Before the internet came to be and new casinos started becoming available on the web, the entire casino business was catering to the rich and famous. Even today, celebrities of our time are often found in gambling establishments, be it in a brick-and-mortar establishment, or on their smartphones and tablets. In fact, actors are found to be the most common celebs who are interested in trying out their luck, even though they may not always be the richest patrons.
If you have ever wondered why actors love to gamble, then you are not the only one. Several psychological research projects and surveys have been conducted on the matter, so we do have some answers to discuss. Before we do that though, let’s first take a look at some of the most prolific actors for context, who really enjoy or have enjoyed gambling.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck’s Batman may not have been a hit with the fans, but his prowess as an actor was proven long before he decided to put on the cape. In fact, his acting prowess is not the only thing that he is famous for. For example, Affleck is a major poker enthusiast who often participates in national and international competitions, as well as in exclusive, high roller events. The interesting bit is that the actor has managed to win over 1 million US dollars from those poker matches, which says at least something about his poker skills!
Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire has become synonymous with his role as Spiderman, and many believe it to be the reason behind his career’s eventual downfall. However, those that closely follow films already know that his talent as an actor became more evident in the film Seabiscuit (2003). It’s an entire non-fictional movie about jockeys, horse racing, bets, and more, but horse races are not where Tobey Maguire’s interests lie. Just like Ben Affleck, Tobey is also interested in poker, as has been made obvious over the years. Unfortunately for him, Ben Affleck has him beat in card games as well! Whether the poker debt was ever paid is a secret, but Maguire did owe some serious money to Affleck back in 2004.
Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth and her gambling ties to the world of poker go back to her original American Pie days. Unlike most other actors and actresses though, Elizabeth has mastered the craft. It is an official fact that Shannon Elizabeth has played poker as a professional, and not just for a hobby. She participated in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, won the Nicky Hilton New Year’s Eve Poker Tournament, and overall cashed in twelve high-profile tournaments. Shannon Elizabeth even made it to the semi-finals of the 2007 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. As far as gambling skills are concerned, she tops any other actor on any list so far.
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt is one of those actors who has successfully broken more stereotypes than film buffs can count. Unlike most other action movie leads, Brad Pitt is an extremely versatile actor who successfully pulled off almost every role that he accepted. Brad’s interests in gambling are just as diverse as his roles have been throughout the decades.
Brad Pitt enjoys slot games in particular, but he is also quite an expert in blackjack and poker as well. It is said that both George Clooney and Brad Pitt picked up a liking for slots and card games while working on Ocean’s 11. Although not much is known about Pitt’s success or lack of it, he is often found in old and new casinos alike even today.
Why Do Actors Like Gambling So Much?
These were just a few of the many examples which could be put on this list, but is there a single unifying factor that attracts them all to casinos? As it turns out, there are quite a few.
Natural and Habitual Risk-Takers
The element of risk and chance always play a critical role in determining how successful an actor becomes in their career. Hollywood is an extremely demanding and competitive field of work. From securing the first role, to taking on new challenges; risk-taking is an inevitable and essential part of not just becoming a successful actor, but of also staying on that path of success for a long enough time. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why betting would appeal to someone who has taken similar chances and won before.
Discretion Offered by Technology
There is another major practical factor that has played a huge role lately. This would be the discretion technology offers today via computers and smartphones. Earlier, it would instantly become news if a member of the media saw, or even came to know about a famous actor visiting any gambling establishment. This posed a risk to their privacy, security, and peace of mind.
Thanks to the advent of technology, celebrities and commoners alike can participate in their favorite gambling activities in complete discretion today. If you are interested in taking advantage of the internet and exploring a few new casinos anytime soon, it’s worth looking for new casinos here in this post by Online Casinos first. They do not allow listings of unregulated or unlicensed establishments, which cuts out the danger aspect which is often associated with shady and/or unregistered new casinos.
The Thrill
Actors know that success without a chance of failure is a myth, which is precisely why they are attracted to the very concept of gambling. All successful names in the industry learned from their failures, and perfected their art over the years, so it is only natural for them to see a similar challenge in the very act of gambling.
Similar trends are also noted among business tycoons, corporate leaders, and other successful people as well. They are already rich and famous, so it is the thrill that they seek, much more than the money itself. In other words, they love challenges, and especially the thrill of winning those challenges.