Ex-Arsenal ace Nicklas Bendtner lost £400k in night at casino as he admits gambling woes

The Danish striker admitted to chasing highs through gambling during his playing career which culminated in a single night nearly costing him hundreds of thousands

Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner revealed how a disastrous night at a casino in 2011 saw him lose £400k at one point.

Nicknamed ‘Lord Bendtner’ by fans due to ties with the Danish royal family and his extravagant lifestyle, the Dane enjoyed a controversial lifestyle both on and off the pitch during his playing days.

Bendtner recalled a catastrophic night in 2011 where feeling low from injury drove him to copious drinking which resulted in a visit to the casino.

The Dane confessed that he chased thrills through gambling large amounts of money and ended up in an eye-opening experience which put him off forever.

Speaking to The Athletic, Bendtner said: “When I would drink, I would drink .

“That one particular night, for sure, I was injured in a difficult space and I was chasing that high from the pitch in the casino.

“But it taught me a valuable lesson, being down £400k and ending up losing £20k, and it actually stopped me gambling from that day on. It helped me put things in perspective.

“[Whether the numbers meant anything to him?] No, it meant a lot. A lot. But the stakes at the casino, if I was playing for 20 quid, in my situation back then, it gave me nothing.

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"If I was gambling for a thousand, it gave me a little bit… and so on and so on.

“The higher the stakes, the higher the adrenaline rush and the higher the kick. And that’s why the stakes became so big."

The 33-year-old announced his retirement this week, ending his career with Tarnby FF's M+32 Old Boys team after 16-years in the professional game.

Bendtner is now looking for a career in coaching after putting his playing days behind him.