They enjoy gambling as regular players. The differentiator is that celebrities are able to afford big stakes and have luxurious hotel rooms. This is why they get an advantage at casinos. The benefits range from penthouse suites to the best tables in nightclubs.
However, despite the risk they carry, they can be thrown out of casinos. In fact, plenty of celebrities have been ejected from casinos and even banned. Certain celebrities were banned for their infractions. Others beat casinos on their own terms as the advantage player.
In one instance one famous lady was banned from her father’s casino in retaliation. Continue reading to learn the details of this incident as well as other noteworthy instances when celebrities were banned from casinos.
1- NBA Retired Star Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is an 11-time NBA All-Star who led the league in scoring during four different seasons. He’s frequently referred to as “The Answer” because of his ability to make massive baskets in times when the team required his help.
Evidently, Iverson does not have a solution for the proper manners of gambling. This has led to him receiving several bans from casinos across the country, from Atlantic City to Detroit. One instance began in Atlantic City when the Taj Mahal (now Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) mistakenly gave Iverson the sum of $10,000 to place a wager that was not successful. Instead of immediately refunding the money, Iverson refused until his Taj Mahal staff kicked him out.
Iverson is also barred out of Detroit’s Greektown and MGM. According to DetroitBadBoys the report, he’s been 86’ed over multiple violations like throwing chips or playing cards on dealers. “[Iverson is] banned primarily for his irresponsible behavior,” the report reads. “He is a loser and has a tendency to lose lots of times, and often throws his chips or playing cards at dealers.
“He was warned of inappropriate behavior at tables numerous times. He’s often disruptive and loud According to the witnesses, and rude to dealers, players, and waiters.”
The Answer is still gambling in casinos. According to TMZ, he did not attend the BIG3 basketball match to take part in a game in the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois in 2017. However, it’s evident that he’s not welcomed in certain casinos because of his previous behavior.
2- Actor Ben Affleck
The dumping of counters for cards out of casinos is nothing new. But when the person who is the counter is a famous actor and producer Ben Affleck, it becomes an even bigger issue.
Affleck was taking notes during a game at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Casino when the casino’s management noticed his exceptional ability to count. The Batman Superman. Superman actor, who was once a millionaire, million on two Vegas blackjack sessions was told to go to the bathroom.
Hard Rock didn’t necessarily bar the player from their casino or even ban him from their casino at this time. However, they gently informed the player that he was not allowed to play blackjack at their tables.
A few news media outlets reported that Affleck was in fact excluded from the Hard Rock however this wasn’t the reality. In fact, Hard Rock welcomed him to play any other game. In light of the fact that Hard Rock is one of the most well-known casinos for celebrities which is why they didn’t bar any actor on the top list from their property.
Affleck later clarified that he didn’t get barred from the renowned Vegas casino. He also informed the New York Daily News that this wasn’t the first time he’s required to quit a Blackjack table.
“There were many casinos that told players”Hey, we don’t allow you to play blackjack in this casino – we’re sure you’re counting cards.
“‘But I’m sure you’re always welcome to visit and do what you like take in an event, eat dinner. We’ll even pay for it. Roulette, we know you don’t do craps, but hang around, we need your presence and commercial.'”
Affleck discovered an interest in different types of betting, including poker. He was the winner of 2004 the California State Poker Championship along with a prize of $356,400.
The 45-year-old also was part of an underground poker group that included notable stars such as Matt Damon, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dan Bilzerian who retired the slugger Alex Rodriguez.
Unfortunately, his love for gambling might be a factor in his divorce in 2017 from his ex-wife Jennifer Garner. The good thing is that they have a strong enough relationship to be able to co-parent their children and have fun with each other.
3 – Rapper Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne has been rapping since when he was signed to Cash Money Records at the age of nine. He’s since gone on to make a few successful albums and amassed a $150 million wealth. However, his legendary career in rap and a career that has lasted for two and a half years isn’t enough to get him slots at casinos.
