From Drake to Neymar: What Makes Celebs Play Poker?

Spider-Man does it. Tony Stark does it. Or at least the actors who play those movie characters tend to have a soft spot for poker. Celebrities have been rather obsessed with poker. It has been an opportunity to demonstrate one’s status and flaunt a bit of wealth.

Regardless of the reason, the undeniable fact is that celebrities will play poker time and again. They are not easily cowered by financial loss, either, as they tend to play fast-and-loose. Today, we take a closer look at what motivates them to play, and who the biggest players from the world of Hollywood and sports are.

And no, the answer is not Daniel Craig. His iconic role in Casino Royale may have been a cinematic masterpiece, but Mr. Craig could not care less about poker. His words, not ours.

Too Big to Fail?

It’s not hard to imagine why someone with a lot of money on their hands such as Neymar or Drake would have a bit of a la di dah approach to poker in general. Losses may smart and insult one’s ego, but they hardly have the same impact on their net worth as losing $200,000 or $1,000,000 would have on your budget.

Therefore, one of the reasons why celebs like to play poker is that they really don’t have much to lose. This is not to say they can afford to lose endlessly, but they do have the budget to learn through playing and making costly mistakes. Are celebs too big to fail? Well, Michael Jordan and Phil Mickelson do not necessarily play poker, but they have taken their betting to an extreme, which is why moderation is always a must.

Yet, many celebs can afford to play for a while before either throwing in the towel or actually starting to improve. As they put it, the money they spend losing or winning in poker is not a significant part of their purse.

It’s All About the Image

Poker just like chess, is a game that gives you a certain air of importance and brooding. Do you remember that one iconic picture where Messi was playing against Ronaldo in a game of chess for a commercial? It’s not very likely either of them is interested in chess very much, but the look of things is important, too.

This is why many celebs love to play poker. Poker in their circles is played by rich, powerful, and well-connected people. Most people would admittedly prefer to first explore America’s top picks for real money poker before the play with the big fish, but there is a certain appeal to moving in the circles that celebs do and playing at some big poker games – privately or otherwise.

After all, you need to maintain a certain appearance, and even if you are not too keen on playing, being a celebrity sometimes means that you need to go the extra mile.

Stoking the Flames of Egotism

Although there is a certain peer pressure involved, the fact of the matter is that many people love to play, and they feel more important if they do. Showing up at the poker tables or playing online on Twitch or Kick are all part of the deal. It’s you, and you are adored by your fans.

Why not turn up in cool shades and a cap to add to the mystery? Perhaps a hoodie, too? It all ties up in celebs’ self-image of importance. It’s not bad and we all do it. Vanity is just as common amongst celebrities as it is among you and us.

Yet, we cannot deny that poker is popular with celebs because they love feeling important. Of course, there are those that are actually good at it. Neymar Jr. who has had a few very bad instances with poker is actually showing promise after he won a small tournament recently.

His ego has been stoked, and he will definitely dive further into the game as a result. Whether it’s a good thing is down to Neymar Jr. to decide. From our standpoint, we can understand why the soccer ace is keen to play.

Poker Is the Game of the Stars

Although most of the current reasons all seem selfish, there is one simple truth to accept about poker. It’s truly a game of the stars, and not just celebrities. Anyone can dominate poker if they are good enough.

All are equal in poker until someone, through a remarkable show of talent and skill, beats everyone else. There is a competitive appeal in poker and even though money is involved, and many players want to make money playing the game, you cannot deny just how much people like to demonstrate their prowess and aptitude.

Why should celebs resist this temptation when you and we cannot?