It’s very common to see actors in Hollywood movies playing the part of big-time casino players. Often seen playing roulette, blackjack, or even poker but are they actually interested in gambling in real life? The answer might surprise you. Many celebrities love casinos and gambling and can spend thousands of dollars on a single game.
This article will discuss some celebrities that love casinos and gambling.
Celebrities That Love Gambling
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest ever basketball player, has a fond love for gambling and casinos. He enjoyed playing craps and poker and boasted about significant winnings, although that didn’t mean he never lost.
There were rumours circulating about Michael Jordan betting on sports, which opened up an investigation conducted by the NBA. Many people believe this investigation is one of the reasons that the star player retired after winning 3 championships in a row. However, it should be noted that these investigations cleared him in the long run.
2. Matt Damon
Matt Damon is one of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities and is a professional poker and blackjack player. His passion for gambling started when he was cast for the movie “Rounders.” To get a feel for the role, Matt Damon started learning poker from Johnny Chan, a professional poker player. He learned all about the game, which helped spark his passion for gambling.
Damon participates in various tournaments and has even competed with fellow celebrities like Edward Norton in the World Series of Poker tournaments.
3. John Daly
John Daly is a professional golfer, who has won many tournaments and continues to play despite the health challenges he has faced over the years. John Daly is also known as a big gambler, however, not a very successful one. He has gambled away reportedly around $90 million in his lifetime. This might explain why he only has a net worth of about $2 million, despite a very successful career as a golfer.
4. Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire is a professional actor, best known for his role in Spider-Man. He is known to be good friends with fellow actor, and casino lover Matt Damon. Tobey started playing professional poker in 2004 and has participated in several World Series of Poker Main Event Championships. He was actually trained by a poker legend, Canadian Daniel Negreanu, known to be one of the best poker players in the world.
5. Brad Pitt
Another celebrity that loves casinos and gambling is Brad Pitt. Like Matt Damon, his passion for gambling also started when he starred in a movie – Ocean’s 11. As it turns out, the actor likes to play poker and blackjack. He also frequently visits casinos to enjoy slot machines and plays online slots as well. His love for gambling comes from the excitement when he is playing, and according to him, he will continue to play for as long as possible.
6. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck is not only an award-winning celebrity but also a professional poker player. Looks like somebody has been using their acting skills for good – who better than an actor to have a convincing poker face? Ben Affleck has been tutored by two professional poker players, Annie Duke and Amir Vahedi. He has also won a few tournaments, and his most significant win was around $800,000.
7. Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer tilly is not only known for her comedic timing and classic roles in Hollywood movies but also as a professional poker player. The actress’s father was a gambler and a poker player, and ever since her youth, Jennifer has been interested in gambling and was taught the actual game by her boyfriend when she moved to Hollywood.
Since then, Jennifer has been the first celebrity to win a world series tournament, the World Series of Poker Ladies’ Event. She also won the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament in 2005. As of 2019, her poker winnings have exceeded $1 million.
8. 50 Cent
Another famous personality that loves gambling is 50 Cent. Not only does he have a free hand when it comes to placing bets, but he also has a massive fortune to back him up, so you don’t want to play against him. Reportedly, 50 Cent placed a bet of up to $500,000 against the San Francisco 49ers in a match against the New York Giants; and he won.
9. Paris Hilton
Another female to grace this list of celebrities who love casinos and gambling is Paris Hilton. The socialite frequently visits Las Vegas casinos and has reportedly won $30,000 on a single night of gambling. Aside from casinos, she also enjoys playing online anonymously.
10. Charles Barkley
When it comes to basketball players that love gambling, Charles Barkley needs to be mentioned. The former player loves casinos and frequently visits Las Vegas for this purpose. According to Charles, he has spent over $10 million on casino gambling after he retired from basketball.
Final Thoughts
Be it celebrities, sports players, or us regular mortals, the thrill and exhilaration you get when gambling cannot be found anywhere else. This is why this habit has surpassed generations and cultures. Aside from the ones mentioned in this list, many celebrities love gambling and frequently visit casinos or play anonymously online.