Celebrities need their time and space to unwind just like the rest of us. While many famous stars embrace their privacy during their time out of the spotlight, some seek out the bright lights of poker and blackjack tables.
The celebrity casino experience is much different to that of the everyday player, who can sit at home, choose a trusted online platform from the casino lists on Legalcasino, and start playing effortlessly from the comfort of their sofa.
Celebrities who turn up at physical locations get special treatment and you won’t find them playing the penny slots. Think more of the high-stakes, private rooms where celebrities get their seats, and here are some of the most famous that have been spotted out and about.
The head of the UFC MMA organisation, Dana White, is a celebrity who knows what it feels like to get banned from a Las Vegas casino. He was banned from the Palms after winning huge sums of money. That’s one of many famous stories of White and his exploits in high-stakes blackjack.
Once the casino changed ownership, he did go back and won another $1.6 million in a session before being gently told not to come back once again. It was more of a polite removal the second time around, as the casino handed him a UFC-style championship belt, denoting that he was a champion blackjack player.
White reports having totalled up to $7 million in winnings while playing high-stakes blackjack in Vegas casinos during his time. But naturally, there have been losses along the way too, both on the blackjack table and from sports betting, including a famous $1 million boxing bet loss. But he is a highly-skilled blackjack master, who reportedly hands out some very nice tips to staff.
Fittingly, YouTube sensation Mr Beast showed up at a big online casino event in 2022. Mr Beast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, participated in a Hustler Casino livestream against some pro players like Tom Dwan and Phil Hellmuth.
The 8-plus hour event was streamed live on YouTube and quickly went viral as Mr Beast and other streaming stars like Ninja and star chess player Alexandra Botez took on the pros. Donaldson ended the night up around $430k after being down early on and was second only to Botez’s winning tally on the night.
Actor and keen gambler Ben Affleck still gets around casino tables, just not at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. Back in 2014, Affleck received a ban from the casino, but he has still been seen sitting in for tournaments in other venues.
Affleck has been trained in poker and has been successful in it, but is also a skilled blackjack player according to the man himself. He took the time to study and learn the game and the wins started coming for him as his skill levels rose.
In 2001 Affleck won a reported $800,000 at the Hard Rock Casino blackjack tables. But the 2014 affair, where he was once again cleaning up there, was too much for the casino who reportedly gave him a life ban, accusing him of counting cards.
Other Famous Casino Celebrities
The list of celebrities that have been seen in casinos goes on and on. Among the most famous are the likes of actors like Tobey Maguire, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Comedian and actor Kevin Hart has been seen in some big poker events, as has Matt Damon. Soccer player Neymar Jr has a big affinity with poker and can be seen in tournaments as well.
Las Vegas of course is the hotspot to go celebrity spotting in casinos. Famous venues like Caesars Palace, The Palms, MGM Grand and The Bellagio are all top spots for celebrities who like to gamble. Typically, when a big celebrity is sitting at a table, then you are sure that staff are most likely going to be doing their utmost to keep onlookers at a distance. That’s why VIP private poker rooms exist, to give the high-stakes rollers a peaceful, secure environment to test their skills.