Casino games have intrigued people for decades, and sooner or later most people looking for a new way of fun decide to give gambling a try. And the same goes for celebrities. There are many popular models, athletes, actors, and others who like to spend time at lavish casinos.
Some of these celebrities actually like to play casino games so much that sometimes they even end up in tabloids. And for some of them, this is only a favorite way to let off the steam a little bit. Below you can find a list of celebrities that are famous for their gambling.
Michael Jordan
Even though many sports fans are unaware of this fact, Michael Jordan is an avid gambler who likes to place bets on almost anything. Unlike most of the celebrities who place bets only within the “four walls” of a casino, Jordan likes to challenge people for a bet in everyday situations like who’s going to be the next NBA champion or even on games like rock, paper, and scissors. Next to being a professional basketball player and an amazing golfer, Michael Jordan is a successful businessman. Therefore, with so much money at his disposal, Jordan only makes high-stakes wagers. Even while playing important games like the Olympics in Barcelona, Jordan was known for staying awake until the morning to play poker among friends.
Ben Affleck
Some of you might know him from the latest Batman movies. And to others, he’s the current love interest of J-Lo (for the second time). But other than being a famous actor and director, Ben Affleck is also a huge gambling fan. And to make things even more interesting, he’s pretty good at it. Affleck’s favorite casino game is blackjack, and he managed to win over $800,000 in 2001 in a blackjack game. Also, he participated in a poker championship in 2004 and won over $300.000.
Matt Damon
Those who follow the Hollywood scene, already know that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are in a way besties. These two actors like to spend time together, so it is understandable that they share many interests. One of them being casino games. Matt Damon is known to be not good, but an excellent blackjack player. Matt’s journey to becoming such a skilled gambler is a unique one. As the story goes, Damon was preparing for a role in the movie “Rounders”, and in order to prepare in the best possible way, he took lessons with Johnny Chan. The professional poker player taught Damon many tricks, and according to Damon’s current skills, everything points to the fact that Chan is truly an excellent teacher.
Charles Barkley
All gambling fans who enjoy visiting any online sportsbook in Colorado with the best odds have heard of Charles Barkley. The popular NBA basketball star is also a regular at some of the most luxurious brick-and-mortar casinos in Las Vegas. And unlike many of the celebrities that are basically professional at some games, Barkley does it simply for fun. He hasn’t had much luck so far, but he keeps on visiting different casinos where he can relax and enjoy his favorite games.
Paris Hilton
When you are as rich as Paris Hilton you look for many different ways to have fun and possibly earn money along the way. Paris is known for visiting some of the most exclusive Las Vegas gambling locations. However, many gamblers around the world don’t take her seriously since they see her as someone who likes to spend money, and not as someone particularly skilled.
Brad Pitt
You don’t have to be a movie fan to know who Brad Pitt is. This Hollywood superstar has been in some of the most epic movies like Fight Club, Meet Joe Black, Troy, and many others. However, a great number of his loyal fans don’t know that Pitt also enjoys an occasional trip to a nearby casino. Brad discovered how much he enjoys playing casino games while he was preparing for the movie Ocean 11. Ever since the filming of this movie, Brad Pitt has been known to relax over poker or blackjack. The funny thing is that he has never played a single casino game before he landed this role.
50 Cent
There are two things you need to know about 50 Cent. First, he’s one of the best rappers in the world. And second, he’s equally good at playing casino games. Additionally, when he bets, he never does it low-key. According to some stories, 50 Cent placed a bet of 2 million dollars. And the best part is that he won. We can’t be sure if it’s luck or skills, but 50 Cents is a great bettor and most of his opponents know it.
George Clooney
If Brad Pitt had to take casino games lessons, imagine how much preparation had to have had the man preparing for the lead role, or Danny Ocean himself. George Clooney is a man of many talents. Other than being an amazing actor, he’s also committed to many charities and other valuable organizations that help the planet and the people. But he is also a great fan of gambling. Unlike Pitt, who has never played before the movie Oceans 11, Clooney had been a dedicated gambler even before the shooting of the movie began. His passion for gambling was obvious when he announced that he’s going to build his own casino in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, that project was unsuccessful so Clooney had to come to terms with being only a visitor of different casino establishments and not the owner.
Tobey Maguire
Last but not least on our list is none other than Mr. Spiderman himself. Tobey Maguire has been known to play poker against Ben Affleck in poker tournaments. In 2004, he won a casino tournament in Hollywood, where he proved that he’s a great poker player. Fortunately for his confidence, this victory came at a perfect time, since earlier that year he lost an important event from Affleck.