Everyone loves to play games. Actors, with their fame and loaded bank accounts, are taking it one step further: gambling. Whether it’s placing sports bets or hitting it off at the slots machines like 918kiss, there are plenty of celebrities who enjoy hitting it off at the high-stakes table.
Asians, in particular, are notorious gamblers. It’s because gambling is ingrained and even tolerated in most Asian cultures, especially the Chinese. There’s a Chinese saying, “If you don’t gamble, you don’t know how lucky you are.”
However, a lot of Asian countries have strict anti-gambling laws in place. China, for instance, doesn’t allow casinos to operate, except in special zones like Macau. South Korea also has similar laws in place.
That’s why you won’t hear much about Asian celebrities openly talking about their gambling activities on air. Doing so might cost them a jail sentence, as a few South Korean personalities will tell you.
Here a few examples of Asians, or those of Asian descent, who enjoy gambling (for better or for worse)
Jennifer Tilly
Although actress Jennifer Tilly is an American, she has Asian blood thanks to her father, Harry Chan.
Tilly made her acting debut in the film No Small Affair. She has since then lent her acting chops in numerous other films, including The Child’s Play franchise, Liar Liar, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Dancing at the Blue, and The Haunted Mansion, among others. She is also known for her TV role in Family Guy.
Aside from acting, Tilly is an accomplished poker player. She had one World Series of Poker bracelet to her name when she won a Ladies’ No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament in 2005, defeating 600 other players. Nicknamed “The Unabombshell” and “J Tille The Killa,” she was nominated for PokerListing’s Spirit of Poker Living Legend Award.
She briefly retired from the game in 2008, only to return in 2010. She has total winnings of $992,000 as of 2017.
Lee Soo-Geun
Lee Soo-Geun is a South Korean comedian who has appeared in many variety and comedy shows in the country. He has also starred in a few movies here and there.
The actor is famous as a member of the hit variety show Gag Concert, as well as in Finding Laughter. He is also an accomplished master of ceremonies.
However, Lee Soo-Geun also hides a penchant for gambling, specifically sports gambling. The problem is that it’s illegal to do so in South Korea. He did it along with other South Korean celebrities like Tony An, Tak Jae-hoon, and Andy Lee.
Authorities charged Lee with illegal gambling. It turns out he has been using an illegal website, as well as text messages, to place bets on teams in the English Premier League, the highest football league in the U.K. He has bet more than a billion won in the process.
He was found guilty and sentenced to eight months of prison time plus two years of probation. He returned to showbiz after two years of self-imposed time at home.