Since 2010, he’s been exiled from Wynn Las Vegas for undisclosed reasons. Although no reason for the ban is known, however, it is believed that the ban may be a result of Lil Wayne’s probationary terms from the past.
The Louisiana native was arrested for violating the law on alcohol. One of his prior probation conditions was that he could not consume alcohol. He was intoxicated at Wynn when they told him to go. He was also not allowed to go to an afterparty at the Wynn. Wynn afterparty, which was hosted by Drake.
Although Wayne isn’t able to access the Wynn he is not having difficulties gaining entry into other casinos. As an example, the rapper was hanging in the Palms after the incident in 2010. Wynn incident.
4 – Illusionist Derren Brown
Derren Brown is a British illusionist, and mentalist who has made a name for himself by doing what seems impossible. If there’s one trick that he isn’t able to do is playing blackjack at the United Kingdom’s Broadway Plaza casino.
The Birmingham establishment requested Brown to quit the blackjack table in 2013. Casino managers were frightened as they observed the liar waiting to play Blackjack with friends. They were correct to be concerned, as Brown had previously demonstrated his amazing ability to count cards before a television audience.
The good thing is that Brown did not receive rough treatment at the hands of staff members of the Broadway Plaza staff. Actually, it was the contrary, as Brown was treated with the highest respect.
“After being courteously removed by @BroadwayCasino. Wonderful people, fantastic food, very kind bunch,” Brown tweeted afterward.
“I went into the casino after the show and sat at a blackjack table. They were extremely nice and provided me with food, however, they would not let me play.”
Brown said he’s been banned from the majority of UK casinos and was not shocked when Broadway Plaza asked him to leave the blackjack tables.
It’s not like he requires blackjack to survive. Brown has achieved a lot of seemingly impossible feats, and also created his own television shows, such as Mind Control, Trick of the Mind along with Derren Brown Explores.
5- The Socialite Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton has been in the news for more than 10 years. The famous actress has garnered attention for her legal controversies and appeared on the reality TV show Simple Life.
Hilton was also an heir of Hilton Hotels. She was also the heir to the Hilton Hotels franchise, until her grandfather, Conrad, decided that her inheritance should go to charity. But it’s not the most embarrassing manner in which Conrad has handled her.
The year 2006 was the time Paris played poker in Conrad’s family’s Las Vegas Hilton casino. She was then barred from the casino she was playing at on Conrad’s directives. Conrad was not happy with the fact that his daughter was spending money on poker. In one famous incident, she gambled and was unable to win her PlayStation 175,000 Bentley in an extremely high stakes game.
It is probably the first and only occasion that someone has been barred from the casino of their family. Conrad Hilton did this out of affection for his granddaughter since her losses were spiraling into the stratosphere of chaos.
Paris even admitted to being addicted to poker and could not quit playing. For Paris, this won’t be her last time being exiled from casinos. The celebrity has also been banned from both the Wynn Las Vegas as well as Encore casinos due to the purpose of a drug-related arrest. She was speaking with police officers outside in the Wynn when she was looking for lip balm. cocaine fell from her purse.
The officer was left with no alternative but to take her into custody to be charged with the crime. The boyfriend of her at that time, Cy Waits, was also detained at the Wynn for possessing marijuana inside his vehicle, and for having failed an alcohol-related test.
6- The Band One Direction
One Direction is from the UK in the UK, where the legal gambling age at a casino is 18. It’s possible that’s why they didn’t pay attention to the fact that Las Vegas’ legal gambling age is 21.
The boy group consisting of Harry, Louis, Zayn, Lia, and Niall, were all younger than 21 at the time they were staying at The Palms. The management eventually exiled them for drinking and gambling.
In an interview with the Sun, A source claimed, “The boys were hoping to get wild in Vegas with a drink and gamble late into the night. However, security at each casino was aware of who the youngsters were and they threw them out because it is legal to drink and the gaming threshold for gambling and drinking in the US is 21.”
