In this article, we’ve gathered some incredible stories of people who permanently marked their bodies with symbols of gambling, casinos, and luck. We’ll also highlight the most popular tattoos among players.
🀄️ Tattoos as Punishment
In China, during the Qin Dynasty (221−206 BC), gambling participants were marked with a special tattoo on their forehead. This was not a voluntary act — gamblers were branded as punishment. The tattoo served as a public mark of shame, allowing others to instantly recognize lawbreakers. Although this practice was later abolished, the fight against gambling continued.
💰 Forehead for Sale — As Ad Space
In 2005, American Caroline Smith made headlines after auctioning off her forehead for \$ 10,000 to advertise any company. Popular gambling website GoldenPalace.com purchased the space. Caroline went through with the tattoo despite her tattoo artists trying to talk her out of it — all for the future of her son.
🎭 Viktor Arkadyevich: Willing to Bet It All
Former chess teacher from Belarus, Viktor Arkadyevich, known by his nickname "Yoshkin-Matyroshkin," spent ten years gambling at betting shops and racked up major debts. Now, he gets tattoos in exchange for money to pay them off — for example, one tattoo earned him \$ 5,000. Still, he soon returned to betting, even selling his toilet for more gambling funds.
💊 Two Friends and Their Love for Betfred
In 2021, two friends from the UK — Rob Irwin and Jonathan White — got matching tattoos of the Betfred gambling company after winning £14,000. They celebrated their win in Tenerife and decided to commemorate their friendship with ink.
🚫 Stop-Tattoos for Gambling Addicts
On forums, you can find stories of people who use tattoos as reminders of the consequences of gambling and their fight against addiction.
In China, during the Qin Dynasty (221−206 BC), gambling participants were marked with a special tattoo on their forehead. This was not a voluntary act — gamblers were branded as punishment. The tattoo served as a public mark of shame, allowing others to instantly recognize lawbreakers. Although this practice was later abolished, the fight against gambling continued.
💰 Forehead for Sale — As Ad Space
In 2005, American Caroline Smith made headlines after auctioning off her forehead for \$ 10,000 to advertise any company. Popular gambling website GoldenPalace.com purchased the space. Caroline went through with the tattoo despite her tattoo artists trying to talk her out of it — all for the future of her son.
🎭 Viktor Arkadyevich: Willing to Bet It All
Former chess teacher from Belarus, Viktor Arkadyevich, known by his nickname "Yoshkin-Matyroshkin," spent ten years gambling at betting shops and racked up major debts. Now, he gets tattoos in exchange for money to pay them off — for example, one tattoo earned him \$ 5,000. Still, he soon returned to betting, even selling his toilet for more gambling funds.
💊 Two Friends and Their Love for Betfred
In 2021, two friends from the UK — Rob Irwin and Jonathan White — got matching tattoos of the Betfred gambling company after winning £14,000. They celebrated their win in Tenerife and decided to commemorate their friendship with ink.
🚫 Stop-Tattoos for Gambling Addicts
On forums, you can find stories of people who use tattoos as reminders of the consequences of gambling and their fight against addiction.