Famous Celebrity Gamblers

Nothing represents the best of the VIP world better than celebrity gamblers. They are rich, successful, and glamorous. They make the best out of the luxurious and pampering lifestyle that is offered to them by casinos, tournaments and basically anywhere they go, simply for their star-status appeal.

There are more celebrity gamblers than you perhaps think there are. Most actors that were involved in gambling movies developed a keen interest, many celebs play at special tournaments that raise money for different causes and some stars just gamble for fun…

But who are these celebrities? How well do they fare in a world of luck and chance? Here are some of the most prominent Celebs that have entered into the world of gambling.

George Clooney

George Clooney, former star of E.R. and numerous hit films such as Solaris, Intolerable Cruelty and Syriana, did not only star in gambling related movies such as Ocean's 11 and Ocean's 12, but has also taken an active role in the gambling business when he invested an unknown sum of money in a $3 billion resort in a Las Vegas. He is the co-owner of Las Ramblas, a casino-hotel-condominium complex, which is due for completion in 2007.

"I wanted it to be like old Vegas and old Hollywood. It's going to be a classy joint," Said Clooney.

While filming Ocean's 12 in Rome, Clooney, along with co-stars Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and their guest, Michael Douglas, husband of co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones, were engaged in late-night poker sessions, and some of them were as good as professional players.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck, star of hit movies such as Pearl Harbor, Armageddon and Daredevil is said to be the most serious gambler in Hollywood. In June 2004, the 31-year-old actor bested a field of 90 poker players in the Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship, including professional player Stan Goldstein, who finished 2^nd and Chuck Pacheco, president and co-founder of Castle Rock Entertainment, who finished in 3^rd place.  Affleck won $356,400 in that event and a $25,000 seat in the 2005 World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship.

Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry, best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing in the hit show Friends, is an avid poker player and regularly plays in tournaments and charity events, including the Celebrity Poker ShowdownTV show.

Even though he is rumored to be a heavy online gambler, Perry spent a private VIP weekend at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas, where a casino host arranged it so that everywhere he would go; he went through back entrances and was seated in private areas.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon, the star of Dogma, Saving Private Ryan and The Talented Mr. Ripley, is also the star of one of the best poker movies ever made, Rounders. During the filming of Rounders, Damon and co-star Edward Norton were coached by poker legend Johnny Chan.

He is no stranger to the world of gambling. Much like his Ocean's 11 and 12 co-star, George Clooney, Damon is also very passionate about gambling. He is considered an excellent poker player and was rumored to have been offered a $1 million endorsement from online gaming giant Nine.com.

A famous line that Damon had in the movie touches on the view that he admits he has on poker: "Why do you think the same six guys end up at the final table at the world series of poker every year? Are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas? No, it's because they've got skills."

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire, Spiderman himself, was one of the players that were defeated by Ben Affleck at the Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship but he soon made a strong comeback when in October 2004 he won $186,000 at a $2,000 buy-in tournament at the Hollywood Park Casino.

He also won the $2,000 Phil Hellmuth Invitational for $95,480 and cashes at the WPT and WSOP.

Poker legend Phil Hellmuth said this about Maguire: "He showed tremendous focus and determination. I predict that he will become one of the better poker stars."

Maguire is known to hold regular poker games for high rollers at his Hollywood Hills home, with players such as Dennis Hopper, Matthew Perry, Sharon Stone and Robert Downey Jr.

Jennifer Tilly

Jennifer Tilly, is a veteran and semi-professional poker player. The star of The Fabulous Baker Boys, Bullets Over Broadway and Bound, is a regular at tournaments.

Tilly became involved with poker like many other Hollywood celebrities have in the last few years: through playing on television celebrity poker programs. She began dating professional poker player Phil Laak, who gave her a couple of poker books to study and served as her personal tutor. She had a natural talent for the game and soon it became known.

In 2005, Tilly won a World Series of Poker bracelet and $158,625 in the Ladies' No-Limit Texas Holdem event while outlasting 600 other players. She is the first non-poker celebrity to win a World Series of Poker event. She followed up this achievement and won the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament held at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles in September 2005.

After her victory she appeared on The Tonight Show on NBC to talk about her experience at the WSOP, and garnered a cover article in CardPlayer magazine the following month.