We hear new gossip about celebrities at casinos all the time. On occasion, they're big stories about an A-lister winning (or losing!) big on some crazy bet on a single hand, or some crazy drama. Most of the time though, they're just sightings of celebrities enjoying themselves at a casino.
Celebrities and casinos have been closely linked since at least the 1950s when Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack made Las Vegas their home. What is it about casinos that is so appealing to celebrities and why do we keep seeing them there? Below are four of the top reasons why casinos are so popular among celebrities.
Glamour
When Frank Sinatra set up his residency in Las Vegas, it was the ultimate sign that Las Vegas was cool. Casinos have never really lost that allure⎯there is something very glamorous and chic about going out for the night at any of the top casinos. It doesn't matter if they're in Las Vegas, Monaco, or Macau, there's something very cool about classy casinos.
When celebrities want to enjoy a bit of glamour and show the world that they're cool, a casino is a perfect place to do so. As beloved and talented as they are, no one really thought Tobey Maguire and Matt Damon were cool actors until it came out that they were leaders of an underground poker ring. That fact elevated them to a whole other level of stardom.
Casinos are great places for celebrities to hang out with one another as well. They can stay in high-roller areas and not have to mingle with the general public, while still getting to enjoy being out and about.
International Access
Celebrities travel around the world frequently, sometimes for work and sometimes just for fun. No matter how interesting trying new things can be, there are times when everyone wants something familiar. For many celebrities, being able to play their favorite games at a casino is the ideal way to get that little taste of home. The roulette wheel spins the same way no matter where you are, and you don't have to think about translating a deck of cards. Casinos really can transcend borders.
Online casinos are open and available no matter where you are and no matter what time it is. Just because a celebrity is on a shoot in Estonia, for example, doesn't mean they have to miss out on their favorite games, as sites like Jalla Casino operate there. Drake is one celebrity with a reputation for loving online casinos and with his busy international tour schedule, it's easy to see why.
Open All Hours
Celebrity athletes are often photographed at casinos and, in a few cases, this has caused a bit of a sensation since it makes it seem like they are putting enjoying the nightlife ahead of their performance.
In reality, many athletes that play across the United States or have to travel internationally, end up jet-lagged and sleeping at unconventional hours. Jet lag can have a massive impact on team performance and, as anyone who has tried can relate, trying to force yourself to fall asleep just makes the whole process take longer.
Most casinos are open all hours and provide a place where star athletes can relax and unwind after a long flight, no matter what time it is. They allow a team to be together and compete in a non-serious way, which has the added benefit of increasing bonds.
The same is true for other celebrities. It's not as if filming a movie is a 9 to 5 job⎯sometimes filming might end at 2 am and actors need some time to decompress as well. Casinos are a perfect location for a bit of all-hours fun and relaxation.
Excitement and Fun
The last reason is the most obvious. Celebrities aren't that different from the rest of us, they go to casinos for the same reasons we do⎯it's fun! There's a reason why games like roulette, blackjack, and poker have been around for hundreds of years, they're really fun to play.
Being able to get fully invested in the excitement of a hand of cards or a single spin of a slot machine is easy for all of us. Celebrities might be able to risk a bit more at the tables, but that doesn't change the fact that they also rely on Lady Luck just like everyone else.
