British Comedy Guide

Actors who gambled

Playing cards and poker chips

Gambling used to be quite old-fashioned. Back in the 1960s and 70s, comedy actors, after a day on set, would head to a casino and unwind by trying their hand at Blackjack or Roulette.

The internet has changed everything now of course. There's even now something called 'Crypto Gaming'. It's an area of the entertainment industry which is growing fast. We don't totally understand it if we're honest, but here's a definition we found to help: "Crypto games are built on top of blockchain technology and are powered by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum". Sites for crypto gaming like those featured at CryptoCasinos.com are easy to find these days. They offer players an entirely new level of interactivity and engagement with their games that traditional video games can't match. At the same time, crypto games also provide an opportunity for developers to create innovative experiences that blend various genres together seamlessly.

However, let's rewind back to simpler times for this article. Here's four actors who used to gamble the old fashioned way, before the word Crypto was even a thing...

Sean Connery

Sean's not known for his comedy roles, but he did start his career with some great work in the field. And his is one of the gambling stories people love hearing about: successful ones! His love for roulette had him playing a specific pattern (Black 17). And one time, his combination appeared three times in a row. What are the odds of that? If you've played roulette, you know that the random number generation almost always keeps this from happening. But not for Sean. In a manner more akin to James Bond himself, he walked away with a cool $27,000!

Mel Smith

Mel Smith. Credit: BBC

The late comic actor, director, writer and producer - best known for his long-running on-screen partnership with Griff Rhys Jones - is another popular star who loved a flutter. And no wonder, for his father's grocery shop in Chiswick, west London, doubled up as a bookmaker's - reportedly the suburb's first! "I was settling bets when I was ten years old," he once confirmed, and was regularly placing his own by the age of 16. He would go on to own a string of race horses throughout his life; a passion that brought him great joy.

Mischa Barton

In her younger days, London-born Mischa starred in an adolescent drama where opulence was front and centre. Nowadays she embraces aspects of the drama as she leads a life where she participates in long gambling sessions. And while she might have left the drama behind, the glitz is still evident.

Sid James

How far would you go to keep gambling? Sid, the icon of the Carry On films, loved it so much that he kept secrets from his wife. He would divulge only part of what he earned, keeping a secret stash with which to gamble. While he was not a successful gambler, there's no denying that he would go the extra mile, and loved the art and thrill of the bet.

Published: Tuesday 4th April 2023

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