The 2012 episode wasn’t entirely negative for the “X-Factor” winners, however, they were offered a suite worth $16,000 in the Palms. The suite was luxurious and had a two-floor loft that included the basketball half-court, pool table, and a hot tub.
7- UFC Dana White, President of UFC Dana White
Dana White presides over the world’s most famous mixed martial arts organization and has a love of blackjack with high stakes. Dana White is also extremely skilled at blackjack and has been out of casinos.
White often plays in long blackjack sessions, where the player can bet up to $20,000 per game. Of course, having a net worth of $400 million, he’s able to afford to take on the risk. However, it’s not a huge risk, as White has so many wins that he can make casinos nervous. The Palms ultimately concluded that White’s status as the UFC boss was not worth the risk and banned him from the sport in 2012.
The ban could be a shock considering that White was one of the Palms clients with the highest ratings since the company’s opening in 2001. He not only played blackjack for $25k per hand He also frequented their restaurant N9NE and gave employees as high as $10,000.
The Vegas casino was very successful until he racked up many million dollars at Blackjack tables. Palms took action by cutting the maximum amount he could bet to just $5,000 and cutting his credit limit to half. White was not taking this well and decided to stop operating UFC battles within the premises. He also started gambling with blackjack Caesars and stated that Caesars will “let players play” without “messing about with the limits.”
The Palms have rethought their decision two years later, and they gave Dana the bottle worth $5000 of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet wine for a birthday present.
White was pleased with the gesture. He relocated UFC Events back in the Palms and started playing high-stakes blackjack at the Palms. White continued to win and was once able to earn $5 million in one session. However, this threw him out of Palm’s friendly side again because they wouldn’t loan the sack he needed to carry the $5 million of cash. The 49-year-old was furious over the incident and claimed that it was a security issue.
“I’m thinking is that you’re serious?” asked he. “We’re going to be killed. There’s no sort of suitcase to deposit the money.” White’s buddies helped by transferring the cash into black plastic garbage bags. This has prompted White to bring baggies of his own to go to casinos.
Six months passed and White chose to play blackjack once more on the Palms. The casino then reverted back to their previous agreement, restricting his actions to $5,000 per hand, eventually granting White the “walking documents.”
Although they banned White from the blackjack table, Palms made good on their promise when they gave White an award-winning belt that was engraved with “PALMS undisputed Blackjack Champion.”
Conclusion
Celebrities enjoy exclusive privileges in many of the locations, as they attract attention and are often eager to invest a lot of money. However, just being famous won’t provide a person with access to all the facilities that allow you to go free at all casinos.
Casinos have banned a lot of famous celebrities over time. Casinos are the quickest to disallow any celebrity that poses a risk to the law.
The Palms did not take long to eject One Direction after the underage gambled and drank. In the same way, Wynn demanded Lil Wayne to leave when they discovered he was violating the terms of his probation through drinking.
Paris Hilton was banned from the Wynn and Encore due to a drug-related arrest. Funny enough, her father also banned her from Las Vegas Hilton for losing excessively in the game of poker.
Another easy way to be an 86’er is to treat employees in a poor manner. Allen Iverson is barred from numerous casinos across Atlantic City and Detroit for poor behavior.
Advantage play is another major reason that casinos exile famous players. Ben Affleck, Derren Brown as well as Dana White are all guilty of being too successful at playing blackjack.
Affleck has won more than $1 million with his ability to count cards. It wasn’t hard for the Hard Rock to see what Affleck was up to and announce the ban. White insists that he’s not an actual count of cards. Given that he has won regularly, however, it’s possible that he bargained for favorable rules, and is facing the possibility of a low-to-none house edge.
Brown was denied the chance to play blackjack in Birmingham’s Broadway Plaza. The way he displayed his skills at counting cards on the television screen got him fired before he even got warm.
In short, celebrities aren’t guaranteed to win when it comes to casinos. They’ll be able to get off with more than the average player but only to a certain amount.