Big wins and big names with these public figures who struck gold at the casino

From Hollywood stars to sports legends, these celebrities didn’t just gamble, they won big. Here’s an insight into public figures who infamously walked away from the tables and screens with fortunes in their pockets.

We’re used to seeing public figures rake in millions from movie deals, endorsement contracts or game-day bonuses. But what happens when they take that star power to the casino, whether online or in-person? Turns out, a few of them have won big, showing that sometimes luck doesn’t just favor the brave, it sometimes favors the famous.

Let’s dive into some of the most talked-about celebrity wins at casinos and online platforms. Some of the stories are almost too good to be true, but they’re all confirmed, public and good enough to make even the most seasoned players jealous.

Try your luck where the stars play

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Ben Affleck: Blackjack king of Hollywood

Ben Affleck is not new to making headlines, but in 2014 he hit the news for a reason entirely un-Batman-related. Affleck was supposedly banned from playing blackjack at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas for being too good. Yep, not cheating, just winning too much.

Affleck is said to have won around $800,000 in one night by card counting, which he openly learned and practiced. He was composed, focused and “cleaned house” at the tables, the casino staff said.

Card counting isn’t precisely illegal, though it’s not welcomed by most casinos, especially when one is winning nearly a million dollars. Affleck was certainly out of the casino, but not before making a lasting impression and a good payday.

Tobey Maguire: Spider-Man spins a web of poker winnings

Tobey Maguire, best known as the original Spider-Man of the early 2000s films, has a reputation for being more than just your friendly neighborhood superhero. He is also well known in high-stakes poker circles, having participated in high-stakes underground games in Los Angeles.

Between 2005 and 2011, Maguire purportedly won over $10 million at Texas Hold’em. He played in games with billionaires and Hollywood stars, and by all accounts wasn’t there to make friends. Several accounts describe him as ruthless and skilled.

His name was even brought up in a court case concerning a Ponzi scheme, but Maguire settled out of court and got to keep most of his winnings. Tobey definitely knows how to keep his cool and win, whether at a movie premiere or at a poker table.

Dana White: The UFC boss who packs a punch at the tables

Dana White is responsible for making UFC a global empire, but what people don’t realize is that he’s a big deal in casinos too. White has famously won Las Vegas casinos millions playing blackjack, consistently betting upwards of $25,000 a hand.

In a single famous session at the Palms Casino, he won over $5 million, causing such a commotion that the casino eventually banned him, not because of any wrongdoing, but simply because he couldn’t stop winning. He’s spoken openly about it too, stating that some casinos “just don’t like to lose.”

White’s secret? Nerves of steel, high-risk play and a sense of when to fold. That philosophy definitely held him in good stead both in the octagon business and at the gaming tables.

Archie Karas: The man who turned $50 into $40 million

Less of a household name than the others, Archie Karas is a legend among gamblers. His story is nothing less than crazy; in the early ’90s, he famously turned $50 into $40 million in Las Vegas over a three-year winning streak known as “The Run.”

Karas was not a celebrity in the usual sense but was a public figure by virtue of his infamy. He had earned his fortune primarily at poker and pool hustling before graduating to craps and other table games.

Of course, luck eventually ran out. Karas lost nearly all his winnings as quickly as he had gained them. Still, his name is among the most legendary in gambling lore.

Paris Hilton: Blackjack sweet wins

Not among the top dollar-amount winners but definitely one of the most recognizable celebrities to play blackjack win is Paris Hilton. In a sponsored tournament in the 2010s, Hilton reportedly won over $30,000 playing blackjack.

She’s been a fan of online casino sites since age, even participating in charity events hosted on casino websites. Her presence served to bring exposure and glamour to online gaming in its early days of finding its footing.

Fame, fortune and flukes

Regardless of whether they won based on skill, luck or a combination of the two, these celebrities have proven that casinos, both virtual and real, can render even already affluent celebrities even more affluent. Yet beyond the hefty amounts of cash, it’s the tales that live on. Ben Affleck’s sneaky card counting, Tobey Maguire’s high-stakes poker face, Dana White’s risky betting, they all demonstrate an aspect of celebrity life that’s possibly perilous, ostentatious and slightly addictive.