Gambling has become a passionate hobby for many people in recent years, and it is growing exponentially. Many people, including well-known musicians, love to gamble, whether it is card-based games, slot machines, or even sports betting. It is often seen as a mode for stress relief and indulging in adrenalin rush games.
Today online casinos have made it easier to gamble, as you can play almost any game in the comfort of your home. While online casinos are not as exciting as land-based arenas, you will still see these celebrities enjoying gambling on the Las Vegas Strip.
In this article, we present 7 prominent musicians who love different gambling types like playing casino games, lotteries, or even sports betting. If you are a fan of one of them, you will get to learn a bit more about them and their hobbies.
Why do Musicians Love to Gamble?
Everyone has gambled at some point in their life but ever wondered what makes these well-known celebrities make bets in a casino? Well, it is a form of entertainment and when you have a lot of money at your disposal, it just makes it easy to gamble. However, some of the reasons musicians love to wager bets are:
- Stress relief;
- Inspires music;
- Make a statement;
- Show-off their success;
- The excitement;
- Socialize.
These are just some of the reasons they love the thrill of gambling, and winning them makes it even more enjoyable. If you’re also looking for ways to gamble for free, you can easily do so at Polski Sloty. In addition, you can find a number of lucrative promotions such as darmowe pieniądze za rejestrację bez depozytu, which will allow you to play without paying any zloty. You, unlike celebrities, may like the fact that a free game sometimes brings money.
But let’s get back to those for whom neither the no deposit bonus nor the jackpot will affect their way of life.
Who are musicians casino-lovers?
Several celebrities love to gamble at casinos or place bets online. But in this list, we will focus on some of the most popular artists, keep reading to know more about them.
Madonna
The iconic queen, Madonna is someone who loves to gamble as she regularly visits Las Vegas since the mid-80s. The singer likes playing poker and blackjack, but she is prominently known for purchasing lottery tickets.
In fact, in 2012, she purchased 100 tickets and managed to scoop €120,000 (around $130,000) that year. The Queen of Pop then used her prize money to open a school in Malawi, Africa. She is also quite liberal about her gambling habit, as it brings pleasure.
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight is another legend of the music industry who won 6 Grammy Awards and was nominated more than 20 times. The Empress of Soul began playing blackjack, a game that was introduced by her friend. She fell in love with the game.
In the beginning, she didn’t worry about the money as she made enough money through her music. However, the stakes grew bigger, and so did her addiction, and it turned into a problem. Once she recognized her situation, she immediately decided to turn her life around and sought help from Gamblers Anonymous.
Sean “Puff Daddy” or P Diddy Combs
Puff Daddy is one of the most popular rappers and producers for top artists. During his career, he has produced some of the top rapping artists ever in the music industry like Notorious B.I.G and Usher. Over the years, gambling became his passion as it gave him a sense of euphoria, or in his words, ‘It feels like skydiving’. Among the many casino games, blackjack is his favorite, and is considered a high-roller in both Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
In 2002, he was invited to be the first person to place a bet at Harrah’s Resort at its luxurious blackjack tables. His passion to gamble also gave him his biggest win against Mark Wahlberg as they bet on Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao’s fight.
Jay-Z
Speaking of rappers, Jay-Z or Shawn Corey Carter is one of the greatest hip-hop artists to walk this planet. Jay-Z is also considered to be an avid gambler and loves playing several casino games. Some of the games include:
- Poker;
- Blackjack;
- Roulette;
- Sports betting.
Although, his favorite is poker and he calls himself a professional player. He tends to play only at private tables but has been spotted at casino tables occasionally.
50 Cent
Well, you cannot talk about gambling and not mention 50 Cent, which is why he makes this list. Curtis James Jackson is known for placing huge bets, especially in sports games like NFL where he wagered half a mil on the New York Giants. He also placed a staggering $1.6 million bet on Floyd Mayweather, beating Manny Pacquiao.
Regarding casino games, 50 Cent loves blackjack so much that he even launched his game ‘50 Cent Blackjack’ on Facebook. The American rapper even tried his hand at winning the US Powerball lottery and even managed to match 3 out of 5 numbers.
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra is one of the legends in the music industry and is known for his musical talent. Having sold over 150 million records and acted in over 50 movies, he is considered one of the most successful musicians in history.
His love for gambling grew when he shifted to Las Vegas. During that time, he was credited with bringing gambling and music together and became a big name in the entertainment sector. Apart from gambling and playing a lot of casino games, he bought his casino in 1960, known as the Cal Neva Lodge & Casino.
Nelly
Lastly on this list is Nelly, a Grammy-winning rapper who loves to gamble and is well-known for his love for Texas-holdem poker. Nelly has made it very clear that he prefers skill-based games compared to other casino games. The rapper has even participated in many big poker tournaments, such as:
- The World Series of Poker;
- PokerStars European Poker Tour;
- PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
He loves to travel and play poker, as it has become an enjoyable hobby. Some people even suggest that he likes online casino machines, but there has been no proof or the rapper has never admitted to it. Recently, during a game in Mohegan Sun Casino, Nelly got into a fight with his opponent for making lewd comments at him.
Final words
Gambling has been growing exponentially, and many musicians are spending time wagering their money. These games act like antidepressants and give them a chance to enjoy other activities of life.