Poker Players Who Like Playing Real Money Roulette Too

Poker is a unique game that takes a large element of luck out of gambling and puts the player directly in control. It is why there are so many professional poker players in the world, and why so many of these players are able to make a very comfortable living from playing the game.

But do these players play other gambling games? It’s well known that Phil Ivey and several other superstars are big fans of Baccarat, and you don’t have to look hard to find a poker pro who enjoys an occasional game of BlackJack, but what about roulette? 

Jake Cody: A Risk-Taking Roulette Legend

Maybe it’s a stretch to call Jake Cody a “roulette legend” because he doesn’t seem to play the game of roulette for cash all the time. But he has played it many times in the past and he is also responsible for a single moment of roulette genius, one that required balls of steel and made headlines around the gambling world when it happened.

It came in February 2018 following a high roller UK Poker Championship event in Nottingham. Jake Cody, a British poker player who has won over $4.4 million in his career and is considered to be one of the best the country has produced, finished first and won £42,000 for his efforts.

After being spurred on by friends who had joined him at the tournament, Cody then placed all of this money on a nearby roulette table. The bet was black, the tension was high, and there was £42,000 (nearly $60,000) on the line. Peer pressure rarely results in anything good, but it did this time as the wheel landed on 22 Black, and Cody doubled his money.

It was a win-win for the Brit, because along with the 100% prize pot boost he received, he also received a glut of publicity. If anyone in the British gambling community didn’t know who he was before, they definitely do now. 

Cody, 29, plays poker offline and online and his successes include:

• Once voted the Poker Player of the Year.
  
• Won a 2011 WSOP Bracelet.
• Made it to Three Final Tables at the WSOP and Finished 113th in the 2015 Main Event.
• 1 European Poker Tour Title.
• 1 World Poker Tour Title.

Phil Ivey: A Casino Legend

One of the greatest players to ever sit down at a poker table, Ivey is a living legend of the game, but he has also branched out into other games. As mentioned at the outset of this article he is a big fan of baccarat, but he’s not averse to gambling elsewhere as well.

He is a big fan of proposition bets, roulette wheels and craps and you can find him doing the rounds at the casino most nights. He has the money, he has the right attitude—it only makes sense.

Of course, as a poker player, Ivey is always looking for ways to get an edge. There are stories of him winning millions playing games of chance because he spotted flaws in the system. This included a game in Puerto Rico where he was said to have won $20 million because of dealer issues, and a £7+ million win from an exclusive card room that he never actually received, because they believed that he used a trick known as “Edge-sorting”.

The 41-year old won’t mind missing out on that £7 million though, just take a look at these stats:

• 10 WSOP Bracelets and 55 ITM Finishes
  
• 1 World Poker Tour Title and 13 ITM Finishes
• A 7th Placed Finish in the WSOP Main Event
• Millions Won Every Year Online and in Cash Games

Why Poker Players Play Real Money Roulette

Most poker players dabble with other casino games and real money roulette is always a big draw. It may not be the skill-based game that poker is, and it may not seem to make much sense for them to play, but if you’re a poker player yourself then you’ll know why it does make sense:

• It is great for relieving stress after a bad beat.
  
• It’s an easy way to kill time or spend some loose chips.
• There are always roulette tables available.
• It’s quick, and you can join and bet in minutes.
• It’s a good community game and can introduce you to casino regulars.
• There is a wide spectrum of odds available, from Evens to 36/1.