The stars are known for loving their entertainment. From fancy restaurants, to big shows, to the best clubs around the world — those who live (and work) as celebrities need to take time off and enjoy the best enjoyment opportunities there is to offer. This, of course, includes gambling — especially when it comes to the most exciting holiday gambling experiences like Las Vegas; home to luxury casinos, dining and shows.
Many stars — whether that’s athletes, actors and musicians — throughout the years have taken up casino games as a favourite hobby in their off time. But who are the top casino fans and why do they love it so much? Here are some of the best at their game.
Tobey Maguire
The Spiderman actor has been a regular A-lister over the years; but he’s also a gambling aficionado. Referenced in the hit poker film Molly’s Game, Maguire has been known to frequent the tables in Las Vegas and around the world, playing some high stakes games. Apparently, he’s great at poker. Although he’s yet to hit a celebrity poker match. Who knows; he might be next on the table!
Michael Jordan
Basketball legend Michael Jordan is known as a star on the courts; but he’s also a huge fan of gambling. And it’s not just casino games. Rumour has it that the illustrious player has known to bet as much as $100,000 on a game of rock, paper, scissors. Not your average casino game, but it just goes to show how much he enjoys a gamble. He’s bet copious amount during his own golf games, too — reportedly betting $300,000 on a single put as told by NBA legend Charles Barkley. There are several unverified stories that include him staying up till six in the morning during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics playing poker with teammates; and other conspiracy theories involve him betting on his luggage arriving first at the carousel and losing millions in a single night of poker. Whether they’re true or not is unknown. But it’s safe to say he’s definitely a gambling man.
Tiger Woods
Golf-star Tiger Woods is one of the best at his game — but he’s also a fan of casino games. He frequently plays blackjack at some of the top spots in the world and with a reported net worth of $600 million, it’s no surprise that he’s placed some big bets over the years while at the table.
Ben Affleck
Hollywood A-Lister Ben Affleck is known to be an avid poker player. He’s also known to love a game of Blackjack and has been famous for tipping casino employees highly. He’s been seen around the hotspots of Las Vegas — and reportedly once raked in $1 million over two trips. He’s also known to host his own games with other top celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Tobey McGuire.
Ben Affleck is known for his love of card games when gambling, playing games such as Poker and Blackjack.
Pamela Anderson
Most famous for her role in Baywatch, Pamela Anderson is Canadian actress who was married to professional poker player Rick Salomon. She already had a great passion for poker under her belt, but their relationship seems to have kicked it up a notch. She’s been seeing playing at the top casinos in Las Vegas and enjoys poker more than any of the other games.
Matt Damon
He was made famous by one of the top poker films of all time — but as it turns out, Matt Damon is a fan in real life. The star of Rounders, Damon actually practiced gambling in real life to prepare for his breakout role. He’s been known to play games out with Ben Affleck and Tobey Maguire. He’s reportedly a big fan of Texas Hold’em; but as he’s not played any celebrity poker matches, it remains to be seen whether he’s any good outside playing a star poker player.
The celebrity influence
It’s safe to say that celebrities influence their fans. And for those who see their favourite stars playing games like poker and blackjack in casino hotspots like Las Vegas, it can be a real inspiration to try out a game or go visit the same locations. But these places aren’t always so accessible. The innovations in technology have allowed more people around the world to experience live casino games — and even have the chance to win big — on some of the most exciting games available. For fans of Rounders, for example, poker may be a new but alluring game. But going to a casino, and playing at a table, can be intimidating. This explains so much of the growth in online casino games over the years. If you can try out new games online, and through learning, eventually get some opportunities to win, then there’s less of a need to visit land-based casinos. And with new advancements in technology around virtual and augmented reality — it may be that you can enjoy so many of the atmospheric elements of casino games from your own home.
The influence of celebrities and the advancements in technology have contributed to online casinos growth.
The future of gambling
As long as the stars love to gamble, so will their fans. Casinos are a natural place for celebrities to frequent — the entertainment experience, and opportunity to get away from their busy lives — is a big draw. People will always be influenced by their favourite actors, athletes and musicians; and now, they can experience a version of the celebrity lifestyle through online casinos and the exciting games they offer.
