The world champion Phil Taylor has proven that the skill of playing darts has no limits. Read along to learn all about Phil Taylor’s success, and feel free to use the navigation bar below to jump to a relevant section in the blog post.

Phil Taylor’s Early Life – The Rise of a Champion

Before Phil Douglas Taylor became a world champion in darts, he was living with his family in the small town of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, leaving school at just 16 years of age. He spent most of his early years making ceramic toilet roll handles, earning just £52 a week.

He always had an interest in sports, specifically the game of darts. He loved playing it casually, and eventually, he was able to move to a house in Burslem that was very close to the Crafty Cockney pub, owned by Eric Bristow.

He was gifted a set of darts for his birthday in 1986 by his wife Yvonne, and that’s when he started taking this hobby of his seriously. Eventually, he started playing the game at Bristow’s pub, and everyone saw he was way ahead of his opponents. Bristow saw potential in Phil and would later become his mentor.

Eric started sponsoring Taylor and loaned him £10,000 to help kick-start his career as a professional darts player. This loan also helped Phil Taylor support his family. He then stopped working in the ceramic industry and spawned the start of an immensely successful professional career in darts, beginning in 1987.

Phil got his iconic nickname ‘The Power’ and ended up dominating the game, winning 85 titles and records in 16 World Championships. As he is now retired, people can’t bet on him on the best darts betting sites in the UK anymore, but he will truly be remembered as a champion.

The Beginning of Phil’s Success

Phil’s initial career years had a rough start, but he was able to pull through. Taylor and Bristow travelled to Las Vegas in 1987, and this marked the beginning of Phil Taylor’s darts career.

Phil was beaten in the first round in the North American Open, showing that he needed some time to earn recognition. But his first career title didn’t take too long. He won the Canadian Open in 1988, where he defeated the then-world champion Bob Anderson in the final.

Moving on to his next event, the British Open and the semi-final of the Winmau World Masters in 1989, Taylor would earn his first World Champion qualification. His participation in the Open events gave him a head start, but his win in 1990, as a 125-1 unseeded outsider, made him stand out.

From there, Taylor would win several more events up until 1993, when he became the landlord at the Cricketers Army in Newcastle-under-Lyme. From 1994 onwards, Phil Taylor’s darts career would move to the PDC and BDO World Championships, which we’ll discuss next in the blog post.

BDO and PDC – Phil Taylor’s Professional Ascent

The only available professional darts body at the time of Phil’s career start was the BDO World Championship. This was the time when Taylor beat his mentor Eric Bristow in 1990. We mentioned the Open Tournaments that followed, and we’ll delve into the following events of Phil Taylor’s darts career.

Up until 1993, the rising star Phil played in competitions organised by the BDO, along with other founding players of the then-called WDC in the well-documented split in professional darts. Then, in 1994, Phil lost the final to Priestley in the PDC, marking the first and last loss for Taylor in the darts’ premier competition.

From 2004 up until 2006, Phil Taylor’s world titles only grew in numbers, but this was the time when he met his real challenger, Raymond van Barneveld. However, this did not stop Phil, as he gave a stunning performance, beating him in 2007.

2008 was the year Taylor failed to claim the PDC World Championship, and then in 2009, he was able to regain it. The list below will give you a timeline of some of the Phil Taylor darts wins in the BDO and PDC:

BDO Major Finals:

PDC Major Finals:

These are just some of the Phil Taylor darts wins. As you can see from the data above, the darts champion was very active throughout his time and has proven to be worthy of the Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor nickname.

Phil Taylor’s World Titles, Achievements and Winnings

In total, Phil has won over 85 tournaments and many awards. The champion truly proved he’s the best. In total, Phil Taylor’s career earnings sum up to £7.1 million, which is a staggering amount.

It’s hard to pick which win is the one that stands out the most, but we can surely say that Phil is arguably the best darts player of all time. Nevertheless, as seen in the markets and advertisements of the best betting sites for UK players, other legendary players also deserve recognition.

Phil has aired on national British television multiple times, having over 10 televised appearances. By the end of his career in 2018, he had won matches against the world’s most skilled rivals – Dennis Priestley, John Part, Raymond Van Barneveld, and many more.

Phil Taylor’s Net Worth and Current Life

Phil Taylor’s net worth totals up to over £8,000,000. This has been accumulated throughout his very active darts career. For the time period of 1995 to 2002, Phil won eight consecutive World Championships and many more afterwards. The table below will give you insight into his progress.

It goes without saying that Phil succeeded in cementing himself in darts’ history. In our opinion, his accumulated net worth is entirely deserved. After the 2018 World Championship, Taylor announced his retirement.

In 2022, he made a comeback and participated in the 2022 World Series Darts Championship, but he lost in the quarter-finals. We don’t know if we will ever see him again play professional darts, but any appearance of him in the future will surely be inspiring to all people who love the game of darts.

Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor – The Retirement of a King

It’s time to give you our thoughts on Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, the ultimate world darts champion. Starting as a regular English worker, Taylor climbed up the ranks with pure skill and talent. He will most definitely be remembered as the greatest darts player of all time, and with good reason.

To say he nailed the darts game would be an understatement. Winning over 85 tournaments and setting several World Championship records, he deserves his iconic nickname. Even though Phil retired, we will never forget his immeasurable success. The darts industry moves forward, awaiting its next rising star.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the section below, you’ll find quick answers to the segments discussed in the blog. We covered a lot, and the most common inquiries are below – you can click on the links that will take you to the relevant section of the blog post.

On Tuesday August 29th 2023, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) formally announced that it “…has updated the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming to prohibit the use of athletes in internet gaming (igaming) advertising and marketing in Ontario.”

The statement outlined other expected changes as well, citing “…the standards have also been strengthened to restrict the use of celebrities who would likely be expected to appeal to minors.”

In fact, the AGCO has also extended this ruling to cartoon figures, celebrities, entertainers, role models, social media influencers, and other symbols. The rules also apply to ads for online casinos in Ontario.

How will these changes affect sports fans? Read on to learn more about what this could mean for everyone who enjoys watching sports.

When Will These Changes Take Effect and How Did They Come To Be?

As of now, the new restrictions are tentatively set to begin on Wednesday February 28th, 2024. But how did these restrictions successfully transpire?

Throughout April 2023, the AGCO consulted with multiple stakeholders regarding its proposal for the ban including gaming experts and mental-health groups. This came exactly one year after the official launch of single-event sports betting (April 4th, 2022).

The initial charge was led by a number of concerned parties including politicians, parents of minors, and a group called ‘The Campaign to Ban Gambling Advertising’. The latter group is led by former Toronto mayor John Sewell and Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) board member Karl Subban.

Subban’s experience with both sports and children make him the perfect leader for this initiative. “A lot of the marketing is focusing on grabbing the attention of the most vulnerable, the youngest of our population,” Subban explained during an interview with CBC Toronto. As a school principal and a hockey coach with three sons who all went on to become professional hockey players, his words carry weight.

On the other side of the ledger, one of the biggest political advocates for these changes is Canadian senator Martha (‘Marty’) Deacon. On Tuesday June 20th, 2023, Deacon introduced Bill S-269 in the Senate in hopes to forming a national framework surrounding the regulation of sports betting advertising.

In an interview with CBC, Deacon stated very similar reasoning to Subban in regards to the dangers of sports betting ads without limits. She re-iterated that sports betting ads are often “very attractive, and addictive, and sensational.” Vivid colour schemes, coupled with famous faces, are a deadly combination when it comes to enticing the young and vulnerable.

Movement on Bill S-269 has been slow since June’s first chamber sitting. That being said, things are still moving in a positive direction as the first reading is complete and the second reading is in progress.

Who Are These Ads Hurting the Most?

As touched on above, sports betting ads are most effective on young and vulnerable people – such as gambling addicts and children. “They catch the attention of young people,” Subban told CBC Toronto during an interview. “It’s a powerful way of marketing to them, which we know can have a harmful effect on young people.”

Unsurprisingly, Subban is far from the only concerned parent. In fact, Deacon has heard from several parents around the province who are worried sick about their children. “I have parents who are sending me distressing messages.” Deacon stated during an interview with CBC.

Sports betting operators will actually still be allowed to use celebrities during ads under one condition: for the exclusive purpose of advocating for responsible gambling practices. Millions of dollars are spent on sports betting advertisements each year, and the Canadian betting sites themselves must also take some social responsibility.

Canada already has laws in place limiting alcohol and tobacco ads. Passing legislation for sports betting ads can be done in a very similar way, and should have a very positive effect on curbing the appeal and mitigating those who are at-risk.

What Does This Means for Sports Betting Ads in Ontario Going Forward?

In short, some of the most well-known and frequently played sports betting ads will have to be gone by Wednesday February 28th, 2024.

Examples of this include popular BetMGM commercials featuring the likes of hockey superstars Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid. Other famous athletes and celebrities such as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews as well as actors Aaron Paul and Mike Smith have made frequent appearances in ads of this nature.

These upcoming restrictions are a step in the right direction, but far from the end. In addition to Deacon and Subban, several others are calling for even more action including a national ban on sports betting ads altogether.

Shortly after the AGCO announcement, the Ontario NDP released a statement citing that “Health professionals have been sounding the alarm about the impact that online gambling advertising is having on people, especially on youth. Today’s news is welcome — now we need to follow the advice of experts and keep pushing for more.”

With so many supporters advocating for change, the sky’s the limit in terms of future sports betting ad bans.

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