Celebs who enjoy blackjack 

Given just how popular blackjack is, it’s probably no surprise that there are plenty of celebs who are also fans. They’re not just fans of the game: some of them are actually really good and could give any of us a run for our money. Over the years, blackjack, and casinos as a whole, have started to be viewed as something that is on the cool side. That means that they’re great for the street cred of many celebs out there. In this article, we take a closer look at celebrity Blackjack players.

So, where are these celebs playing blackjack? Well, there are numerous blackjack tournaments that are laid on just for celebrities. Then there are the variety of TV shows that see celebs playing for their favorite charities. Beyond this, there are also those who can be spotted playing at casinos across Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

21+ | Terms & Conditions Apply | NJ Residents Only
Betmgm$25 FREE on Signup
100% up to $1.000 on First Deposit
Hotspot Leaderboard
Visit Casino
Review
GSN Celebrity Blackjack - Celebrity Blackjack players

Celebrities and the Game Show Network

The Game Show Network (GSN) was the first TV network that saw the potential that existed to tap into the popularity of games such as poker and blackjack. Throughout the years that GSN has been broadcast, there have been great programs such as High Stakes Poker and the World Series of Blackjack. The latter of these was known for featuring the odd celeb player every now and then. It was then, in 2004, that GSN came up with the show ‘Celebrity Blackjack’. This was to feature celebs playing blackjack for charity.

The format of the show was that of a blackjack tournament. Every week, new celebrities would appear and play it out. Their hope was that they could make it to the final and play for the $100,000 prize that would go to their chosen charity.

Some of the players that appeared early on in the show were:

  • Shannon Elizabeth 
  • Caroline Rhea
  • Dean Cain
  • Ben Stein
  • Billy Baldwin

Each episode of the show featured a round of play. At the start of each, every celeb started with $100,000 worth of chips. They would then go on to play 21 hands and the first 10 hands had a minimum bet of $1,000. The maximum amount that could be wagered was $25,000.

The final hand saw bets being placed in secret. They were written down on a piece of paper and kept away from other players. The winner at the end of the episode progressed to the final table.

The second season of the show featured:

  • Jason Alexander
  • Kelli Williams
  • Jeff Probst
  • Lance Bass

It was Jason Alexander who proved victorious and bagged an impressive $300,000 for his selected charity.

Are there other celebs who enjoy blackjack?

Away from the television series, there are other celebs who enjoy a hand or two when they have the time. Let’s take a look at who just some of these are:

Penn Jillette – Celebrity Blackjack players

While he’s best known for tearing up the stage with his partner, Teller, Penn is also someone who likes to try his look at blackjack tables. Penn is held in high regard amongst other players and is known as someone who possesses a great deal of skill. What may help Penn to play so well is the fact that he has a background in magic. Certainly when of the skills and blackjack strategies that he has mastered is that of card counting and he fully understands the mathematical probabilities that come into play with the game. At one point, Penn featured in the World Series of Blackjack. While he may not have won, he certainly gave an impressive performance. 

Orel Hershiser – Celebrity Blackjack players

As a former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hershiser is known as a baseball legend who enjoyed a magnificent career. When it came to the point where it was time to retire, he began to explore other things to fill his time. By applying the same focus that he had to become a professional sportsman, Hershiser soon became a hugely famous gambler. As a member of Poker Stars, poker is his game of choice. However, he is also known to enjoy a hand or two of blackjack. As a professional player since 2006, he is certainly a force to be reckoned with. 

Floyd Mayweather – Celebrity Blackjack players

Not someone that you’d ever want to face in the boxing ring, Mayweather is also known for being a pretty awesome blackjack player too. He is a blackjack player who has truly mastered the game and that means that he’s not afraid to put his money where his mouth is. That means that he’s a common site playing at high-limit tables in Vegas. 

LeBron James – Celebrity Blackjack players

Famed, of course, for his exploits on the basketball court, LeBron is a blackjack player who has gone as far as setting up his own tournaments. Anyone who has witnessed LeBron at the table all come away with the same conclusion: he’s exceptionally good at what he does. He certainly has confidence in his skills as he is never seen wagering less than $500 per hand.

Adam Levine – Celebrity Blackjack players

Levine is, of course, known as the frontman of Maroon 5. He’s also famous for the role that he takes on NBC’s The Voice. Away from music though, he is also an extremely talented blackjack player who can often be found playing. What is the secret to Levine’s blackjack success? Well, he refuses to touch a drop of alcohol while he plays. If everyone else followed this example, many casinos would soon find themselves in a whole host of trouble.

Final thoughts 

Yes, celebrities make their money by being in the public eye. That doesn’t mean that away from the cameras they’re not pretty similar to the rest of us. That means that deep down they’re just regular people who enjoy the same kind of things that me and you do. 

The big difference when it comes to celebs playing blackjack though is the fact that they can afford to wager big. It’s not rare to see them wagering $1,000 a hand without a care in the world. Of course, this can lead to some big losses but when a winning streak starts you can be sure that the results will be impressive. 

21+ | Terms & Conditions Apply | NJ Residents Only
Betmgm$25 FREE on Signup
100% up to $1.000 on First Deposit
Hotspot Leaderboard
Visit Casino
Review
GSN Celebrity Blackjack