Celebrities live fascinating lives that we wish we could experience.
From buying luxurious cars to staying in lavish mansions to going on exotic vacations - there are millions of fans who wish to walk in celebrity shoes for a bit. After all, a celebrity enjoys several privileges that an average man can only dream of!
And one of the distinctions that set any celebrity apart from their fan is the ability to gamble, offline or online. But most of them prefer taking the online route.
So let’s start by taking a closer look at online gambling, followed by a list of celebrities who are known to love gambling.
Online Gambling Is Trending
Gone are the days when people had to go to a casino physically to place bets and try to win big! With the advent of technology, gambling has slowly but steadily made its way to our mobile and computer screens.
Most people prefer online gambling as it saves the cost and effort of going to a casino. While most celebrities can easily afford to go to the most extravagant casinos all over the world, they usually don’t have that kind of time.
It is safe to say that online gambling is the new trend, even among celebrities. This page lists the options of the best online gambling sites you need to check out.
While there are some legitimate ways to ensure your money is safe online, you should beware of these common online security myths.
Celebrities Who Love to Gamble
From Hollywood superstars to sportspersons to artists, celebrities from all walks of life have dabbled in casino games. Some do it occasionally, while others are addicted to it.
Without further ado, let’s see which celebrities love to test their luck in gambling.
1. Ben Affleck
Love him or hate him as Batman, you cannot deny that Ben Affleck is one of the most celebrities in Hollywood today. And he has a long history of gambling. In 2001, he went into rehab to get rid of his gambling addiction, after he lost thousands of dollars on poker.
Ben loved playing poker and blackjack and often gave generous tips to casino employees.
2. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is one of the most successful golfers of all time and also one of the most controversial. His rollercoaster life has been all over the news. But with a net worth of over 600 million dollars, it should come as no surprise that Tiger got into playing blackjack.
3. Tobey Maguire
The third spot on this list goes to the original web-slinger, Tobey Maguire. The first actor to play Spider-Man on the big screen participated in an illegal gambling ring a few years ago. In that ring, Maguire participated in high-stakes poker with other players from Hollywood.
4. Derren Brown
Marvel’s Avengers aren’t the only ones who beat the odds of 14 million to one! England’s famous magician, Derren Brown, defied the same odds when we correctly guessed the results of the National Lottery.
Before making a name for himself as a magician, Derren was a successful blackjack player. He was so good that he was eventually banned from all the casinos in England.
5. Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson is one of those celebrities who rose to stardom with controversies. And if rumors are to be believed, the Baywatch actress married Rick Salomon (a pro at poker) after losing a bet against him.
Pamela is known to enjoy poker games more than any other casino game.
6. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
If you have “Money” in your name, gambling is not a big deal for you. Ask Floyd “Money” Mayweather, and he will say so!
If you are a Floyd fan, you know that he is anything but subtle. He loves to boast and show off, and that’s the kind of gambler he is too. Mayweather has placed huge bets on sports events.
7. Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen, one of the most famous names in showbiz, used to be actively involved in sports betting. If media reports are accurate, Sheen was placing a bet over the phone while on the way to the hospital for the birth of his child with ex-wife Denise Richards.
Charlie Sheen has reportedly spent enormous amounts of money on gambling.
8. John Daly
Not all celebrities who venture into gambling end up making money from it. While most of the stars we have included in this list were somewhat successful in betting, John Daly certainly wasn’t!
The golf player loved playing blackjack and lost a reported $65 million.
9. Matt Damon
Matt Damon is another Hollywood actor who has tried his luck in gambling. To prepare for his role in the movie “Rounders,” in which he plays Mike McDermott, he spent a massive amount of money on gambling.
Rounders explored the world of high-stakes poker, and Matt did complete justice to his role.
10. Shannon Elizabeth
You most likely remember Shannon Elizabeth as Nadia from the hit series “American Pie.” But that’s not the only thing Shannon was good at. After her acting career peaked, she learned how to play poker and got very good at it.
Shannon has participated in several poker tournaments in Las Vegas Valley.
11. Ray Romano
Ray Romano is an extremely popular actor and stand-up comedian. He is best known for his role in “Everybody Loves Raymond.” But a lot of people don’t know that Romano is also a very successful poker player.
Romano has participated in the World Series of Poker multiple times.
12. 50 Cent
50 Cent is one of the most famous names in the Hip Hop genre. He has been known to have a thing for gambling, especially on sporting events. In fact, it is believed that he placed a whopping $2 million bet on a Floyd Mayweather fight.
Summing It Up
Our list of a dozen gambling celebrities does not contain your favorite? Here is a list of some more celebrities who love gambling. Gambling is, in essence, ideally suited for the rich and famous. So, stars indulging in gambling is a no-brainer, really.
But unlike your favorite celebrities who gamble online, you cannot afford to have your hard-earned money stolen. As such, it makes sense for you to educate yourself about the different kinds of online gambling theft prevalent today.
Till next time!