Poker is one of the most popular casino games across the globe, in which it is thought that 100 million people now play online. Thanks to its accessibility through digital variants of the game, poker is now more accessible to people from all walks of life. Those who never would have dreamed of stepping foot in a casino are now able to play in the comfort of their own home, on the commute to work, or even on a remote beach resort if there’s Wi-Fi.
Whether it’s an online poker game or at a lavish casino, there can be all kinds of people that the game attracts, from lawyers, teachers and bank workers, to the other end of the scale where celebrities are seen trying their hand.
Below, we’ll take a look at which celebrities like to dabble in a game of poker every so often.
Matt Damon
As one of the best-known actors of his time, Matt Damon has been seen in many blockbuster hits, from Thor to The Last Dual, Still Water and Oppenheimer. However, one of his best-known roles was in the movie Rounders, which just happened to revolve around poker. Rounders was a high stakes movie that entailed the trials and tribulations of the underground poker world, including the good, the bad and the ugly.
In order to prepare for the role, Damon is said to have dived head first into the poker world by visiting some of the most well known casinos across the globe. In the process, he just happened to become a talented poker player. To this day, Damon is still an avid poker player now, and his most famous poker activity has included playing in the 2009 WSOP in the $5,000 buy-in Ante Up for Africa Charity Event.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is one of the most well-known and respected golfers in the world, but golf isn’t his only talent. Starting out in his golf career early, Woods was best known for becoming the youngest man and the first African American to win the US Masters. With a billion-dollar salary that accompanied his golf career, it’s no wonder he picked up another expensive hobby which just happened to be poker.
Today, Woods can be found enjoying a game of poker at the MGM Grand Resort, or the luxury Bellagio where he likes to get involved in some high stakes games. Rumor has it that his usual spend is $4 million US Dollars per game, meaning he also gets some of the best VIP treatment to accompany his games too. Not bad for a golfer at heart.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Given the high salaries of professional sports players, it’s not surprising that they have rather risky and expensive hobbies like playing poker. Cristiano Ronaldo is another professional sportsman who likes to indulge in high stakes games. Originating from Portugal, Ronaldo currently plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, as well as the Portugal national team.
As a talented poker player too, Ronaldo is not shy about showing his love of poker. In fact, his poker activity has been so prominent that he has landed several sponsorships over the years and brings in a decent income stream from this. He is often referred to as the ‘King of Casino Ads’. One of his most famous deals has been with the casino brand Poker Stars, in which he served as the company’s worldwide ambassador in 2015.
Francesco Totti
Sticking to our professional footballer theme as above, Francesco Totti is an Italian born professional football player who is also well known for his lover of poker. Totti is best known in the football world for spending his whole career in Rome where he has won one Serie A title and two Italian Cup wins, whereas many professional footballers usually transfer overseas.
Totti is another celebrity who is not shy about showing his love for poker, in which he is the official promoter of several major online casino brands.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s no surprise that celebrities are drawn to the high stakes world of poker. When you operate in an elite environment, pastimes need to match the level of energy in these people’s lives, in which poker provides an outlet of exclusivity, high risk and high reward. While not everyone can become a celebrity, one thing is for sure that everyone can access a great game of poker, whether it’s online or in person.
