Celebrities known for indulging in gambling
Celebrities are known for gambling. The most popular types of gambling among celebrities are poker and sports betting. Online casinos are a big draw for celebrities. For celebrities, the best online casinos closely mimic the feeling of being at a real casino.
The early days of Las Vegas were a heyday for organized crime. Most of the big casinos were financed with mob money. Frank Sinatra was one of Vegas celebrities who was heavily involved with organized criminals. He was the inspiration for Johnny Fontane in The Godfather (1972). The Kray Twins were the kings of London underworld during the 1960s. They made their money from the casinos they ran.
The Viper Room poker game was played by celebrities in the early 2000s. Ben Affleck lost $400,000 on one poker hand. Molly Bloom, who hosted the first game, was busted by the government. Molly’s Game (2017) was a film about the underground celebrity poker ring.
Professional athletes love gambling. Floyd Mayweather Jr is a big gambler. Charles Barkley has lost more than $10m due to his gambling habit. MLB management tries to prevent their players from gambling as it can be addictive. Alex Rodriguez attended some poker games at the Viper Room. The MLB is worried that gambling can lead to drug use. It can also make a player susceptible to being blackmailed into throwing a game.