It could be true though, Michael Jordan during the height of his career are gambling and his father's death could be related to gambling as well. Even when they are playing golf with co-players and other wealthy individuals, they put bet on the line, just for the sake of "playing" aka "gambling". And of course, athletes have money to burn, so one way is going out with their friends and families on trip to the Strip and gamble.
When you do have money then you can really think off things just similar into those people who are earning average and since you know that you have tons then betting on something like your hobby against other people
would really be simply called gambling.Im much aware about MJ activity or involvement about gambling which did really make significant impact on his life.
And then we have Antonie Walker of the Boston Celtics, who blew his $100 m salary throughout his NBA career. And there was a story that he and his friends will travel to Las Vegas casinos and gamble, all on him. So when he retires, he doesn't have any money and file for bankruptcy. But now he turns into financial advisor for young and upcoming NBA rookie players.
For the case of Antonie Walker, he didn't just gamble his fortune away, reports say he had developed a very expensive taste in exotic cars, clothes etc, he liked to hang out in the big and happening places like the casino's and spend some money for show. It was a case of someone who was exposed to so much wealth without the financial capacity to manage it and soon he hit bankruptcy.
Personalities matter a lot, that is, the person you are really before the money comes and the person you become when the money is coming, will determine who you be when the money has come and it is time to manage it. Because of the way money comes in from sports, some athletes without discipline pick up some expensive habits along the way like hanging out in casino's and gambling. When they retire from sports, the lifestyle picked up doesn't retire with them, they continue to visit their favourite places and spend more money in such places like the casino's until it starts becoming a problem to them and their families finances.
So i do not believe that all athletes are prone to becoming problem gamblers, its all a matter of personality.