As an avid MMA enthusiast, many fight fans know of Dana White ‘s insatiable knack for gambling. His association with casino owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta thus initiates no surprise. Even color commentator, Joe Rogan had once deliberated on his gambling traits, which cost the UFC CEO $600,000. White also happens to maintain an amiable friendship with Steve Deleonardis of the NELK Boys, and the group as a whole. Before announcing key matchups via social media and IG Lives, White enjoys habitual escapades to resort casinos.
On such a scouting and gambling trip, he learned from the dealer that friend Deleonardis owed $10,000 to the house, just playing slots. Bewildered, the promotion’s taskmaster took a keen interest in Baccarat & Slots machines as a whole; footage of which has gone viral. The video shows Deleonardis (of @stevewilldoit fame) and Taylor Lewan amassing up to $43,000 on the plus, while White looks on.
Despite a penchant for high-stakes gambling, the self-proclaimed “degenerate” White cares for his friend. So much so that he and Lewan once helped Deleonardis recover from a $300,000 loss at a casino. White is the proud recipient of the Palms Casino Undisputed Blackjack Championship Belt. However, as the footage indicates, he does not know it all yet.
Playing slots in Vegas with Dana White and @itsvegasmatt pic.twitter.com/xjaPrKOW2y
— Steve Will Do It (@stevewilldoit) February 19, 2024
The promotion’s taskmaster had quite a week. From his UFC 300 announcement headlined by Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill getting scorched. To him walking out of Howie Mandel‘s podcast; and ‘Money’ Renato Moicano challenging him on another podcast appearance. But by far, his bewildered amazement at the complexities of slots takes the cake.
UFC CEO and top honcho, Dana White has gone viral for a lot of reasons. From controversial lawsuits to scuffles with other fighters to expensive buyout plans. But his gambling tales are a whole lot more pronounced. Instances like Steve Deleonardis trying to win $1,000,000 to clear White’s debts are quite a famed affair.
Deleonardis, better known as SteveWillDoIt, and his partner, Taylor Lewan, once gifted White with $500,000 chips. This, alongside White winning big, has piqued public attention many times.
Steve Will Do It and Taylor Lewan give Dana White $500K. pic.twitter.com/DEocIiop00
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 20, 2023
Dana White – Blackjack
— Punter’s Influence (@Punterinfluence) September 10, 2022
Dana White has won as much as 7 million dollars at one time playing blackjack and is so good that he gets banned from Las Vegas Casinos ⬇️#Gambling #DanaWhite #Blackjack https://t.co/b4uu6iNS86
White going big on headline-grabbing bets is a common affair. Concurrently, his out-braving “Sin City” for his son’s 21st birthday during UFC 275 had fight fans in a frenzy for a while. While fighters were still getting paid $10,000 per fight, along with compliance pay, White once told ESPN Sports Betting about losing out a sum of $1 million. This was for a boxing bout between Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik .
White also lost $15k on Tom Brady during a charity golf match.
Only @TomBrady could get me to bet on and watch GOLF!! Tune in at 3pm ET on TNT. Let’s kick some ASS @TomBrady & @PhilMickelson pic.twitter.com/o3VtDrKxh8
— danawhite (@danawhite) May 24, 2020
During a sitdown with The Pat McAfee Show, White once ripped off public sentiments after a $250K Nelk Boy birthday present saw high criticism. Safe to say, White likes to go big. Hardly surprising for the helmsman of the most successful combat sports promotion in the world.
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