Michael Jordan
Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan is also known for his special love for gambling. There are many stories about His Airness gambling on golf courses and at poker and craps tables, and one of the most controversial among them is his gambling trip to Atlantic City on the night before a playoff game against the New York Knicks. His huge interest in gambling led some people to believe that his decision to retire from the NBA to play baseball was the result of a secret ban that had something to do with his gambling activities – read more about that theory by clicking here.
Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire discovered his gambling talent when he was learning how to play poker from professional poker player Daniel Negreanu, and he has played in many poker tournaments ever since. His passion for gambling led him to participate in an illegal gambling ring with other celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. He was sued for the incident and paid $80,000 to settle the lawsuit.
Other than being an accomplished actor, writer and producer, Ben Affleck is also a talented poker player. Unbeknownst to many people, he was the winner of the 2004 California State Poker Championship. Legend has it that the actor bet $60,000 a hand in Las Vegas one night, and he left the casino with about $800,000 in winnings, after giving $150,000 worth of tips to dealers.
Tiger Woods
As the highest paid golfer in the world, Tiger Woods can certainly afford to be a high roller. According to rumors, he bet as much as $25,000 a hand when he was gambling in a casino one night. It is also rumored that one of his mistresses, Jamie Jungers, said that he was a big spender in casinos, which confirms his reputation as a high-stakes gambler.
Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen’s gambling habit became known to the public in 2006, when his former wife Denise Richards mentioned it in divorce papers. According to her, the actor was gambling about $20,000 a week around the time of their divorce, and most of his losses came from sports betting. However, Sheen said in recent interviews that he has quit gambling.
Since celebrities are generally very well-off, if not bordering on the super-wealthy, they have disposable income to ‘play with’. Gambling is an attractive activity for them because it provides great fun and excitement, and it enables them to experience a wide range of emotions. Click here to learn about other celebrities who are passionate about gambling.