From large-scale poker tournaments to high-value casino play, lots of Canadian celebs are familiar with gambling. In poker, blackjack or online betting, these famous stars add their prestige and fortune to the game. These are some examples of well-known celebrities stepping into the world of gambling.
Drake: Canada’s Ultimate High Roller
Few celebrities have leaned into the gambling lifestyle as publicly as Drake. The Toronto-born rapper is known not just for topping charts but also for placing eye-watering bets.
Drake has been spotted playing poker in upscale Las Vegas casinos and often shares his sports wagers on social media, some reaching into the millions. His betting activity became even more visible when he partnered with Stake Casino, a crypto-based gambling platform. This partnership elevated his role from casual bettor to one of Canada’s most prominent gambling figures.
His presence in both the music industry and the gambling world has made him a fixture in pop culture and a regular subject of gambling news across platforms like ReadWrite Canada. On this site, gambling expert Djordje Bogdanovic has selected the best online casinos currently available to Canadian gamblers.
Justin Bieber: From Pop Hits to Poker Chips
Justin Bieber, another international superstar from Canada, is famous for liking games where luck plays a role. The Hippodrome in London, the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and Atlantic City’s top casinos have all seen the Stratford native playing in tournaments.
Bieber reportedly enjoys poker and blackjack in particular. His games range from casual home sessions with friends to high-stakes tables in private casino lounges. While not as publicly vocal about his bets as Drake, Bieber’s gambling appearances remain a notable part of his entertainment persona.
Pamela Anderson: Poker Tables and Public Bets
Canadian-American model and actress Pamela Anderson has had a longstanding interest in poker. Born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, Anderson has taken part in many celebrity tournaments and important events over time.
She has had several high-profile gambling moments, one of which was when she paid off a casino debt by entering a deal with Rick Salomon, with whom she later married and divorced. Anderson even took her enthusiasm for poker online, once launching a Facebook-based poker room to engage fans and fellow card players.
Joel Zimmerman: Spinning Tracks and Spinning Slots
Niagara Falls-born electronic music producer Deadmau5 is another Canadian celebrity with a soft spot for casino life. In interviews and online posts, he’s expressed an interest in traditional games like roulette and blackjack, as well as online slots.
Deadmau5’s love for gaming even inspired the creation of his own branded online slot machine, which combines EDM visuals with gambling mechanics. Regular trips to Las Vegas and online platforms make him one of the more tech-savvy celebrity gamblers on this list.
Jennifer Tilly: Hollywood Star, Poker Pro
Although she holds dual citizenship, Jennifer Tilly was born in Los Angeles to a Canadian father and has deep ties to British Columbia. More than just a celebrity poker hobbyist, Tilly is an accomplished professional in her own right.
She earned a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 2005 and has competed in countless tournaments since, including the WPT Ladies Invitational and Celebrity Poker Showdown. Tilly brings a mix of charisma and strategy to the table, making her a respected figure in the professional poker world.
Guy Laliberté: Betting Big for a Cause
Guy Laliberté, the Quebec-born co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, is a well-known name in high-stakes poker circles. His appearances in international tournaments often come with a philanthropic twist.
Laliberté created the Big One for One Drop event at the WSOP, a $1 million buy-in tournament that donates proceeds to the One Drop Foundation, which supports access to clean water globally. His poker hobby, therefore, blends gambling with giving, setting him apart in the celebrity gambling sphere.
Daniel Negreanu: Canada’s Poker King
No list of Canadian poker players would be complete without Daniel Negreanu. Starting out in Toronto, Negreanu has been recognized as one of the most accomplished poker players ever.
With so many winnings and a place in the Poker Hall of Fame, his record goes far past being famous, but his active appearances and bold comments have gotten him into the public eye. He often appears in both TV poker shows and online streams, letting people around the world enjoy Canadian poker talent.