Celebs With Gambling Problems
Problem gambling is an issue faced by people of different walks of life, even individuals that rake in earnings in the hundreds of millions, such as celebrities. Here, we look at some of those that carry the struggle. Fortunately, there is an increasing focus on finding ways for gambling addicts to overcome their problems. In some cases, seasoned footballers are taking a leading role in helping their peers to navigate the stormy seas of addiction. Former Hearts and Motherwell player Kevin Twaddle was once on the edge of suicide. Some of Hollywood's biggest movie stars have reportedly been addicted to gambling, including Ben Affleck, Charlie Sheen, and Tobey Maguire. Placing bets is also not a just a man's pastime. Female celebrities addicted to gambling include actress Shannon Elizabeth, who is a poker pro. There are many terms that are used to describe gambling problems, including 'problem,' 'at risk,' 'compulsive,' 'disordered,' and 'pathological.' 1 The American Psychiatric Association uses the term 'gambling disorder,' in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to describe the most severe form of gambling.
Gambling is undeniably a fun indulgent, which is driven by the thrill of collecting real money wins when a risk of the same is taken in games such as those listed in https://theinternetslots.com. Even though it is marketed as a pastime activity, things can go too far for some players, where they stop caring about anything else outside of gambling. Self-control is thrown out the window, resulting in a dependency similar to that of alcohol or drugs. Problem gambling is an issue faced by people of different walks of life, even individuals that rake in earnings in the hundreds of millions, such as celebrities. Here, we look at some of those that carry the struggle.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan needs no introduction to most considering his place as the greatest basketball player to grace the face of the earth. The Chicago Bulls player has massive success in the field that follows him more than two decades after his retirement, but the same cannot be said when it comes to gambling. Jordan is said to have picked up the habit after the money started flowing in, which was supported by the fact that he raked in hundreds of millions from his career. The earliest cases involving Jordan’s addiction surfaced when the retired basketball player confessed to having lost 165000 dollars while playing in Atlantic City casinos in 1993. The same year, the player also ran into a scandal when he was caught gambling in the same city the night before a big game, which was located two hours away from New York.
Celebrities With Gambling Problems
Gambling addiction is reported to have cost Jordan his career, but he still keeps up the vice to date. Even with years in the practice, he has yet to see as much success as he did as a basketball player. One of his biggest losses in recent times was when he took an L in a golf bet and parted with 1250000 dollars.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck takes on numerous roles in the movie-making business from actor and screenwriter to producer and director. He is well-known for his roles in films like Pearl Harbor, Argo, Live by Night, and plays the coveted role of Batman in DC Comics’ movie productions.
Ben Affleck’s struggle with addiction dates back to early on in his career, where his addiction was coupled with alcohol dependency as well. One time, the Batman actor staked 60 000 dollars while drunk but ended winning 800 000 dollars and gave tips of 150 000 dollars to casino staff. Affleck checked himself into rehab to deal with the issues in 2001. The actor went back to the tables to adapt to his role for the film Runner Runner where he plays the role of a gambler. During this time, he perfected skills like card counting, which has seen him get banned from several casinos due to raking in big wins at the loss of the house.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather is known the world over as the undefeated boxing champion with hundreds of millions to his name and zeal for showing off his wealth. The boxer is also a heavy sports gambler with high roller bets of more than 400 000 dollars a round. He recently collected a massive win of three million dollars placed on college football and is said to have staked ten million dollars on the Broncos winning the 2014 Superbowl. Floyd’s success in the boxing ring maintains this expensive habit even though it is branded by most as problem gambling.
Charlie Sheen
Over the past decade, Charlie Sheen has gained more recognition from scandals than his impressive performance in the hit show Two and a Half Men. The actor is said to have spent 200 000 dollars per week in bets at the height of his addiction and is cited as one of the reasons that caused the failure of his marriage. According to his ex-wife’s reports in the divorce papers, Sheen was so hooked on the vice that he was gambling on sports while they were on their way to hospital for their daughter’s delivery.
Parting Shot
Gambling can get out of hand for virtually anyone, which can cause a strain on finances and relationships even for the biggest of celebrities. Numerous programs such as Gamblers Anonymous and GamCare are in place to help those facing such issues.
Famous Celebrities That Have Had Bad Gambling Habits
What does a loaded celebrity with free passage to any casino and lots of free time do? Some grab some cash and walk into the nearest casino to gamble. That’s the script for many of the celebs who blew their fortune by placing multi-million-dollar wagers. In this post, we shall look at a couple of celebs who have become infamous because of their gambling problems
Ben Affleck has always had a soft spot for poker. Reports surfacing in 2014 revealed he also had a knack for blackjack, and that he was good at counting cards. Sadly, what started as a pastime soon affected his marriage. Things went bad between Affleck and Jennifer Garner, his ex-wife, and the couple eventually separated in 2015.
With four Masters to his name years ago (he won in 2019 too), Tiger Woods is perhaps the most successful golfer in our generation. He had it all: a beautiful wife, several titles, and big paychecks from his numerous wins and endorsements. When playing blackjack, he bet $25,000 per hand. The MGM Grand in Los Angeles gave him a $1 million betting limit.
For a high roller with enough cash, staking large amounts isn’t always a problem. Woods seemed to cherish betting big in the company of sexy girls. His gambling problems surfaced when he became friends with Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan, who were also serial gamblers.
Though hugely successful in basketball, Michael Jordan hasn’t been able to replicate his success in various casinos. In 1993 he admitted having lost $165,000 gambling in Atlantic City. Jordan also a reputation as an active poker player and has, in the past, gambled with golfing buddies Charles Barkley and Tiger Woods.
Sports Stars With Gambling Problems
At one point, reports said Jordan lost a whopping $1.25 million in a golfing bet to Richard Esquinas, a San Diego businessman. Rumors circulating at that time say he retired from basketball because of his gambling problems.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a big-money boxer with an undefeated streak of 50 matches. With an estimated $400 million worth, he is known for his flashy lifestyle. Mayweather is also one of the celebrities who splash large amounts of cash on sporting bets. At any one time, reports say, he bets up to $400,000 per sporting event. His former spouse used to drop him cash to wager on casinos.
Mayweather reportedly won a cool $5.9 million in one of the 2013 NBA playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.
Best known for the movie Platoon (1986) and the Two and a Half Men TV show, Charlie Sheen had everything going right until he started betting. He has been candid about his gambling problems. His former wife and actress, Denise Richards, said Sheen would spend up to $200,000 per week to satisfy his gambling impulse. He was an avid sbobet bettor and keen poker player who regularly participated in games.
So addicted was Sheen that it’s rumored he wagered his cell phone as he dashed to the hospital to witness the birth of his daughter. Right now, he seems to have gotten over the addiction.
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