Introduction
It’s not just millions of everyday working people who enjoy taking to the casino tables – over the last few decades, a host of top sporting names, celebrities, actors and actresses has been pictured at casinos worldwide. Casino gaming offers a charm and aura that intrigues bettors, especially those top Hollywood names with a considerable chunk of money to spend at the high-roller tables. With global smash-hit movies such as Casino, Rounders and Ocean’s Eleven highlighting the underlying pull of what casino amusements have to offer, actors are well-versed in the trials and tribulations of playing casino games.
#1 – Drake
Canada’s most famous and successful musical export has a longstanding and colorful relationship with gambling. The Canadian often posts to his 140 million-plus followers about his football, boxing and MMA bets, but he also has a keen eye for casino gaming, particularly roulette and blackjack. While he might not be as familiar with slot gaming, he is partial to a game, too, and often posts videos on his social media.
He first got his big break as an actor and still sporadically stars in some films and TV – although he’s better known for his rap albums, his humble beginnings as an actor in Canada got him on to our list. Determining the best online slots Canada offers has become trickier over the last decade. The market has exploded over the last few years, with many reputable companies establishing themselves as key figures within the Canadian digital gambling sector.
Given that global megastars like Drake have emerged from the country, continuing to gamble on their social media page will continue to fuel the ever-growing popularity of the Canadian market. It’s not just big casino wins for Drake – earlier this year, he won $1.3m betting on Gervonta “Tank” Davis to beat Ryan Garcia, so it appears that his penchant for gambling stretches across multiple markets.
#2 – Ben Affleck
As one of the most recognizable faces of his acting generation, Affleck first emerged as a rising star alongside his friend Matt Damon. The pair wrote and directed Good Will Hunting to immense critical acclaim, and this cemented their status as some of the brightest shining stars in Hollywood.
Affleck has gone on to gross hundreds of millions of dollars, starring as Batman, and continues to draw a massive audience with many of his films. He has a turbulent casino career, being ejected and later banned for life for card-counting in Las Vegas at the blackjack tables. However, Ben is now more attuned to his casino disposition and has been seen playing poker and roulette in other casinos worldwide.
#3 – Matt Damon
Ben’s childhood friend and fellow Hollywood megastar Matt Damon may be considered an even bigger name than his old pal. Damon starred in Rounders, a heavily casino-themed piece focused on the skill and intensity of high-level poker. Although Matt likely gambles more conservatively when he plays in real life, he has also been pictured at multiple casinos, some in Las Vegas and some further afield.
#4 – Tobey Maguire
It feels like a lifetime ago when Tobey Maguire landed his huge, breakthrough role as Spiderman. The softly-spoken and amicable Hollywood icon has gone on to make a considerable name for himself in the acting business, but don’t be fooled by his friendly demeanor and calm temperament.
Tobey has a fierce drive to win, which is often evident when he plays in high-stakes poker games. It is a casino game he has enjoyed for decades, and he also plays in charity tournaments alongside some of the big names we have already discussed today, raising a lot of money for the underprivileged in the process.
#5 – George Clooney
It should be no shock that the star of Ocean’s Eleven is a serious fan of poker and table-based games like roulette. Some reports online state that Clooney has been playing for over 30 years, and there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that it is one of his favorite pastimes. You only need a quick search online to see multiple images of him playing roulette, poker and various other games in some of the world’s most luxurious casinos.
Although he might not gamble as prolifically now that he is reaching the latter stages of his acting career, names don’t get much bigger than Clooney. Out of all of the actors we have discussed today, he might be the one who enjoys gambling in casinos the most – especially in traditional, land-based venues.
