Top 5 Successful Celebrity Gamblers

Living the high life makes a few long weekends at a casino more likely for celebrities. And there's more than a few that like to take a punt on a slot or two, or put their acting skills to the test over a high stakes poker table. While being a successful gambler is a little bit easier if you have your own personal fortune behind you, credit is still due to those celebs who just seem to be able to do it all – including making the right bets and playing the right hands. Here are five of the most famous, most successful gamblers around today:

50 Cent

Ben Affleck

Most recently recognisable for his role as the Dark Knight, Affleck both an accomplished actor and director. He's acted in over 50 films and picked up two Oscars over the course of his career so far. What many people might not know is that he's no less accomplished at the poker table. In 2004, he entered and won the California State Poker Championship, taking home a cool $356,400. That win also qualified him for a place on the World Poker Tour final tournament. In 2014, he won so many games of blackjack at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas that the casino banned him.

Floyd Mayweather

When it comes to pure earnings from gambling, few celebs (or even professional gamblers) can boast the kind of takings that Floyd Mayweather has amassed so far. Not counting his already astronomical earnings from his successful boxing career (rounded off by the super hyped bout against Connor McGregor), Mayweather has made well over $10 million thanks to his sports betting. In 2012, for example, he took home just over $1 million from a bet on an Oregon vs Arizona State game. Interestingly, he chose not to bet on the big fight between him and McGregor. That's probably because he didn’t need to – he's reported to have made $300 million from that fight alone.

Victoria Coren-Mitchell

Derren Brown

The master of suggestion, illusion and misdirection himself would certainly make a formidable gambler. He does, as it turns out. Although known for his mind bending, seemingly impossible shows and performances, Derren Brown was no stranger to casinos before he found his fame. He was a frequent visitor to many London casinos in fact. His foray into professional gambling was cut short for one simple reason: he was too good. Casino employees have reported that even though he only bet small amounts, he never lost. It seems the casinos haven't forgotten him either, as he was banned from Birmingham's Broadway Plaza Casino a few years ago for trying to play blackjack.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of course; there are plenty of other celebs that like a flutter. Just like for the rest of us, though, not all gambling stories are about success. Many celebrities have fallen into the trap of addiction – singer Gladys Knight became addicted to sports betting, for example, and Spiderman actor Toby McGuire was sued in 2011 for being part of an illegal gambling ring – a reminder of why we all need to gamble carefully, whoever we are.

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