Port Vale Celebrities That Like to Gamble
Port Vale Football Club has seen many famous faces grace its stands, but not all of them have been drawn to the club purely for its sporting prowess. Some celebrities have been known to have a soft spot for gambling, and Port Vale has seen its fair share of celebrity gamblers over the years.
One of the most notorious Port Vale celebrities with a fondness for gambling is former player and manager, Lee Sinnott. Sinnott was a regular at the betting shop and was even featured in a documentary about gambling addiction. The documentary was titled “How to lose your shirt at the bookies, by Lee Sinnott.” Despite his struggles with gambling, many fans remembering his time as a player fondly, though they may have to do so with their wallets a little lighter.
Another Port Vale celebrity with a reputation for enjoying a flutter is comedian and actor Neil Morrissey. Morrissey, who is best known for his roles in Men Behaving Badly and The Good Karma Hospital, is a lifelong Port Vale fan and has been spotted at the club’s matches on several occasions. He is also known to enjoy a game of poker and has competed in several high-profile tournaments. However, his luck at the table hasn’t always been in his favour. In fact, he once lost so badly that he had to change his name to Neil “All In” Morrissey.
But it’s not just the famous faces of Port Vale who like to take a gamble. In fact, the club’s mascots, Boomer and Robbie, are both known to be big fans of the casino. Boomer, a giant bison with a love of soccer, is often seen placing bets on his favourite teams, while Robbie, a furry creature with an eye for the ladies, enjoys a game of blackjack or two.
Former England and Aston Villa striker, Darius Vassell, has also been known to indulge in a spot of gambling. Vassell was spotted at a casino in Stoke-on-Trent in 2014, trying his luck on the slots. He later tweeted: “I may not have scored at the casino, but at least I didn’t get a red card.” Good thing he has a sense of humour about it!
But the award for the biggest gambling celebrity at Port Vale goes to none other than Sir Tom Jones. Yes, you read that right – the Welsh singing legend is a big fan of the casino and has been spotted at the Stoke-on-Trent Genting Casino on several occasions. He even admitted to once losing £500,000 in a single night. That’s a lot of green, green grass of home!
While gambling can be a harmless pastime for some, it can also become a destructive addiction for others. Port Vale, like many other football clubs, has taken steps to promote responsible gambling and has partnered with organizations such as GambleAware to help those who may be struggling with addiction. But with so many famous faces and furry mascots enjoying a flutter, it’s hard to resist the allure of the casino. Who knows, maybe the next big winner at the tables will be a Port Vale celebrity. Or maybe they’ll just end up changing their name to “Loser McBettington.”