Arturo Vidal’s Dangerous Gamble: Betting on Himself
If you're a world-famous footballing superstar, it's a bad idea to own your own gambling site. It's an even worse idea to have that site offer bets on your own matches.
In April, Arturo Vidal — the Chilean football icon who won titles with Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona - announced the launch of his own online gambling platform, Juega con el King (Play with the King).
This has set off a firestorm in Chile as the platform is not licensed to operate there and Vidal is still an active player whose games can be bet on.
In a flashy Instagram video, the Colo Colo midfielder declared, “The King has arrived! From the king of the field, to the king of the game,” inviting fans to “register, bet, and win like a king.” The site, aimed primarily at the Chilean market, offers a full suite of gambling options: sports betting on various matches, an online casino with slots and live dealer games, quick-play minigames, and even live-streamed events. Vidal touted features like high odds, 24/7 customer support, and fa…
