Celebrity Gamblers Who Lost Big

One of the most famous gamblers in the world is the NBA legend Michael Jordan. His most significant loss in gambling is reportedly $5 million at a single craps game. Experts estimate that the basketball player spends millions on gambling on an annual basis. His teammates have talked about how Michael used to bet $100,000 on a “rock, paper, scissors” game in his golden basketball days, affirming how much he loves gambling.

Besides being regarded as one of the greatest golf players of all time, Tiger Woods is also known for his gambling habits. In Las Vegas, people have rumored that golfers used to play together at casino tables with Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. One of his most considerable losses is a whopping $100,000 at blackjack. Overall, his net losses are estimated at dozens of million dollars.

Another NBA star whose hobby is gambling is Charles Barkley. He has admitted to losing over $10 million to gambling during his life. He has been playing at various Las Vegas casinos and enjoys high-stakes sports betting. Charles has been open about his gambling habits and supports regulated gambling conjoined with responsible gambling practices.

High-stake poker is Charlie Sheen’s passion. He used to lose up to $200,000 in a single night in Las Vegas. Although the actor has downplayed his gambling problem to the public, it’s been reported that his love for gambling has led to financial strains. It is public knowledge that Charlie Sheen has substance abuse issues, and gambling was a factor in his struggles. Therefore, in recent years, Charlie has appeared to be a less active gambler than he was in the past.

Ben Affleck is a famous actor and celebrity gambler. Despite undergoing therapy for gambling and alcohol addiction, Ben won the California State Poker Championship and was banned from a Las Vegas casino for being too successful. Although never confirmed, his estimated losses in gambling are in the range of up to $10 million.

Many more celebrities love to hit up a casino table. Although not all have accumulated significant losses, many have gambled with large amounts of money. Here are other celebrity gamblers worth noting:

• Tobey Maguire: The actor was involved in an illegal gambling ring in 2011 and faced court charges. Despite this, he is a professional poker player, reportedly winning $10 million in tournaments.
• Matt Damon: The director and actor and a friend of Ben Affleck also shares a passion for gambling and was also involved in an illegal gambling ring in five-star hotels.
• Terrance Watanabe: Although a successful businessman, Terrance gained fame for his gambling habits. In just one year, he lost $127 million at the Rio and Caesars Palace casinos in Las Vegas with casino employees reporting he was just a very unskilled player.
• Pamela Anderson: While Pamela Anderson has a relatively low profile regarding gambling, rumors suggest that she lost $250,000 in poker one night when playing in Las Vegas.
• Drake: The global superstar musician Drake particularly enjoys sports betting. He has lost a $1 million bet but still enjoys the thrill of wagering on NBA, football, and boxing. 

High-stake gambling is common among celebrities, resulting in significant wins and losses. Some, like Charles Barkley and Drake, are just gambling hobbyists. Despite the controversy, others like Tobey Maguire and Ben Affleck can be considered professional gamblers. Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen's love for gambling is linked to addiction, and Terrance Watanabe lost big just because of lack of skill. In conclusion, despite their fortunes, celebrities face similar gambling challenges as anyone else.