There’s nothing better than unwinding after a long week at work. With the stress of everyday life, sometimes we just need to recharge our batteries or spend a little time doing something that we enjoy. There are hundreds of different activities or hobbies that people enjoy all over the world.
Some people like to be creative and paint or make music. Others may prefer outdoor activities such as mountain biking or hiking, while others may prefer to stay at home and do nothing more than enjoy a good book.
One pastime that a lot of people enjoy is gambling. Whether it be at an actual casino or simply placing a bet of your favorite football team, there’s something special about placing a flutter and hoping to come out on top.
Gambling at Casinos
One much loved activity for many people is to visit their local casino, or hook up online to one of the many mobile casinos that are operating on the web today. People of all backgrounds, races and locations enjoy gambling, and it’s something that brings genuine fun and pleasure to a lot of people.
It’s not just regular people that like to gamble. There are a number of well-known celebrities who also enjoy gambling, and in this article we will take a look at some of the most famous.
Ben Affleck
One of the most famous of all celebrity gamblers is the actor, producer and director Ben Affleck. Known for his roles in iconic movies such as Good Will Hunting, Batman, Armageddon and Argo, he is a much loved and highly respected member of the Hollywood elite, as well as being a diehard gambler who loves to play live casino tournaments and games.
Ben Affleck has a long and much publicized history with gambling, and even entered rehab in 2001 to deal with his addiction to alcohol and gambling (two things that never go well together).
His favorite game was blackjack and he was so good at the game that it actually led to him being banned from a Las Vegas casino in 2014, the same year that he won the California State Poker Championship.
Tobey Maguire
Another actor who has portrayed a superhero on the big screen, Spiderman star Tobey Maguire is a professional poker player, who learnt his skills from one of Canada’s most famous poker players – Daniel Negreanu.
It is said that Tobey is a huge fan of Texas Hold’em Poker and has won more than $10,000,000 at various poker tournaments over the years.
In 2011 he was sued for being a member of an illegal gambling ring that turned over millions of dollars and in which he competed against some other high profile players from Hollywood.
He actually attended AA rehab at the early age of 19 where he was addicted to drink and gambling during his teenage years.
Ray Romano
The Emmy Award winning actor is famous for portraying a middle-aged gambling addict called Joe Tranelli in the very popular American comedy-drama “Men of a Certain Age”.
The character Ray Romano played was actually based on himself, as he was a gambler who was highly addicted and had to seek out professional help. It was due to this real life experience that he put in such an impressive performance in the TV show.
He regularly competes in the World Series of Poker, and is a much respected player in the circuit.
Matt Damon
Matt is another one of the most famous celebrity gamblers and was regularly spotted out in casinos with fellow gambler and actor Ben Affleck, who was a close childhood friend.
Matt Damon was one of the celebrities who took part in the illegal gambling ring at various 5-Star hotels that involved Tobey Maguire, who was sued for his involvement.
During the making of the movie “Rounders”, which starred Matt alongside Edward Norton, the legendary Johnny Chan taught both stars.
Jennifer Tilly
Today she is considered by many as a semi-professional poker player, but the actress Jennifer Tilly actually started playing during the making of a television show. She is most recognized for her role as Tiffany Valentine from the Child’s Play movie franchise.
During the 2005 World Series of Poker she won the gold bracelet, and during the No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament for women, she took first place. She was the first celebrity to win at a World Series event.
Charlie Sheen
The Two and a Half Men star had a huge gambling addiction, which started in his early years. It wasn’t until his 2006 divorce from actress Denis Richards that the levels of his gambling addictions came to light.
It was claimed that the actor would bet around $200,000 each and every week. It was also said that literally all of the actors gambling losses came through betting on different sporting events.
The actor personally revealed in an interview that took place with the New York Times that the largest bet he placed was when he wagered $1,000,000 on the boxing fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya, with Sheen backing Pacquiano.
Other famous names and faces
There are lots of other famous people who have enjoyed gambling with someone of them actually being regarded as professionals in the field.
The British writer and TV presenter Victoria Coren-Mitchel is well known for her writing work, but did you know that in 2006, she was the first woman to win the European Poker Tour. She has well huge sums of money from poker, and is a regular in London’s Victoria Casino.
Pamela Anderson is another female celebrity who enjoys gambling. It’s said that her favorite games were poker and the slots.
There are also a number of sporting personalities who have had some struggles with gambling in the past such as Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, and probably most famously the golfer Tiger Woods.
Some final thoughts
Gambling is something that lots of people around the world enjoy, and as long as you gamble responsibly, it can be a very enjoyable and fun activity. No matter where in the world you are, if there isn’t a local casino close to you, then pop online and sign up with one of the many online casinos, or gry kasynowe as they are known in Poland.
However, it can lead to addiction, so it’s very important to be aware of the warning signs and seek professional help if you do find yourself gambling more than you should.