Casino games are exciting enough to create a huge following. Some appreciate the atmosphere, while others see money in the guise of their luck. It’s an industry that has benefited immensely from the ability to reinvent itself via digitalization.
This is why the online gambling industry is thriving so much. Reports on the global market size of online gambling show that it’s only rising. However, much of its aesthetics and appeal come from a legacy connection with traditional, physical gambling.
SlotsCalendar analyzed its game and casino database and concluded that many operators and producers try to harness iconography. They realize that the gambling methods and perceptions of yesteryear are still in tune.
Celebrity and influencer culture have remained steadfast in its attempt to remain relevant. They tie themselves to the flavors of the month, and casino gambling has been such a case for as long as it has been a popular activity. That’s why we still have online casinos with promotional campaigns that feature celebrities.
The connection between famous people and casino games is much older than some may realize. In this article, we will take a step back from the world of standard endorsements, and we will look at five celebrities who genuinely like casino games.
Why Casino Games Are Appealing To Celebrities (And Not Only Them)
Gambling has long been a rich person’s affair. Its origins in the upper strata of Venetian society tell us this. The appeal and luxury of Monte Carlo have been the subject of fascination for generations.
The mass offering of casino games in Las Vegas changed the bill. It stratified the gambling experience. Slot machine halls and armadas of poker, blackjack, and roulette tables allow every person of age to gamble. The phenomenon grew globally.
Celebrities are the proliferation of this feeling. Since culture has been associating high-stakes gambling with the debonair lifestyle, expensive taste, and decadence, celebrity culture has been a definite fit.
Beyond narratives, these celebrities simply have the money to turn such an expensive hobby into a viable pastime activity. It allows them to get in the trenches and have fun without worrying that they’re throwing their life away.
Let’s see who fits this mould and has a true passion for gambling activities at casino games!
Ben Affleck
By all accounts and according to visible evidence, Ben Affleck is a really smart guy. You can question his life choices and acting patterns, but he’s a really interesting person who has proven he has real wit about him.
He’s also really, really into casino gambling. Some would say that he does it to validate his smarts in a public arena. It basically felt like it when, very infamously, Hard Rock Casino Las Vegas banned Ben Affleck from playing blackjack. Well, it suited him particularly well.
The casino banned him because their video evidence showed that Ben was actually counting cards at a blackjack table. Mind you, that was a table for high rollers, which means that the money going around was in dizzying sums. Vegas does not like winners like that, so they banned him for being simply too good.
This may be the most famous story about his gambling exploits, but clearly not the only one. He’s actually a really accomplished poker player. It’s a casino game that requires both mathematical precision and interpersonal skills.
Among his poker achievements, there’s the high-profile case of his win in the California State Poker Championship (2004), but also participating in the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker. If he weren’t a Hollywood icon, he might’ve been a serious pro player.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon, the kindred spirit and long-time collaborator of Ben Affleck, is less about that life and more about on-screen stuff. We’re certainly referring to his performance in Rounders, a 1998 film directed by John Dahl and starring him alongside Edward Norton.
By all accounts, Matt is not the type of gambler that his role in Rounders would suggest. However, he developed a liking for poker after working in preparation for the film. It opened up his mind to the game and made him realize that it’s much more interesting than he initially thought.
This set the stage for quite a few high-profile appearances as a poker player competing in important events. For example, he joined the 1998 World Series of Poker edition, which was a foray that came because of Roudners. Late poker legend Doyle Brunson bounced him from the table.
He also played in several other World Series of Poker events, including 2010, when he even reached the main event. He’s obviously a keen and capable player. Another thing he has in common with Ben.
Michael Jordan
If you’re a hater, you’ll say that Michael Jordan was/is/may be a degenerate gambler who has disgraced himself with his antics. If you’re a fan, you’d just say that it’s simply a pastime for a supremely competitive person. Now, if you believe certain conspiracy theories, you may say that his gambling got him out of the league for a couple of years.
Much has been made about His Airness and his propensity to gamble. There are literally tens of quotes about his relationship with gambling. It’s a mythical element that has created a lot of interesting narratives about him as a person.
We delve into this because his personality and public image have a lot to do with his status as an icon, beyond the basketball prowess and the shoes.
Here is what we truly know: MJ has loved his casino gambling for a long time. The infamous cases of him popping up in Atlantic City before playing the Knicks show that he loves some baccarat. Some claims say that he lost heavy sums while betting on himself while playing gold, one of his great passions. That’s not casino gaming, but it tells a deft story.
The most interesting part is that his gambling exploits allegedly played a part in his first retirement. Naturally, both he and the late David Stern, then-commissioner of the NBA, denied this. By all accounts, that was not the case, even if his gambling was certainly something to scoff at if you’re a PR person.
Michael Jordan will always be an icon and a mythical figure. His ups, downs, and humanity are building blocks of his lore. So is casino gambling!
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly may be the least popular celebrity in this list, but she’s simply the best at gambling. You may know her from her work in the 1990s cinema, or for her voice acting role as the raspy-voiced Bonnie Swanson from Family Guy. She is certainly well-known, and her work on the big screen is certainly underrated.
Tilly has been incredibly successful at poker. It’s in her DNA since her father loved the game. The most important achievement in her career, however, was the fact that she actually won a World Series of Poker bracelet, which is an incredible reference point on her resume.
She did so in 2005, when she won a No-Limit Ladies event, playing over 600 competitors. Jennifer has other achievements, like winning the Ladies Invitational Tournament hosted by World Poker Tour. Her initial retirement came in 2008, later returning in 2010.
Jennifer Tilly has over $1 million in career winnings during poker events, which shows that she’s a genuinely great poker player. Even her current partner, Phil Laak, is a poker pro.
Neymar Jr.
Neymar Junior is one of the most polarizing and talented association footballers to have graced the field in the 21st century. The collection of gifts that he has had as a sportsman is incredible. He is polarizing for multiple reasons, including his injury record, career choices, personal life, and perceived underachievements despite his success and talent.
One of those points of criticism boils down to a passion of his. Namely, playing poker. We’re not talking about his endorsement deal with PokerStars, but about his exploits that the media covered very intensely.
Cases like him playing poker at family birthday parties, participating in celebrity events, and other similar circumstances have shown that he truly enjoys this. It doesn’t mean that he’s necessarily good at this. His total live earnings are not that high, even if he recently made a final table at a Titans NLHE event. He’s definitely had a better career as an athlete than as a poker player.
Conclusion
To conclude, not even celebrities are immune to the appeal of casino gambling. However, one thing that we must remember is that they have plenty of money to throw on such a hobby. Some are genuinely good at it, but that’s not a universal experience. If you like to gamble, please play responsibly!