Celebrities are known to hang out in a range of locations, from Michelin-starred restaurants to prestigious performances on Broadway. Different stars have a diverse range of interests, but there’s no doubt that they like to frequent locations that are closely related to the entertainment industry. Casinos have become intertwined with other areas of showbiz over the years, and many celebrities love to have a flutter on the tables.
What Role Do Casinos Play in the Entertainment Industry?
Casinos have always featured in the entertainment industry, and Las Vegas earned the nickname the Entertainment Capital of the World in its heyday. Now, the online casino sector is taking gambling to the next level and increasing its influence on the wider entertainment sector.
This is highlighted by how far games have progressed in the internet era. Classic games like blackjack have gone way beyond the traditional format, and now live blackjack games reign supreme. These allow players to sit across from a dealer of their choice, in a range of blackjack variations such as 888 Plus and 888 Play.
Many franchises in other areas of the entertainment industry now use casinos to expand their reach. This is seen in licensed slot games such as Mad Max Fury Road and A Nightmare On Elm Street. Titles like these give the pictures another marketing avenue and help them get in front of a greater number of viewers.
Technology and other developments often emerge in the casino sector and are then used in other areas of entertainment as well. For instance, online casinos have always had a heavy focus on interactivity, and this is being seen more often in Netflix offerings that give power to the viewer like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
A trailer for Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
Casinos have long been at the heart of entertainment in other ways too. Gambling houses have often been used as a setting for movies as they add another element of thrill to what the viewer is seeing. In Casino Royale, for example, the luxurious casino played a huge role in making the film more entertaining and enjoyable.
With James Bond trying to take down an international terrorist, the stakes were already high. When you pair that with an intense game of Texas Hold’em poker, the action on screen becomes even more exciting.
Which Celebrities are Frequent Casino Visitors?
Because casinos and the wider entertainment industry are so intertwined, it’s no surprise that a lot of celebrities from other areas of entertainment like to frequent casinos. There are various stars who are well-known for spending some free time in gambling houses to wind down. If you go to famous spots in the world’s biggest gambling cities, there’s a chance that you might run into a star one day.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been seen together numerous times in Vegas gambling hotspots. The two actors are close friends and colleagues, after having worked together on nine movies to date. They both love card games with Affleck known to enjoy blackjack and poker. Damon usually sticks to Texas Hold’em and has featured in several World Series of Poker Main Events.
The 52-year-old got into the hugely popular pastime when preparing for his role in Rounders in 1998. In the picture, he played an expert player who was adept at reading other players’ psychological cues. That offering from John Dahl was a catalyst towards the rise of poker in the West, and it’s no surprise that Damon still loves to be seen at the felt.
Caption: A trailer for Rounders.
Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, is another world-famous gambler. The Get Rich or Die Tryin’ rapper is known for his myriad ventures that have helped boost his net worth over the years. With millions to spend, he doesn’t mind having a flutter at the tables from time to time.
50 Cent’s game of choice is craps, where he gets to enjoy the thrill of rolling the dice and staking on the outcome. The hip-hop star is known to bet big on all his gambling activities. One of the greatest to date was when he wagered $1.6 million on Floyd Mayweather Jr. to beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
A couple of other celebrities you might run into at casinos include Pamela Anderson and Tiger Woods. The Baywatch star enjoys both land-based and online casinos and prefers poker and slots. The golf legend has piles of riches to spend at the casino, and usually sticks to card games like blackjack and poker.
Which Casinos Attract a Lot of Famous Clientele?
Some people may be interested in combining gambling with a bit of celebrity spotting. It’s important to know, then, which casinos offer players the greatest chance of seeing a star in action at the tables. The best place to go to see stars is Las Vegas, without a doubt.
Some of the most iconic casinos like the Bellagio, the Venetian, and Caesars Palace are hotspots for the rich and famous, and the best chance to see them is at the World Series of Poker.
There are some other places that are popular among celebrities as well. Atlantic City is the next best place to go in the USA, with the Borgata being the likeliest place to witness stars. The gambling house is the most upscale joint in the East Coast gaming city, and it’s popular among high rollers. Other places that tend to draw stars outside of the USA include the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, the Crown Casino in Melbourne, and The Wynn in Macau.
Casinos will always be at the heart of the entertainment industry and will continue to be a huge draw for celebrities in the future. For anyone who wants to brush shoulders with the stars, you must be prepared to stake high sums on the games as they usually stick with the other high rollers.
