‘A-Listers’ & Casinos: Who Plays What?
Live casino establishments are often associated with glitz and glamour, making them an enticing entertainment proposition for the rich and famous.
It is not unusual to visit casinos in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo or elsewhere in the world and stumble across at least one celebrity trying their luck on table games or slots.
Hollywood superstars, world class athletes, television stars and top music acts are amongst the ‘A-Listers’ who are often spotted trying to bump up their earnings in casinos.
In most cases the celebrities play just for fun, but there are also numerous examples of major stars who have taken things far more seriously and joined the professional ranks.
Some have even managed to make a profit from their visits to casino, although others have struggled to make their gambling activities pay.
Read on as we take a look at some of the famous celebs who love to spend time playing various casino games in their spare time.
Pamela Anderson
The former Playboy model and Baywatch star has a passion for visiting casinos and has often been spotted playing poker or slots in Las Vegas.
The 53-year-old has even featured in a slot in her name and a Baywatch inspired game that proved to be hugely popular around the world.
Anderson’s love of gambling also led her into the arms of professional poker player Rick Salomon - whom she has been married to twice in the past.
Ben Affleck
Oscar-winner Ben Affleck was controversially banned for life from playing blackjack at the Hard Rock casino in Las Vegas after becoming too good at the game.
Affleck was caught counting cards at a big money table and, although the practice is not illegal, he was ordered by casino security to stop playing.
The venue was happy for Affleck to play other games such as craps and slots that required luck, but refused to allow him to use his skills at the blackjack tables.
Tiger Woods
In addition to being one of the greatest golfers of all-time, Woods is also a big fan of card games and often spends time playing either poker or blackjack.
His love of cards has even extended to charitable efforts, with the Tiger Woods Foundation regularly teaming up with the World Poker Tour to host celebrity fund-raising events in the United States.
Woods and his father, Earl, set-up the foundation back in 1996 to provide education for under privileged children and it has since grown into worldwide organisation.
Jennifer Tilly
Tilly rose to fame as an actress with roles in Hill Street Blues, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Bullets over Broadway, Bound and Liar, Liar.
She was taught to play poker by professional player and partner, Phil Laak, and went on to win a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 2005.
Tilly has since won more than $1 million in live tournament play and is widely recognised as one of the best female poker players in the world.
Ray Romano
Actor and stand-up comedian, Ray Romano, is best known for his role in the long-running television series Everybody Loves Raymond.
He also enjoys playing live card games at casinos such as poker and blackjack, most notably with numerous entries into WSOP tournaments.
However, Romano has yet to enjoy much in the way of success at the tables, repeatedly crashing out of the events before the big money comes into play.
Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire’s card playing exploits saw him caught up in a lawsuit that sought repayment of hundreds of thousands of dollars linked to an illegal Ponzi scheme.
The Spiderman actor eventually settled the matter out of court by paying $80,000 to the estate of convicted fraudster Bradley Ruderman.
Maguire has also participated in numerous WSOP events and famously won more than $95,000 at an invitational tournament organised by poker professional Phil Hellmuth Jr back in 2004.
Shannon Elizabeth
American Pie actress Shannon Elizabeth was taught to play poker by her family at an early age and has since become an extremely proficient Texas Hold’em player.
Friendships with Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari helped Elizabeth to hone her poker skills, while mentoring by Daniel Negreanu added another useful string to her bow.
She subsequently cashed in 12 major tournaments between 2006 and 2010, but appears to have steered clear of the professional circuit over the past few years.
Bruce Willis
The Die Hard actor has previously been spotted playing both craps and baccarat in numerous casinos across North America.
He once famously scooped $500,000 from baccarat tables in Atlantic City and a more subdued $25,000 after playing craps in New Mexico.
Willis also starred in the 2012 gambling movie, Lay the Favorite, although it proved to be a monumental flop after grossing less than $21,000 at the domestic box office.
