When we think of celebrities, we think designer fashion, private planes, and VIP events, not late nights at the poker table or online slots. But the truth is, plenty of A-listers love a good bet, whether it’s high-stakes poker, blackjack, or even online casinos.
And while it’s fun to see stars placing huge bets, that’s not a good enough reason to select an online casino just because your favorite celebrity is playing there. No, the smart decision is to go with professional reviews that break down what actually makes a casino excellent, or less than excellent. By opting for expert reviews, you are guaranteed a nuanced insight into various casino sites. You can for example find the best gambling sites with Casingdom, who provides expert reviews, which runs through various parameters to paint a nuanced picture of casino sites, including game variety, payment methods, security and safety, and customer support. But this does not change the fact that some celebrities have engaged in online casinos, and this can influence consumers’ choice of casino sites.
Ben Affleck: The blackjack brainiac
Ben Affleck is not just an A-list actor and director: He’s also a serious gambler. He turned his love of blackjack into more than a hobby when he won the 2004 California State Poker Championship, which earned him a spot in the World Poker Tour finals.
But Affleck’s blackjack skills may have been too good. He was reportedly banned from playing at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas for counting cards. For the record, counting cards is not illegal, but casinos do not like it when players use their brains to beat them. At the poker table or the blackjack table, Affleck plays to win.
Tobey Maguire: Spider-Man to poker shark
Tobey Maguire isn’t just well-known for swinging from skyscrapers: He’s also made a name for himself at the poker tables. In the early 2000s, he got mixed up in high-stakes games with Hollywood high-rollers, and he was a regular at the infamous underground poker games that the film Molly’s Game was based on.
Maguire has also reportedly won millions playing poker, proving that he is not only good at reading supervillains. While his love of the game is not as well-documented as his superhero alter ego, within the world of poker players, he is known to be a force to be reckoned with.
Matt Damon: Studied poker for a role, never stopped playing
Matt Damon didn’t just play a poker pro in Rounders: He actually trained with real-life poker pro Johnny Chan to prepare for the role. And it seems he caught the poker bug along the way.
Damon has since played in big tournaments, like the World Series of Poker, where he’s faced off against the pros. He’s proof that once you’re hooked on poker, it’s hard to quit.
Michael Jordan: Competitive on and off the court
If there is one thing that we know about Michael Jordan, it’s that he hates to lose. That competitive nature extends well beyond basketball: Jordan has been known to make huge wager on golf games, poker, and even everyday games simply for the sake of competition.
Stories of his gambling habits are legendary, from late-night poker sessions to outrageous sports bets. While he’s made headlines for some of his high-stakes wagers, one thing’s clear: Whether it’s basketball or gambling, MJ plays to win.
Pamela Anderson: A poker enthusiast with a wild story
Pamela Anderson has received her fair share of poker action, such as being featured on televised poker tournaments and high-stakes games. One of the wilder stories regarding her poker adventures is that she once allegedly settled a gambling debt with a marriage.
Anderson’s details are sketchy, but word has it she owed a lot of money to a poker player and later married him, though the union did not work out. True or not, one thing’s for sure: Anderson likes the game’s high.
Paris Hilton: Blackjack queen
Paris Hilton is not just about reality TV and fashion: She also enjoys playing blackjack. She has been spotted at Las Vegas casinos, and she once let people know that she won enough in a single seat to buy herself a new car.
Of course, she can buy a car whenever she wants, but clearly, she enjoys the thrill of the game. Not nearly as well-known as a poker pro like some of the other people on this list, she definitely enjoys giving it a shot at the tables.
Why you should trust reviews, not celebrities, when choosing an online casino
Okay, it’s fun to know what celebrities like to gamble, but come on: Just because a celebrity gambles at a casino doesn’t mean that it’s the right casino for you to gamble at. Celebrities can waste money, but you require a casino that’s worthy of your money and time. Reviews from experts are your best friend. Here’s why expert reviews matter more than celebrity endorsement:
They provide the real story
A celebrity might play somewhere because they’re getting paid to do so, but expert reviews get down to what matters: Game selection, security, fairness, and speed of payout. A review will tell you the bad and the good – not necessarily the glitz and glam.
They get down to the nitty-gritty details
Need to know if a casino has a good game selection? If the bonuses are worth taking? If the customer service is any good? A review will provide you with all of that. For example, a review can cite its massive game selection and top-notch security while stating that it could be improved with a better loyalty program. These sorts of things you will not know by simply seeing a celebrity tweet about a casino.
They help you avoid scams
Not all online casinos are reputable. Some casinos have predatory terms, slow payouts, or unscrupulous business practices. A good review will warn you about casinos with bad reputations, so you can steer clear of trouble.
