Famous people are in many instances just like us and have similar problems. Gambling addiction is a common problem around the globe not only for casino enthusiasts from small towns, but also for celebrities who, we believe, live in a perfect world. If it is true that extroverts gamble more than introverts ,then it should come as no surprise that celebrities would be more prone to such addiction. In this article, we will give you a little bit of info about 5 famous people, who have struggled with gambling problems now or in the past. Have a look!

#1 Ben Affleck

A-list actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck went to rehab in 2001 for his gambling and alcohol addictions. That same year, he co-stars with Justin Timberlake in the gambling themed thriller “Runner, Runner.” Some of the accusations that spread around in the online space, were that the Academy Award winner was even involved in a top-secret poker, where he lost $400,000 hand of poker to Ron Meyer, President of Universal Studios. Ben seems to be doing much better these days, which is a positive sign of recovery.

#2 Michael Phelps

 

Even though conventional wisdom has it, that sportsmen are incredibly disciplined, there seem to be an exception to the rule. Apparently, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is not solely collecting medals around the pool. His friends have reportedly been worrying sick about his addiction to gambling. It appears as though the young swimmer is extremely preoccupied with poker and could easily fritter away millions of dollars without even noticing. Phelps, who is better known as the Record holder of 22 Olympic medals in swimming, has been obsessed with Poker for years. And one of his strongest weapons in the pool – his competitiveness has become his biggest problem on the poker table. We wish him all the luck in his recovery!

#3 Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen has been famous for his drinking addiction, wild sex life, gambling problems and so on. His addiction to gambling, in particular, became public knowledge in 2006, when his then-wife said in the divorce papers that he spent nearly $200,000 each week on gambling and sports betting. According to People magazine, Richards said that in 2005, Sheen would have called his bookie to place a bet, while in the car on the way to the hospital for the birth of their daughter, Lola. Recent reports claim Sheen no longer gambles excessively and we hope this is really the case.

#4 Tobey Maguire

 

In year 2011, Tobey Maguire was one of the several celebrities sued for their participation in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling ring. Reports claim, the Spiderman star won more than $300,000.00 worth of illegal funds, allegedly stolen from hedge fund investor Bradley Ruderman. The actor has done most of his gambling in public, after learning how to play professionally from the most famous poker player in the world – Daniel Negreanu. According to another professional poker player – Phil Hellmuth, Tobey has acquired as much as $10 million through playing the game. His friends are, however, worried about his mental health, as they claim he has an addictive personality.

#5 Ray Romano

 

Ray Romano plays an affable, middle-aged man who is an addicted gambler in his new comedy-drama Men of a Certain Age. The actor drew from real life experiences to play his part. Like his character, Ray struggled with addiction when his gambling spiraled out of control and he sought help from Gambler’s Anonymous. He then successfully overcame his addiction and we congratulate him on that!