1-4) to claim victory on a split decision (4-1) against Spain’s Enmanual Reyes Pla, a 30-year-old silver medalist from the 2022 European Championships. Marley’s remarkable achievement marks the first time in 27 years that an Irish heavyweight boxer has qualified for the Olympic Games, with Cathal O’Grady being the last to do so in 1996.

Delighted with his win, Marley expressed his disbelief, acknowledging the mental strain he faced during the match. He shared, “I can’t believe it. It was a big mental strain today, everything was going through the head. Unlike everyone else, I had to get the bronze first, then qualify. It was just another obstacle in my head that I had to get past. It was tough, but we’re here now, and I can’t believe it.” Reflecting on his fight, he added, “I enjoyed that right to the final minute. I was smiling the whole way through it.”

Marley demonstrated his strategic approach, acknowledging the technical skills of his opponent and the importance of not letting him establish his rhythm. He admitted losing the first round but remained undeterred, stating, “I had to go chasing it, but it was worth it. I’m absolutely speechless.” This victory propels Marley into the gold medal match scheduled for Saturday, where he will compete for the ultimate prize.

In another display of Irish boxing talent, Dean Clancy concluded his European Games journey with an Olympic ticket to Paris 2024 and a well-deserved bronze medal. Despite a spirited performance against the experienced Sofiane Oumiha of France, the Tokyo silver medalist and three-time world champion, Clancy lost all three rounds, with Oumiha winning by a unanimous decision of 5-0.

Remaining optimistic, Clancy emphasized the positive aspects of his journey, stating, “I came in here, I got three good wins against good lads, qualified for the Olympics. I’m only 21. I’ve a long stretch now between now and the Olympic Games.” He expressed his determination to learn from this experience and make the necessary adjustments, vowing to mature as an elite boxer before the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Michaela Walsh, having already secured Olympic qualification, is set to compete in the Featherweight (57kg) semifinal later in the evening. Her teammate Aoife O’Rourke, in the Middleweight (75kg) category, will also aim for victory in her semifinal match to join Walsh on the path to Paris 2024. The Irish boxing contingent continues to showcase their talent and determination on the international stage.

Marley’s remarkable achievement marks the first time in 27 years that an Irish heavyweight boxer has qualified for the Olympic Games, with Cathal O’Grady being the last to do so in 1996.

Delighted with his win, Marley expressed his disbelief, acknowledging the mental strain he faced during the match. He shared, “I can’t believe it. It was a big mental strain today, everything was going through the head. Unlike everyone else, I had to get the bronze first, then qualify. It was just another obstacle in my head that I had to get past. It was tough, but we’re here now, and I can’t believe it.” Reflecting on his fight, he added, “I enjoyed that right to the final minute. I was smiling the whole way through it.”

Marley demonstrated his strategic approach, acknowledging the technical skills of his opponent and the importance of not letting him establish his rhythm. He admitted losing the first round but remained undeterred, stating, “I had to go chasing it, but it was worth it. I’m absolutely speechless.” This victory propels Marley into the gold medal match scheduled for Saturday, where he will compete for the ultimate prize.

In another display of Irish boxing talent, Dean Clancy concluded his European Games journey with an Olympic ticket to Paris 2024 and a well-deserved bronze medal.