Gambling is a pastime that millions of people around the world enjoy on a daily basis. And the great thing about gambling is that it’s not a one size fits all approach. So, gambling is very much for anyone and everyone. Included in the list of those who enjoy gambling are the rich and famous, but just why are they so fond of the activity?
One of the first reasons why rich and famous people love to gamble involves a word just mentioned, and that’s rich. If you have a lot of money, you are naturally going to look for ways not only to spend it but to enjoy spending it. And, the great thing about gambling, either on sports, at land-based casinos, or recognised online casinos entering the market, is that you can have some fun, and then there’s also the potential to win even more money, which is never a bad thing.
Something else that a lot of rich and famous people have alongside money is free time. That’s not to say they’re not hard workers because most of them are; otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the position they’re in. But, when you have a lot of free time, the best thing you can do is fill it, which the rich and famous do a fantastic job of doing. And, as you will expect, they do this by having fun. So, this is why again, gambling is something many turn to because it is fun and it kills a lot of time.
What you will often find is that the rich and famous stick together. You see it all the time that they’re socialising regularly, be it sports people, movie stars, musicians, etc. Now, it’s not to say that they don’t have or can’t have “normal” friends because they do and can. But, when they’re out and about, you will see groups of Hollywood A-listers together, for example, and it’s usually in places associated with wealth, such as the casino resorts of Las Vegas. Not only are they great social occasions, but they’re also the perfect opportunity to really deliver on the stereotype and to be pictured, of course.
There are other reasons why the rich and famous gamble too, and one has come to the fore more recently than others. While gambling has always been a popular pastime in all its forms, it has led to multiple gambling companies operating within the one industry. And when this occurs, it means there is a ton of competition to attract enough customers to make a business viable and then profitable. Famous people are now providing assistance to these companies and brands, and in many respects, it’s the famous people who gamble themselves or have an association with the activity that are getting the nod.
We are, of course, talking about brand deals and sponsorship agreements. It’s become commonplace in the last five years or so primarily that famous people front advertising campaigns for gambling brands such as sports betting operators or those running online casinos. And, if you’re a famous person who enjoys gambling and is known to gamble or seen at casinos and the like, brands are more likely to reach out and offer to pay you a lot of money to become an ambassador.
And similarly to what we mentioned above, for some people, famous people, gambling has, in many ways, become a job as a result of the brand deals they’ve acquired. On streaming platforms such as Twitch, broadcasters with large followings are often seen spinning the reels of slot games for thousands of viewers. The streams are always sponsored by gambling companies, and it’s usually a case of the streamer being given an account where they’re not playing with real money, as they’re spinning the reels of slots to advertise a service and the great games it has to offer. In return, the streamer will be paid handsomely for their work in a pre-arranged agreement. And, sometimes, it’s not just your normal streamers involved who are famous in their own right. The likes of rap icon Drake have also managed to get in on the action too.
For some rich and famous people, they gamble because they feel when they do, they have a better chance of winning than some. For example, if you’re a sports star, you may have an understanding of a particular sport or sports that the general public don’t. It’s also possible that inside information can be received too. It’s not uncommon to see current or former sportspeople placing bets on the sport they are or were involved in, such as Floyd Mayweather Jr staking wagers on boxing. In many ways, you could suggest that doing so makes a lot of sense, as there may not be as much luck involved.
When you are rich and famous, let’s face it, it’s going to be fun, but if you’re working a lot, such as playing roles in hit TV shows and movies, you’re naturally going to want a break and a change of scenery. Gambling often proves to be an excellent distraction because while it is fun, it also requires your full attention. So, if you’re focused on playing casino games or picking out bets for sports, your mind isn’t going to be on the day job and all the stresses that go with it.
It’s why the relationship between the rich and famous and gambling isn’t about to change anytime soon. In fact, it could be a relationship that gets stronger over time for many of the reasons mentioned above. Because when you are rich and famous, for the most part, you want to remain rich and famous, and gambling can enable that to happen in both instances. And, as we see more recently, some people are gambling as part of brand deals and then going on to become rich and famous themselves, which is quite remarkable but not at all surprising.
