While online gaming and extreme sports may seem like two totally different realms, there are countless similarities that unite them.

Those who bet online (ideally at Ignition Casino) are perfectly comfortable with a certain level of risk – you might even say they love taking risks. By nature, they’re competitive, goal-oriented adrenaline-seekers.

The same characteristics also apply to extreme sports professionals. Whether you’re talking about the best Australian surfers, rugby players, jockeys, or Formula One (F1) drivers, these sports pros are built for speed, excitement, and nonstop thrills.

THE BIGGEST GAMBLERS IN CASINO

As the best Australian online casino, Ignition has seen its fair share of gambling legends. So, who are the biggest gamblers in casino? Read on to find out.

1.    ZELJKO RANOGAJEC – THE JOKER

Master mathematician turned Australian billionaire, Zeljko Ranogajec is known around the world as the ultimate man of mystery. Despite his lavish lifestyle – which includes spending roughly $3 billion per year on horseracing bets – Ranogajec is notoriously private – so much so that he’s even been compared to elusive creatures like Big Foot and Loch Ness Monster in the gambling community. He’s so secretive that he often uses the alias John Wilson in gambling and business dealings to hide his identity.

Although Ranogajec’s sport of choice to gamble on is horseracing – a popular Australian pastime – the professional punter is believed to bet on nearly every sport. Nowadays, his betting activities are reportedly all automated, leaving him more time to explore the world on private jets and luxurious yachts.

2.    DAVID WALSH – MONA OWNER AND PROFESSIONAL PUNTER

They say friends who gamble together stay together – and that’s certainly the case for Zeljko Ranogajec and David Walsh.

That’s right – the next pro punter on our list is none other than The Joker’s best friend. The pair’s friendship has had gambling at its centre from the very beginning – the two met at Australia’s first-ever legal casino and now belong to the biggest gambling syndicate in the world, the Bank Roll.

In 2022, Walsh revealed that the syndicate spends roughly $10 billion per year on horse racing, sports betting and lotteries. One of the group’s biggest wins came on Christmas Eve when a big horse race run earned them an impressive prize of $63 million. Not bad for another day at the office.

In addition to being one of Australia’s top gamblers, Walsh is also a certified art aficionado. He even owns one of the most renowned museums in Australia, the Museum of New and Old Art (MONA) in Hobart, Tasmania.

In art, gambling, and business, Walsh knows from personal experience that with great risk often comes great reward. That isn’t going to change anytime soon. According to Walsh, our world is changing at lightning speed, especially with advances in technology – and he has every intention of evolving to keep up with them.

3.      LLOYD WILLIAMS – FOUNDER OF THE CROWN

From the streets of Sydney to the metropolitan hub of Melbourne, The Crown Casino is now one of the best Australian casinos with locations around the country. But many people don’t know who’s responsible for bringing it to life. Enter Lloyd Williams.

As the founder of the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex in Melbourne, Williams is one of the most successful businessmen in Australia. The casino, which opened in 1994, is the biggest in the country and one of the biggest in the world.

Of course, his casino isn’t the only gambling venture Williams has in his portfolio. He is also known for being one of the most successful thoroughbred horse owners in Australian history, with a whopping seven Melbourne Cup wins under his belt. His horses have claimed the top spot in the prestigious competition in 1981, 1985, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2020.

A gambler in all areas of life, Williams is the embodiment of what it means to live life on the edge. Thanks to his clever risk-taking, Williams is now living the high life with a net worth of A$903 million as of 2021.

THE BIGGEST GAMBLERS IN EXTREME SPORTS

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the ultimate gamblers: extreme sports professionals. From the best Australian surfers to the top Aussie F1 drivers, here are the stand-out figures you need to know about.

1.    TYLER WRIGHT – SURFER

A Culburra Beach native, Tyler Wright has surfing in her blood. Coming from a tight-knit surfing family, she and her brother, Owen Wright, have both found significant success in professional surfing.

Wright’s first accolade came in 2008 when she won the Layne Beachley Classic – one of the most beloved events on the ASP World Surfing Tour – at the age of 14. Then and there, the world knew she was a star in the making.

Wright hasn’t slowed down since. In 2011, she joined the World Surf League Women’s Championship Tour and went on to claim back-to-back World Titles in 2016 and 2017. On top of her status as one of the best Australian surfers of all time, Wright is also a staunch advocate for women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Much like an online gambler, Wright totally understands the risks that come with her passion – but she never lets it stop her. “I’m scared all the time…I know, at certain times, that surfing is an extreme sport,” she said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. “An important thing for me [to know] is that when I approach those waves, I always have a choice. I can do all the preparation, I can put myself on the spot but, ultimately, I can choose [whether to go ahead or not].”

And go ahead she does. According to ESPN, Wright is always looking ahead at not just her next big thrill, but the next discussion she can start using her platform: “The more I’m on the podium, the more I’m on your screens, the more important conversations I get to have.”

2.      DANIEL RICCIARDO – RACE CAR DRIVER

Known as the ‘Honey Badger’, Daniel Ricciardo has been a fixture in the F1 racing world for nearly a decade. Ricciardo launched his F1 career in 2014 with the Redbull team – and it’s safe to say he came out swinging. In his debut season, Ricciardo scored three wins and finished in third place behind Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

In the years since then, Ricciardo has proven himself to be one of the best drivers on the planet. His epic career has seen him race for the likes of Red Bull, McLaren, Aston Martin, Renault, and more.

Anyone who’s ever seen an F1 race knows just how exhilarating the competition can get – so much so that it’s easy to be reminded of the thrills of online gambling. The skill, the rush, the highs, the lows – it’s nothing but pure excitement.

3.    CAMERON SMITH – RUGBY PLAYER

No one understands the rush of extreme sports better than a rugby player – just ask former National Rugby League pro, Cameron Smith.

Widely seen as one of the best rugby players Australia (and the world) has ever seen, Smith was a hooker for the Melbourne Storm for his entire 19-year career.

Just like a seasoned gambler, Smith knows a thing or two about winning streaks (but not as much about bad beats). Smith holds a range of records, including the most games ever played by any player (430), the most goals kicked (1,295), the most tackles (16,917), the most points scored (44), and the most game wins (310).

At first glance, rugby and online gambling may seem like opposites, but they’re actually alike in a variety of ways: the thrill of competition, the need for skill and strategy, the nail-biting uncertainty, the emotional rollercoaster of the gameplay – we could go on and on.

EXPERIENCE THE THRILL AT IGNITION CASINO

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to get your own thrills, then you’ve come to the right place.

At Ignition Casino, you’ll experience all the same electric energy you’d get in the waves, on the racetrack, or on the pitch. Pure excitement, nonstop entertainment, all-consuming adrenaline – all this and more is available right at your fingertips when you game with us. Plus, with epic Hot Drop Jackpots available on multiple casino games, the rewards have never been more worth the risk.

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