Phil Mickelson Reportedly Tied to Money Laundering, Gambling Case

[sg92]

I'm guessing maybe Phil's has a huge gambling problem... It's well known that Phil wagers during practice rounds with other Tour pros... He's might not be as squeaky clean as he seems to be...

[Yukari]

I'm guessing maybe Phil's has a huge gambling problem... It's well known that Phil wagers during practice rounds with other Tour pros... He's might not be as squeaky clean as he seems to be ...

I think that is one of the main reasons some people don't like him. His public persona is very different than his private persona.

[mvmac]

I think that is one of the main reasons some people don't like him. His public persona is very different than his private persona.

Yeah but it's no secret Phil likes to gamble, and gamble for a lot of money. On golf, in Vegas and on sports.

[Rick Martin]

I'm guessing maybe Phil's has a huge gambling problem... It's well known that Phil wagers during practice rounds with other Tour pros... He's might not be as squeaky clean as he seems to be...

Gambling addicts: Daly for some reason is still pretty popular on the tour -has a big following even today as a mediocre pro. Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley also.  Doesn't seem like an uncommon thing to do for these pro/celebs.

---------------------------------------------------------

John Daly admits to his gambling addiction, with losses over $50 million and two days straight at the slots.  Seems kind of proud of the fact -

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/john-daly-gambling-away-55-110000595.html

[jetsknicks1]

Meh, so the guy loves to gamble. Not sure there's much to see here.

[MSDOGS1976]

Gambling addicts: Daly for some reason is still pretty popular on the tour -has a big following even today as a mediocre pro. Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley also.  Doesn't seem like an uncommon thing to do for these pro/celebs.

---------------------------------------------------------

John Daly admits to his gambling addiction, with losses over $50 million and two days straight at the slots.  Seems kind of proud of the fact -

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/john-daly-gambling-away-55-110000595.html

True. With Daly, you know what he is. Some like that, some don't. Phil has always played the part as Mr. Good guy. But gambling is a big turn off for some and this will dim their view of him. Others......not so much.

[David in FL]

Meh, so the guy loves to gamble. Not sure there's much to see here.

Exactly.

[k-troop]

Meh, so the guy loves to gamble. Not sure there's much to see here.

[quote name="David in FL" url="/t/82928/phil-mickelson-reportedly-tied-to-money-laundering-gambling-case/20_20#post_1162541"] Exactly.[/quote] Yup. They talked about this on Mike&Mike; this am. Their "legal expert" said that an individual placing a bet isn't a federal crime (though it would be a state crime). Phyllis's only legal trouble (with the Feds) would come if he conspired to commit money laundering. Since they've completed the investigation and released an indictment, my guess is that the investigation didn't reveal any intent to launder on Phil's part. I'd be surprised if he gets his $3M back though.

[RJH999]

Gambling addicts: Daly for some reason is still pretty popular on the tour -has a big following even today as a mediocre pro. Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley also.  Doesn't seem like an uncommon thing to do for these pro/celebs. --------------------------------------------------------- [COLOR=333333]

John Daly admits to his gambling addiction, with losses over $50 million and two days straight at the slots.  Seems kind of proud of the fact -

[/COLOR] [URL=http://sports.yahoo.com/video/john-daly-gambling-away-55-110000595.html]http://sports.yahoo.com/video/john-daly-gambling-away-55-110000595.html[/URL]

Because John Daly is a national treasure.

[Hatchman]

Damn, I guess I'll have to send back my videos and hat to Gary McCord. Callaway..get ready.

[MEfree]

Our society has always been conflicted on where it stands on gambling. I find it interesting how laws vary over time and location regarding things like day trading, option trading, fantasy sports "entertainment" involving prize money, bingo, blackjack, poker, sports betting, stock investing, lotteries, etc. [/quote][quote name="sg92" url="/t/82928/phil-mickelson-reportedly-tied-to-money-laundering-gambling-case/18#post_1162420"]I'm guessing maybe Phil's has a huge gambling problem... It's well known that Phil wagers during practice rounds with other Tour pros... He's might not be as squeaky clean as he seems to be...   [/quote] A long time tour pro once told me that he gambles every week on tour- aka he pays his entry fee and expenses out of his own pocket and is gambling that he will make the cut and receive $ back. In this respect, Phil is one of the most successful gamblers of all time. With blackjack (where I have seen him and Amy at the tables in Vegas) and other forms of betting, maybe he hasn't been as successful. [quote name="Patch" url="/t/82928/phil-mickelson-reportedly-tied-to-money-laundering-gambling-case#post_1162303"]  Google Billy Walters and read his bio if you want to know what kind of folks Philly Mick is dealing with.  [/quote] I remember reading that Billy Walters had a "gambling problem" (aka, he was a bad gambler and losing $) for a while, then educated himself and became a winner. Much of this involved blackjack in LEGAL casinos. How is this any different than someone who starts out losing money as a day trader, educates himself, improves his abilities and ends up becoming rich from trading in the stock market? [quote name="MSDOGS1976" url="/t/82928/phil-mickelson-reportedly-tied-to-money-laundering-gambling-case/18#post_1162539"]. But gambling is a big turn off for some and this will dim their view of him. Others......not so much.  [/quote] Sums it up pretty well. Lots of people know that Phil and others gamble- maybe it makes them seem more human and likable to some while others see them as sinners?

