Celebs who love to play online casino

Image: TyN Magazine

Online casinos have come a long way since their beginning in the early 1990s. Back in history when the internet was created in 1983, casino and gambling enthusiasts soon moved their passion online to establish a niche. The year was 1994 when the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda began to grant licenses to companies wanting to provide gambling platforms online.

Just years later in 1997, online casino websites grew to over 200 with the world’s annual revenue from online gambling reported to have reached $1billion. With the ever-developing technology, online casinos too have had a fair share of evolution to their current form.

Now, online gambling is no longer a taboo that it used to be with proper licensing and regulations by concerned national and international authorities. Many legitimate online casinos are more invested with proper regulation and player safety, one such being Casumo, a Maltese online casino company that has been licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.

Online casinos are not only known to draw the general public but also celebrities as they are provided with privacy as any other players in the virtual world.

Although there are many celebrities who love to play online casinos, here are five who make the list.

1. Ben Affleck

The A-list Hollywood hunk Affleck is known to spend time on a blackjack table while not filming. The actor and now director’s casino adventure got a little out of hand as it soon turned to addiction. Under the accusations of card counting, Ben Affleck was even banned from entering some high-end casinos. He pushed to get his gambling addiction under control by admitting into rehab- in the end succeeding to do so.

But Old habits to die-hard- he has not entirely left his old lifestyle behind. Some tabloids have reported that he loves to join online casinos where he plays poker and blackjack.

2. Matt Damon

Matt Damon was reportedly introduced to casinos while working in the 1998 film Rounders. He had to play some poker rounds for his preparation for the said role. In 2011, his love for online casinos came to light after he was listed among Hollywood stars who enjoyed private Texas Hold’em games. 

3. Jennifer Tilly

One lady celebrity who most certainly makes the list is Jennifer Tilly. The actress’ love for casinos first began when her then-boyfriend introduced her to the gambling scene. Since then she has won the World Series of Poker bracelet (including $158,625) in the Ladies' No-Limit Texas hold 'em event and World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament in 2005. 

Now in a long-term relationship with fellow poker player Phil Laak (aka "The Unabomber"), she still plays classic three-reel online slots version and is an online wagering expert.

Conclusion

Celebrities, like any other humans, have let their addiction to gambling get better of themselves one time or the other - them always being in the public eyes making addiction more complicated. Charles Burkley once admitted in a 2006 interview with ESPN that he lost over $10 million at a game while actor Charlie Sheen’s addiction led his family and personal life in turmoil. It is very important to know when to quit or slow down a notch such as Gladys Knight, who put her 10-year gambling addiction to end.