Mike Ashley, the owner of the Newcastle United Football Club in England, has lost a substantial amount of money while gambling. Ashley supposedly lost £5million in one night while gambling at a casino in London’s Mayfair.

It is believed that the business tycoon lost the money during a long night at the roulette table as well as the blackjack tables. Ashley previously won £1.3million at the same casino earlier this year with just a single spin of the roulette wheel, using his lucky number 17. The number 17 is the one Ashley wears on the back of his United black and white shirt during matches.

Apparently his lucky number was not so lucky on a night earlier this year. A source from a gambling club has stated that Ashley was on a winning streak but during the night it went on a downward spiral. At one point Ashley’s friends tried to stop him, but he would not stop.

The source stated that Ashley was convinced that it would turn out good. “Mike had been on a winning streak but it all unraveled on one long night. He even had breakfast at the club,’’ stated the source. Ashley gambles on a regular basis with friends and it has been rumored that he has lost quite a bit while playing with friends.

It has also been rumored that Ashley is trying to sell the Newcastle United Football Club which he bought last year for £135 million. Ashley also owns the sports brands: Dunlop, Slazenger, Donnay, Kangol and Lonsdale. He has denied any selling of the club. In 2007, Ashley gained £929 million from his Sports Direct retail Chain.


- 2008-09-01