Some celebrities are no strangers to the glitzy gaming halls of famous casinos in Las Vegas and beyond. You might spot them in exclusive VIP rooms or mingling in the main halls at poker tables, roulette wheels, or slot machines.
These days, though, more and more people are turning to online gambling, which is far more convenient. No need to visit a casino or a betting shop in person – you can play from anywhere. Plus, online platforms often provide welcome bonuses and other rewards. Players can check out casino bonuses and find the best betting offers on Legalbet, a platform that analyses legal casinos and sportsbooks, as well as their promotions, making it easy to find deals worth claiming.
When it comes to celebrities, though, their online gaming habits stay under wraps. But if they spend a night at a physical casino, it’s bound to make headlines. Every time you hear a story or see a photo of an actor or singer at a casino, you can’t help but wonder: what were they playing, and how much did they win or lose? Let’s dive into some of the biggest casino wins ever scored by stars.
Ben Affleck ($800,000)
The actor and director is one of the most well-known celebrities, famous for gambling exploits. He’s often been seen at the tables in Vegas and he has studied both blackjack and poker. According to Business Insider, Affleck got so good at the former that he once swept up a massive $800,000 win from three simultaneous hands of blackjack each at a $20,000 stake!
Affleck already had a history of big wins at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, before he scored a huge windfall there. It ultimately led to him being banned from the property, as he was accused of card counting. But Affleck is a skilled card player, proven by his 2004 California Stake Poker Championship win.
Ashton Kutcher ($750,000)
Alongside many of the casinos you can also get access to sportsbooks, a big part of the gambling experience. Actor Ashton Kutcher told Esquire magazine that he had used to be part of a sports betting syndicate that would hit casino sportsbooks.
He would reportedly place bets for professional sports bettors who had great experience in handicapping the house. The sports betting syndicate was reportedly very lucrative, as Kutcher supposedly took $750,000 from a month of college football betting.
Jennifer Tilly ($160,000)
Actress Jennifer Tilly, according to her Wikipedia page, is a proven poker expert, evidenced by her WSOP bracelet in 2005. At a big event for No Limit Texas Hold’em in 2008, she swept nearly $160,000. A star of the silver screen and TV, the celebrity gambler has reportedly won several tournaments.
Tobey Maguire ($36 million)
Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire is another skilled celebrity poker player. It’s been told that Maguire inspired regular celebrity poker get-togethers in Los Angeles around the turn of the century.
A regular on this underground poker scene, there have been stories that Maguire earned around $36 million in three years from the games, which were depicted in the movie Molly’s Game, New York Post reported.
Matt Damon and the aforementioned Ben Affleck were part of those LA poker nights. Stories like Affleck covering Damon’s losses have cropped up from the games.
Shannon Elizabeth ($125,000)
The actress and model has built an impressive poker career over the years. What started as a casual hobby quickly turned serious, with her racking up over $200,000 in career earnings, Poker News told. Her biggest score came in 2007 when she took third place in the NBC National Heads-Up Championship, pocketing $125,000. Between 2006 and 2010, she consistently showed her skills, including a standout $50,000 win in a poker tournament where she outplayed a field of fellow celebrities.
In Summary
There are many tales of celebrity gamblers, and of course, not all come to the surface. Many celebrities like their anonymity when hitting the casino floor. While regaling tales of big celebrity wins is fascinating, it’s also important to remember that these are people who don’t blink at playing thousands of dollars per hand, and they too, like any gambler, have their losses.
