Movie stars who love to gamble

Since the days of Frank Sinatra, many other major actors and actresses in Hollywood have also enjoyed the atmosphere of the casino.  It is not difficult to understand why, since many of the best casinos in the world appeal to the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood.  The old-fashioned décor combined with the excitement of the table games makes for a thrilling environment.

Ben Affleck has long been known as an accomplished poker player.  He won the 2004 Commerce Casino’s California State Poker Championship, beating out a roster of 90 other players, many of whom were professional gamblers.  Affleck also placed in the 2005 World Poker Tour Championship.

It is said that Affleck’s often collaborator Matt Damon began playing poker seriously after starring in the 1998 movie Rounders, which was specifically about the game.  To help make himself a better player, Damon has worked alongside professional poker players such as Phil Helmuth and Annie Duke.  Affleck also worked with these poker professionals in order to improve his game.

Matthew Perry is yet another celebrity known for his gambling habits, thanks to his appearances on Celebrity Poker ShowdownTV.  Perry is said to be an avid player of online casino games, and as of late rented a suite in the Bellagio for a VIP weekend.

Though he lost to Ben Affleck in the 2004 Commerce Casino’s California State Poker Championship, Toby McGuire is still an accomplished poker player and gambler.  The same year as his loss to Affleck, McGuire took home the Phil Hellmuth Invitational.  Winning this tournament is quite a distinction.

Daniel Craig, the man who has played James Bond himself, was forced to learn poker before the filming of Casino Royale.  This was so that he could convincingly portray the title character, who had to be poker savvy at this point.  After the filming of that movie was concluded, Craig began to play poker on a regular basis, and currently counts himself among the many celebrities who hit the tables for fun.  This just illustrates the allure of the game, which can be very powerful indeed.

There are many other examples of celebrities who like to gamble; George Clooney is one celebrity who has made a name for himself in the gambling world by playing in poker tournaments worldwide.  He has even gone so far as to make personal investments in certain Las Vegas casinos.  Jennifer Tilly won the 2005 World Series of Poker bracelet, which was worth $158,625.  With over 600 other players in the running, the competition was staggering.  Tilly also won the World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament, which took place at the Los Angeles Bicycle Casino in 2005.