Hollywood loves to use casinos and gambling as a backdrop for countless movies, and it would appear that what shows up on the screen has actually spun off into real life, as more and more celebrities are starting to show an interest in gambling, with some even cashing out big in the real world. Take actress Jennifer Tilly who walked away with $158,625 and a World Series of Poker bracelet after beating out a field of over 600 other ladies in a Texas Hold ‘Em event.

Perhaps it’s being in a gambling based movie that creates the interest for some, and a good example of that are Matt Damon and Edward Norton  who are now considered regular poker players after they starred in the poker movie “Rounders”. Damon and his buddy Ben Affleck have actually spent a fair amount of time learning the ins and outs of the game with poker stars Phil Helmuth and Annie Duke, with Ben actually becoming good enough to win a couple of live tournaments.

It seems to be young Hollywood that is most in love with gambling as Leo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire are also regular players. Having said that, there are a couple of older TV stars who regularly hit the tables, with Jason Alexander and Gabe Kaplan, of “Welcome Back Kotter “, fame heavily involved in the poker world.

Big name sports stars have also been spotted at the casino, with former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley regulars on the Vegas scene. While most seem to prefer the table games, golfer John Daly has a real love for the slots and has reportedly bet up to $5,000 per spin at his favourite machines. Sports stars thrive on the thrill of the game and I’m sure that’s why they love the excitement of gambling, and even outside the Vegas lights there are stars who love the casinos of Europe, such as English footballer Wayne Rooney.

While we regular folks may not be able to afford the high stakes played by these celebs, we can still feel like we are special by becoming part of the Platinum Play Rewards programme.