With great wealth comes a greater urge for thrilling entertainment. And if there is something with loads of thrill, it is gambling. Rappers, on the other hand, are known to be wealthy, especially those at the top of the chain. So, it is no surprise that some of them engage in high-stakes gambling. They don’t necessarily do it for the money; it is simply fun and entertaining for them.
Now, the good thing about gambling is that everyone is on the same playing field. Yes, your favorite rapper may have a lot of money to spare, but they play the same games as you. So, irrespective of the part of the world you are located in, you can tune in and have a share of the entertainment. This all-round availability can be attributed to brands that provide their services to the nooks and crannies of the globe.
Take, for example, Serbia; since online gambling became legal in the country in 2011, players there have top brands like bet365 to give them good gambling services. That said, do you want to know which of your favorite rappers enjoy gambling? If yes, stay around as we explore some big Rappers who are also gamblers.
Drake
The Canadian hip-hop artist, Drake, is not secretive about his gambling adventures. He is a fan of both casino games and sports betting. Unlike several other rappers who gamble, Drake is open about the sides he supports. So, it is not uncommon to find screenshots of stakes he makes on his social media pages. In fact, sports fans have associated Drake with always betting on the eventual losing side, calling it the ‘Drake curse.’
The Drake curse suggests that any team or athlete the rapper backs are always going to lose. While this curse is continually reinforced with each bet he makes, it is only a harmless ideology that you should not take too seriously. After all, it is the same Drake that cashed out $17 million in a roulette game.
50 Cent
50 Cent is another famous rapper that is no stranger to casinos. The controversial rapper is a familiar figure at Las Vegas casinos and is a frequent name in poker tournaments. In fact, rumor has it that 50 Cent used to take serious poker lessons from veteran gamblers and pro players to stand a better chance at excelling in tournaments.
The American rapper is also fond of high stakes in the sports industry. Sometimes in 2015, 50 Cent stakes $1.6 million on ‘The Fight of the Century’, the bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. The bet went in his favor and he was reported to win up to $2.3 million on the stake.
Nelly
Nelly, the popular American rapper is also another name in the gambling industry. We say so because he is actually good at it. Rapper Nelly is a big poker fan, and he is not always hesitant to put his skills to the test in high-stakes competitions. In fact, it is almost like a habit for him.
A notable example would be when he clinched gold in Rolling Stone’s 40th anniversary, a celebrity poker tournament. In the end, Nelly came out on top, and interestingly, he donated all the winnings to charity.
It is not also uncommon to see rapper Nelly in the World Series of Poker competitions, where he puts himself in the spotlight against players from all over the world. For someone who is not a full-time gambler, we must say that Nelly is quite good at it.
P. Diddy
Puff Daddy, popularly called P. Diddy is one huge casino lover. He is a huge fan of blackjack and poker, and he doesn’t hesitate to splash the cash on what he loves. It is why he takes regular trips to Las Vegas. Diddy is also surprisingly a big winner; he has reportedly won up to $2m in one night. Being a generous tipper, it was also reported that a casino employee of the same casino was on the receiving end of a $250,000 tip.
Other notable mentions for rappers that gamble well are:
- Young Thug
- Birdman
- Jay Z
- YC