[ScouseJohnny]

I'd be surprised if he gets his $3M back though.

Well, that's the gamble he took, I guess.

[iacas]

Meh, so the guy loves to gamble. Not sure there's much to see here.

And yet, as others said, if it was Tiger…

Also, we don't know that there's not "much to see here." Was Phil aware of the money laundering? Are there tax implications? Why are people so quick to slough it off as nothing?

Maybe there's nothing more to it. I certainly don't care if Phil gambles. Good for him. So do I (on a much smaller scale I'm sure, and not nearly as often too, but still…).

But there may be more to it. Maybe not. It's speculation either way… which is why I find statements like the above which almost border on factual sounding to be odd.

Odds are we won't hear much more about this. Maybe there was more and we won't hear about it, maybe there's not (and we won't), maybe there is and we will. Don't know. Don't care to speculate.

[k-troop]

Well, that's the gamble he took, I guess.

I see what you did there.

[jetsknicks1]

And yet, as others said, if it was Tiger… Also, we don't know that there's not "much to see here." Was Phil aware of the money laundering? Are there tax implications? Why are people so quick to slough it off as nothing? Maybe there's nothing more to it. I certainly don't care if Phil gambles. Good for him. So do I (on a much smaller scale I'm sure, and not nearly as often too, but still…). But there may be more to it. Maybe not. It's speculation either way… which is why I find statements like the above which almost border on factual sounding to be odd. Odds are we won't hear much more about this. Maybe there was more and we won't hear about it, maybe there's not (and we won't), maybe there is and we will. Don't know. Don't care to speculate.

The article had nothing at all to do with tiger so I don't see how that's relevant. What part of my post was "factual sounding", was it where I typed "Not sure"?

[No Mulligans]

I'm guessing maybe Phil's has a huge gambling problem... It's well known that Phil wagers during practice rounds with other Tour pros... He's might not be as squeaky clean as he seems to be...

I've never seen anything that would indicate that Phil tries to hide that he likes to gamble.  I don't know why folks think he is squeaky clean... doesn't everyone know he's a big time gambler, maybe even to the level that he has a gambling problem?  This has been known for decades.

[Mop Bucket]

20 bucks ona 25:1 bunker hole out... that was a nice bet on phil's part.

But I guess this doesn't surprise me too much being that Phil is a pretty big sports nut but I never woulda guessed he'd get caught up in laundering.

[Mac62]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sg92

I'm guessing maybe Phil's has a huge gambling problem... It's well known that Phil wagers during practice rounds with other Tour pros... He's might not be as squeaky clean as he seems to be...

I've never seen anything that would indicate that Phil tries to hide that he likes to gamble.  I don't know why folks think he is squeaky clean... doesn't everyone know he's a big time gambler, maybe even to the level that he has a gambling problem?  This has been known for decades.

How are we defining "gambling problem"?  I think in the traditional sense, it means somebody who's gambling beyond their means and isn't able to pay bills/obligations, or is obsessed with gambling to the point that it's interfering with other aspects of their daily life.  I don't think we've seen any evidence of the latter, as he keeps busy with golf, charities and plenty of other things.  As to the former, Phil's estimated net worth is around $295 million as of this month (according to therichest.com) - he'd have to be hitting it pretty hard to interfere with his ability to pay the bills.  To a guy of his means, a $25K wager would maybe be the equivalent of most of us Joe Lunchbox golfers playing for dollar skins or a $5 Nassau.  $3M loss?  Most of us won't make that much in our lifetime - he probably didn't even miss it.  He's won 2 or 3 times that much in a single golf tournament before.  It would be far less significant to him than one of us wagering the equivalent of a single month's paycheck.

To me, the fact that he's betting is much ado about nothing, as long as there's no evidence that he's doing anything crooked like betting against himself and then intentionally tanking.  And yes, I'd feel the same if it was any other professional golfer, even one I didn't particularly like.  I'm not a gambler myself, but I don't have any moral opposition to legal wagering, regardless of who's doing it.