6 celebrities who love to gamble

Gambling is often thought of as something that mostly regular people take part in. Whether it’s someone buying a lottery ticket to try their luck and save up for a new house, someone who’s betting on their favorite boxer or someone who enjoys betting on eSports tournaments, it’s a pastime that has entertained the general public for centuries. Not to mention that there are tons of promotions at some poker rooms that entice many to take up this hobby.

However, it is not just working class people who enjoy a flutter on the cards. Celebrities and rich folk are just as likely to enjoy gambling and gaming as the next person.

There are plenty of A-listers who have been known to place enormous bets and join intense games, ranging from sports stars and actors, musicians and models. There are some celebrities who have made their gambling interests known publicly, and some who may be somewhat of a surprise to you.

The reason that we know this much about them, of course, is that we live in a world obsessed with celebrity culture. The media is dedicated to seeking out every part of a celebrity’s life, so it’s no surprise that we have stories and articles covering each and every celebrity who has enjoyed the fruits of gambling over the years.

Today, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the most iconic celebrities who enjoy gambling, and looking at their most favorite games to play.

Michael Jordan

One of the main celebrities that’s made waves in the media for his gambling habits is Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is a global sports superstar, who was a former basketball icon and is now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA.

Michael Jordan’s immense wealth is not unknown, and as this Florida Independent article notes, he made an impact earlier on in his career by spending money on his gambling habits. A lot of money, too. He is no longer gambling, but it’s easy to understand why someone with so much money and power might choose to gamble recklessly.

Nelly

Another celebrity who’s been known to gamble intensively is Nelly. Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, otherwise known as Nelly, is a famous rapper, singer and songwriter. He’s also been known to follow entrepreneurial pursuits, and invest too. Nelly has been known to take part in gambling every now and then, with some bets reaching enormous amounts.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck is one of the celebrities who is very well known for being a gambler. He’s an actor, filmmaker and screenwriter, and has achieved great success in his career. His problems with gambling were heavily public, at the time.

The scenario that made Ben realize he had a problem with gambling was when he lost a whopping $400,000 on one poker hand, back in the 2000s. He was also banned from the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, which is a feat in itself.

These two events helped him realize that he had an issue, and thankfully Ben managed to get his compulsive gambling in order and live a healthier, happier life.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson had her own battles with compulsive gambling habits, as this Nexter article points out. Pamela is a Canadian animal rights activist, actress and model. She is a former glamor model, and is very well known for her appearances in Baywatch and Playboy.

Pamela previously dealt with addictions to poker and slot machines, which is very common. There were rumours surrounding her marriage to Rick Salomon, a famous poker player, that related to her needing help with gambling debts.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen is arguably one of the most infamous celebrities when it comes to the gambling world. Carlos Irwin Estévez, otherwise known as Charlie Sheen, is a famous American actor, who has had a very public role in the world of gambling and gaming.

He has reportedly dealt with gambling problems since a very young age. His acting career has brought him an incredible amount of wealth, which has meant that he has had plenty of money to spend on gambling. His favorite form of gambling is apparently sports betting.

50 Cent

Finally, 50 Cent is another celebrity who’s very heavily tied into the world of gaming. Curtis James Jackson III, otherwise known as 50 Cent, is a singer, songwriter, rapper and actor. He’s also a producer, entrepreneur and investor too.

50 Cent has gained a reputation for sports bets that rise into the millions of dollars. He seems to have a good track record with winning too, which is admirable.

Overall

As you can see, there are a number of different celebrities who have been known to enjoy gambling. Some of them have been more publicized, especially those of which who have been unfortunate enough to suffer from a gambling addiction.

This is one part of celebrity culture that is rather harrowing. If the media gets wind of a celebrity suffering from an addiction, you can be sure that it will be a hot topic for the next week or so. This must be incredibly hard for the person to deal with, as addictions and compulsions are hard to beat and very emotional ordeals to go through.

With the rise of gambling culture and the legalization of online gambling in more states across America (starting with New Jersey and, more recently moving to Pennsylvania which netted 1,5 billion in gambling revenue last year), it’s important that gambling companies meet the demands of their more vulnerable customers- even those of celebrity status. More and more support systems for those with compulsions need to be put into place.

We’re sure to see some fantastic developments in the gambling world as we move into 2020, and it’ll be interesting to see whether any new celebrities take part in the gaming world too. After all, there’s never been a better time to be a gambler than now- it’s an innovative world, filled with creative games and thoughtful creators.

Looking to read more about gambling as a whole? Want to learn more about the inner workings of the gaming world? If so, we’re sure that you’ll love our blog posts. Feel free to take a look at our full site to read more, or get in touch with a member of our team today.