{"id":296453,"date":"2023-11-06T17:09:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T17:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=296453"},"modified":"2023-11-06T17:09:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T17:09:17","slug":"i-bet-250k-a-night-then-played-in-prem-the-next-day-team-mates-had-no-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/soccer\/i-bet-250k-a-night-then-played-in-prem-the-next-day-team-mates-had-no-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I bet \u00a3250k a night then played in Prem the next day \u2013 team-mates had no idea’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    A former Premier League star has revealed that when his gambling addiction was at its peak, he was losing a quarter of a million pounds a night.<\/p>\n

    Wigan defender Steven Caulker, who has played for the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool during a 14-year career, says most people don\u2019t understand the pressure that top-flight players are under.<\/p>\n

    Steven had a long road into the professional game, being rejected by a number of clubs before managing to get a trial at Tottenham. He was so certain he wasn\u2019t going to pass the audition at White Hart Lane he forgot his boots, stopped off for a Burger King on the way, and that ironically led to him being relaxed enough to allow his natural ability to shine. <\/p>\n

    READ MORE: 'I was 16 stone and top scorer but still branded a f****** disgrace by Alan Pardew'<\/b><\/p>\n

    For more fascinating glimpses into extraordinary lives, check out the Daily Star's Real Life section<\/b><\/p>\n

    But Steven\u2019s addiction to gambling was a constant struggle for him, and the huge pay packets he collected as a Premier League player only magnified his losses. <\/p>\n

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    \u201cWhen I was earning \u00a320 a day from shoplifting I\u2019d still lose it on Penny Up The Wall,\u201d he told podcaster Dodge Woodall, \u201cI constantly had that need for a buzz. But when I started going to casinos, it went out of control.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAt the age of 18 I\u2019d be in there until two or three in the morning. Losing and losing and chasing my losses. I'm not one of those gamblers who could tell you \u2018Oh I won my first bet\u2019 or stuff like that, I was just chasing my losses constantly.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs I moved through the leagues and started to earn more and more money my gambling got worse and worse and worse. But what happens is casinos start opening new doors.\u201d<\/p>\n

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