5 Famous Celebrities Banned from Casinos

celebrities banned from casinos

Entering a casino usually makes people feel like royalty, but even celebrities have crossed the line and gotten themselves banned from these establishments. Whilst I could have written a list of at least a dozen, I’ve tried to keep the list more concise. So, here are 5 famous celebs who are no longer welcome at certain casinos due to their wild antics and disrespectful behaviour.

Ben Affleck

Known for his prolific acting career, Ben Affleck also had a notorious gambling addiction. His blackjack skills were so good that he was banned from playing at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. Affleck was also banned from playing blackjack at the Wynn resort after he was caught counting cards. While not illegal, it gives players an edge over the house which casinos heavily frown upon. Perhaps he should stick to poker and get some tips from Matt Damon who learnt some skills after Rounders?

Darren Brown

Illusionist Darren Brown is well known for his mind-bending magic tricks and TV shows demonstrating his skills in deception and manipulation. But his talents have also led to him being barred from many top casinos across the UK over the years. In 2004, he was banned from all Crown Casino facilities after strategically winning thousands through techniques like card counting. As his fame grew, more UK casinos began prohibiting him from playing games like blackjack and roulette due to suspicions of cheating.

While Brown claims to use only legitimate psychological strategies, the casinos considered his winning streaks unfair. His lifetime bans are a reminder that while celebrities may feel entitled to special treatment, casinos don’t tolerate consistent winners – even if their methods are technically legal. Brown’s clever schemes were no trick – they resulted in permanent exclusion. See a snippet his lottery predictions below:

Pamela Anderson

This former Baywatch beauty got in hot water at The Mirage casino in Las Vegas back in 2007. Anderson was playing at a slot machine when a couple sitting nearby recognized her. She began yelling profanities at them to stop staring. Her disorderly behaviour got Anderson booted from the casino permanently. Perhaps she would have been better off staying home and playing slots at one of the many fast payout online casinos.

Drake

The popular rapper Drake frequently enjoys gambling in his free time. However, in 2018 he was wrongly banned from playing table games at the Parq casino in Vancouver. The casino prohibited him from gambling and claimed he was “playing outside of rules” but presented no evidence. Drake’s team insisted he did nothing wrong. A day later, after facing criticism, Parq admitted their error and lifted the ban, issuing an apology to Drake for making assumptions about his behaviour without proof. The Grammy winner took the high road and harbours no ill will towards the establishment. The debacle serves as a lesson for casinos not to profile celebrities based on rumours or prejudice. Drake remains welcome at Parq and other establishments.

Paris Hilton

In 2010, hotel heiress Paris Hilton was banned from the Wynn and Encore resorts in Las Vegas after being arrested for cocaine possession. According to the Las Vegas Police Department, cocaine was found in Hilton’s purse by security at the Wynn. She was charged with felony drug possession. As a result of the drug offense on their premises, Wynn Resorts immediately banned Hilton from their properties. The notoriously wild socialite was added to Wynn’s “do not serve” list for 10 years.

Final Thoughts

While most patrons treat casinos with respect, even celebrities think they can get away with disruptive behaviour. However, security and management don’t tolerate disobedience, no matter how rich or famous you are. It just goes to show that what happens in Vegas won’t always stay there if you don’t play by the rules.

Narciso Baldo is the Director and Head Coach of Texas Hold'em Questions. He has been playing poker for over 16 years. After spending many years as a professional, he now runs UK poker training site Texas Hold'em Questions. Narciso regularly writes poker articles sharing tips, strategy, news and experience with gambling enthusiasts. Narciso also writes for reputable gambling portal Casino City Times, (bio here). Contact: info@texasholdemquestions.com