If you look at the list of famous gamblers, it becomes clear that there are some well-known names among them, from Julius Caesar and Napoleon to today's Hollywood stars.
Gamblers with big names from Roman times
Ancient Rome is known for its games. The gladiator fights in the large arenas in particular attracted numerous spectators. But gambling in the form of dice games or betting also enjoyed great popularity. Roman personalities who loved gambling included:
- Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC): He was the originator of the famous exclamation "alea iacta est - the die is cast". A clear reference to the love of dice games
- Emperor Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD): He loved an earlier form of backgammon and organised raffles for guests during his feasts
- Emperor Claudius (10 BC - 54 AD): According to the claims, he had an extra table set up in his carriages for dice games
Famous gamblers from the 18th century onwards
Goethe, Schilling and Co.
Many names that most people will recognise from their German lessons were fascinated by games of chance. Lessing, for example, spent many evenings in the casino, Schiller loved playing cards. Goethe tried his luck in a lottery, where a manor in Silesia was the prize. He came away empty-handed, but subsequently wrote the poem "Die Schatzgräber" (The Treasure Diggers), in which he expressed his displeasure and disappointment at the outcome of the lottery.
Paganini, the devil's violinist
He is still regarded as one of the greatest violin talents of all time. We are talking about the Italian violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, who enchanted the music world in the 19th century. Because he was always dressed in black, played with such virtuosity that he put listeners into a trance and performed hysterical body movements, many thought he had sold his soul to the devil. Even if this is not true, it is nevertheless true that he was a womaniser and a lover of gambling. He frequented the casino in Baden-Baden and opened his own exclusive casino in Paris in 1836, the "Casino Paganini". In addition to card games and roulette, concerts were also organised there.
Other famous gamblers of the time:
- The French philosopher Voltaire (1694 - 1778)
- Casanova (1725 - 1798)
- George Washington (1732 - 1799)
- Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
- Napoleon (1769 - 1821)
Personalities with a love of gambling from the 20th centuryThe 20th century can also look back on a number of personalities who loved gambling. These included many politicians, for example the White House was also a regular poker player. Franklin D. Roosevelt was known to organise poker games at the end of the sessions of the US Congress. Winston Churchill was also a passionate poker player. It was he who said that you have to reckon with relatively high risks in both war and gambling. Harry S. Truman was a big fan of five-card stud poker and organised real poker marathons during the Second World War. Similarly, Richard Nixon was seen to be successful with the winnings from his poker games, including the financing of his first election campaign.
Famous stars of the modern era
Not only in the past, but also today there are a number of stars who can be described as passionate gamblers. They usually don't have to think about when the best time to hit the arcade is, because with enormous high-roller stakes, they are more or less welcome at any time.
Tiger Woods:
Tiger Woods loves blackjack and was said to be a regular at the "Mansion" club. This club is specifically for high-rollers and is part of the MGM Casino in Las Vegas. Some say that he had a betting limit of over 1,000,000 dollars and regularly played with stakes of a quarter of a million dollars.
Tobey Maguire:
He learnt from Daniel Negreanu, the professional poker player, and took part in several tournaments. In 2004, he emerged as the winner of one of the World Series of Poker events. It is estimated that he has won around 10 million dollars through poker games.
Ben Affleck:
Together with Tobey Maguire, Ben Affleck is one of Hollywood's most famous gamblers. According to reports, he played a blackjack tournament in Las Vegas with a bet of 60,000 dollars per hand and won 800,000 dollars. The croupier allegedly received a tip of 150,000 dollars. In addition to blackjack, Ben Affleck has also had some success at poker.
Gambling has always been a part of life
A look back in history to the present day shows that gambling has always been a part of life. From ancient personalities such as Caesar to great politicians such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Churchill. Roosevelt and Churchill to Hollywood stars Tobey Maguire and Ben Affleck, everyone has loved the chance to win big.
Conclusion
Looking back, people have always found the excitement of gambling interesting, from a long time ago in ancient Rome to now with Hollywood stars. The types of games have changed, but the idea of taking a risk for a reward has stayed the same.
In ancient Rome, famous people like Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus enjoyed playing dice games and organizing bets. Even in the 18th century, famous writers like Goethe and Schiller liked playing games. They had some good times and some bad times, and Goethe even wrote a poem about not winning a lottery.
In the 19th century, there was a famous violin player named Niccolò Paganini. He was known for being really good at playing the violin and dressing in black. Some people even thought he made a deal with the devil. He also liked gambling and opened his own casino.
As time went on, more people from history liked to gamble. In the 20th century, important leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill played poker. Even in recent times, famous people like Tiger Woods, Tobey Maguire, and Ben Affleck enjoy gambling.
So, whether it's ancient rulers, famous writers, or Hollywood stars, many people throughout history have liked taking a chance and trying their luck at games. The fun of gambling has been a part of life for a very long time.