Poker is one of the most well-known, and most well-respected card games in the world. Even those who’ve never played the game are familiar with the concept, and most are even familiar with the rules, just from cultural osmosis alone. The popularity of the game has, understandably, had a hold on Hollywood as well.
While many view celebrities as an “other,” the truth is that they are people with hobbies and interests just like anyone. Sometimes, those hobbies involve playing poker, or other casino games. Whether they like to play poker online, or enjoy the game in a land-based establishment, these are the actors and actresses that have a taste for one of the biggest card games in the world.
Ben Affleck
Actor, screen-writer, producer, and director, Ben Affleck is a multi-talented guy. His first big achievement was the film Good Will Hunting, which he co-created with friend and colleague Matt Damon, a film that they wrote when they were still in college. Ben Affleck’s public talents are many, but, what few know is that the actor/director has a hidden talent as well.
Among those talents is a knack for poker. Many a time, Affleck has been seen in gambling establishments in Las Vegas, enjoying a fun time at the poker table. In fact, he has earned a bit of a reputation as a high-roller, and has even won $20,000 in one night. The movie star has also participated in some amateur, as well as professional poker tournaments, so perhaps his talent is not as private as we think.
Despite seemingly being an experienced and hardcore gambler, Ben Affleck has also earned a reputation as a good-natured player and opponent, at least when playing the game. Some of the people playing with him have called him affable and friendly, which should be expected from a public figure of his caliber.
Matt Damon
A lot of critics and fans joke that Affleck and Damon are inseparable. And while their careers have strayed away from one another, their friendship seems just as strong as ever. So, it perhaps shouldn’t surprise many to learn that Damon is every bit the gambler that his friend Ben Affleck is. Though it seems that Matt Damon’s poker career is not as shiny as Affleck’s.
For one, he does not visit land-based casinos nearly as much as his best friend. However, he has competed in several poker tournaments, including the World Series of Poker, just like Ben Affleck. Unlike Ben Affleck though, Matt Damon has never won a tournament, instead getting eliminated by pro poker player, Texas Dolly.
Still, it seems that Damon enjoys a bit of good-natured fun when playing poker. While we don’t know nearly as much about his poker history as we do Affleck’s, we can surmise that the two have had a blast playing the game together during a friendly night out.
Norm MacDonald
Rarely do comedians get the same status in the industry as Norm MacDonald. He is one of the few, alongside Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Jim Carrey, etc. to rise above his status as a Saturday Night Live alumni, and become a legend. He has guest starred in films, filled comedy clubs, and remains one of the funniest people alive.
What few know about MacDonald is that he is a well-known poker player, who has competed in several World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments, and has even won a pretty hefty prize. In 2007, for example, he won close to $15,000, coming in at 20th out of over 800 contestants. Considering he was competing against professional players, we are willing to say that this is quite the achievement.
MacDonald’s preferred game seems to be Texas Hold ‘em. Certainly, we can’t blame him for this, as the US-based poker game has, recently, taken over the gambling sphere. It is not just the most popular poker variant in America, but also worldwide.
Closing Thoughts
Celebrities, like the rest of us, enjoy a fair share of hobbies. Gambling is among them. While the three people we brought up here are certainly fans of poker, they are by no means the only actors and actresses that are. DiCaprio, Maguire, Jennifer Tilly, and so many more have been spotted playing the game, and even participating in semi-professional tournaments.
