Casinos are often known as places with an aura and element of classiness. Well, the luxury ones are, or the ones in the big cities; there are certainly casinos out there that are rougher around the edges.
Casino games are not specific to one demographic though as plenty of celebrities enjoy playing casino games like you and I do. Many celebrities visit physical locations, renting out a room for themselves or their friend group.
Some celebrities also check out online casino platforms; several professional poker players have sharpened their skills in digital rooms. Promotions and marketing are a big part of the casino industry.
While celebrities might not be too interested in the available offers, there’s a significant market for celebs looking to play online to play in peace. When playing online, they’re not getting hounded for photographs. If they want to save a bit of cash, they might sign up for some of the available new customer offers.
If you have frequented Vegas during a big event, such as a music concert, a big UFC match or a boxing night, you’ll likely encounter a celebrity or two on the casino floor. Here are some of the top celebrity gamers and their favorite casino games:
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck has been spotted in several luxury casinos over the last two decades. While he is a figure who doesn’t particularly like the limelight and is reserved in interviews, he has been known to become quite animated when playing casino games. Ben’s game of choice is blackjack, and while he would probably benefit from having a private room in a casino, he’s often spotted playing at standard tables alongside regular punters.
The Argo director has also entered several poker tournaments, enlisting some of the biggest names in the acting industry to help bolster his tournaments and fundraising campaigns, aiming to generate funds for charity.
The Hollywood icon and writer who shot to global fame when he wrote Good Will Hunting with his close friend Matt Damon, who also has a penchant for poker, was allegedly kicked out of a casino for card counting. This complex method is frowned upon by all casinos, but it is not considered illegal.
For Ben, it’s probably a toss-up between blackjack and poker for his favorite game. He has experienced success playing both over the years and has a broad love for gambling on a much grander scale.
Michael Jordan
Celebrities don’t get much bigger than MJ. Michael Jordan is a name that represented American sports in the 1990s. He was the first man to become a billionaire sportsman in the early 2000s and has since become part of the Forbes 400. Jordan’s dedication to his craft and the desire to win any competition culminated in a love for betting and competition.
Jordan was known for placing bets with his teammates and playing aggressive late-night poker with his colossal bankroll. He has been spotted at several of the top casinos worldwide.
Sources vary about which game Jordan prefers the most. He has been spotted at several blackjack and poker tables and has spoken of his love for these card games. One thing is for sure though, few basketball stars or American sporting figures have the same penchant for gambling that MJ does.
Jennifer Tilly
As one of the most recognizable faces in poker, Jennifer Tilly has starred in several hit movies and TV shows over the last 30 years. The Oscar-nominated actress pivoted her career focus to poker in the mid-2000s. She has played in the World Series of Poker, won several high-profile tournaments and continues to play at poker tables and tournaments worldwide.
Jennifer’s favorite casino game is clearly poker, considering she has turned it into her full-time job. Various sources state that she has netted a six-figure return throughout her poker career, which is not bad for somebody who started as an actress with a poker hobby.
Matt Damon
Many people consider Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to be the same package. They grew up together, shot to fame together, co-wrote the same film, and have been spotted several times frequenting the same top casinos. As we mentioned, Damon has been spotted at poker tournaments hosted by Affleck to help the tournament gain more media attention.
Damon is not there simply as a promotional tool, although that’s certainly a part of it. He has a great love for poker. He starred in the film Rounders, which focused on gambling as a theme, and has entered many high-profile poker tournaments over the years, including making a brief appearance in the World Series of Poker.
Tobey Maguire
Having achieved worldwide success as Spider-Man in the early 2000s, Tobey Maguire is another big name who has participated in high-profile poker tournaments. Over the years, he has appeared alongside some big celebrities on this list, such as Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
They were all part of Molly’s Game, a high-profile poker game in Los Angeles around 20 years ago, which was turned into a film and received significant press coverage. While Tobey’s gambling isn’t as consistent as it was then, he still loves poker, and it remains his favorite casino game.
Conclusion
We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg with today’s list. There are many other celebrities that are partial to poker and other high-rolling casino escapades. However, the names we have touched on today have both addressed their love of casinos and casino gaming during their time in the public eye, and many of them continue to take an interest in the industry.
The dynamics and fabric of the casino gaming market have changed over the last 30 years and are a lot different now compared to what many of these celebs would’ve encountered when they took to the casino floors when they first started gambling.
Over time, their interests in casino gaming have likely changed. However, with online platforms providing a viable route for those who aren’t keen on being snapped by the paparazzi and allowing them to play in peace, there’s a good chance that there are a lot more celebrities who play casino games in private rather than at in-person casinos where members of the public and media can hound them.
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