Poker is one of the biggest, most famous, most interesting and nerve-racking gambling games ever. The game is simple enough so that everyone can play it at some level while also being so complicated that only a person that is good at reading people instead of cards can be the best one out there.
How many times have we all heard the saying in poker – you are not playing the cards you are playing the players?! This is true and realistic in this game. The best poker players out there have certain tactics and systems that can help them win a game of cards or two, but what makes them the best out there is the ability to read your opponent and beat their hand by beating their mind. If you can do that then, when it comes to poker, the sky is the limit.
Today we are taking a bit of a different route. We are not talking about the best of the best in poker, but about the most celebrities that play poker. Some of them are good, some of them are bad, and some play for fun.
In this article, you will see just who they are, and you may surprise yourself when you see who the celebrities like a game of cards now and then. If you are the one who likes to spend time having fun while gambling then makes sure you check out https://www.casinoadvice.io/online-pokies/.
1. Aaron Paul
We all know Aaron Paul from the TV show Breaking Bad and we know what role he played there and how he played it. What I didn’t realize was that this guy also plays poker and is quite good at it. This actor, producer, and poker player has attended many poker tournaments and played a lot of good hands and players, but the 2015 WSOP with a $10,000 buy-in main event stands out.
He also played several other live cash games in the Bahamas, but he is best known for his participation in the Poker Stars Duel Series, where he faced off against one of the best football players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. Both were amazing during that face and sadly Paul’s luck ran out in the end when Cristiano got a better hand with pair of Jacks against Pauls 6 and 4 suited.
2. Ben Affleck
Another actor, director, screenwriter and poker player. Now this one I suspected he might be a card player. Maybe it was his rugged appearance sometimes or the ability to have that stare that makes you uneasy, I don’t know, but somehow, I always believed that Ben is a card enthusiast.
As I discovered, he has been a poker fan since his adolescence, and he began seriously playing poker in the mid-2000s. He was so obsessed with the game that he sought out lessons from professional players such as Annie Duke and Amir Vahedi. Ben competed in the 2004 California State Poker Championship and won a whopping $360,000, which is no small sum.
3. Jason Alexander
Known as one of the funniest sitcom icons in TV history as George Costanza in Seinfeld, this guy has a serious love for poker. He has attended numerous big and small tournaments including two appearances in Bravo Celebrity Poker Showdown where he won the 8th season’s showdown. He attended the 2007 WSOP main event and 2009 as well where he finished in the top 30% of the field. He is a calm and concise player who does not give a lot to their opponents.
4. Kevin Hart
This star of Hollywood’s big blockbuster films in the last 10 years, Hart needs no special introductions. All of you have seen at least one movie with him and you know what this guy is all about. Besides films, he does stand-up comedy and he likes poker. No matter how busy he is, and he is very busy, he always finds time for poker.
This just shows the love he has for the game. His first big appearance was in the Bahamas at the Poker Stars event where he played in the main and several high-roller events. Sometime later he also appeared in Poker Stars Championship in Monte Carlo where he announced his partnership with the Poker Stars brand.
5. Matt Damon
Matt is the only celebrity on this list who I have never doubted plays cards in real life. Matt’s love for the card game never faded after his role in Rounders, which fit him perfectly and no one could have done it better. Matt became one of the best and most passionate poker players in the world thanks to the best poker movie.
In preparation for the role, he competed in the World Series of Poker main event alongside colleagues Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Toby Maguire. He also participated in underground poker games at the Viper Room in Los Angeles. No one knows just how much he won or lost, but on several of his games, a few millions of dollars used to change hands.
6. Shannon Elizabeth
Nadia from American Pie was the girl we all dreamed about. She was also a tennis player that was so good she almost became a professional. This girl was so successful and she succeeded in everything she took on, even poker. Her family played draw and stud poker with her while she was very young. When she started her acting career she discovered Texas Hold’em, and since then poker became her second career. In 2007 she reached the semi-finals in the NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship which is no small feat.
7. Toby Maguire
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s company always demanded one more, and that one more was always Toby or our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. This guy has been playing poker for over 15 years and learned the game from the legendary Daniel Negreanu, a pro player who has won six World Series of Poker bracelets.
Toby is an expert Texas Hold’em player who has won over $10 million in various tournaments. It was also reported that this dedicated poker player was the brains behind the high-stakes celebrity poker game in the Viper Room in the mid-2000s.