Australia has one of the highest gambling participation rates globally, so it’s no surprise that even celebrities get in on the action. While some keep their betting habits private, others have been surprisingly open about their love for a punt. Here are eight Australian celebrities whose gambling stories might surprise you.
Shane Warne – The High-Stakes Poker Legend
The late cricket legend wasn’t just spinning balls on the pitch — he was also spinning chips at the poker table. Warne was a regular at high-stakes poker games in Melbourne and Las Vegas, often playing in tournaments with buy-ins exceeding $100,000. He famously won $125,000 at the Crown Casino’s Aussie Millions tournament and was known to play private games with stakes that would make most people’s eyes water.
His poker obsession was so serious that he became a sponsored player for 888poker and regularly competed in international tournaments. Warne once admitted in an interview that he’d lost close to a million dollars in a single Las Vegas session, but won it back over the following months. His Crown Casino membership was at the highest VIP level, with access to private gaming rooms where minimum bets start at $1,000.
James Packer – From Casino Owner to Casino Whale
You might expect a casino mogul to avoid gambling, but James Packer has been known to play both sides of the table. Despite owning Crown Resorts, Packer has been spotted at high-roller tables in Macau and Las Vegas, sometimes betting hundreds of thousands per hand at baccarat.
His gambling goes beyond his own casinos. Packer reportedly lost $20 million in a single session at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand, though he’s also had massive wins that rarely make headlines. Friends say his competitive nature with other billionaires often leads to private gambling sessions with stakes that exceed most people’s annual salaries.
Russell Crowe – The Surprising Sports Bettor
The Gladiator star’s gambling might surprise those who know him as a serious actor, but Crowe is passionate about horse racing and sports betting. He owns race horses and is frequently seen at major racing events placing substantial bets. His Twitter account occasionally hints at winning betting slips, though he keeps the amounts private.
Crowe’s connection to the South Sydney Rabbitohs goes beyond ownership — he’s been known to place significant bets on NRL games, though never on his own team due to obvious conflicts. Industry insiders suggest his annual betting turnover runs into seven figures.
Eddie McGuire – The Calculated Risk Taker
The TV personality and former Collingwood president has been surprisingly candid about his gambling habits. McGuire is known for his strategic approach to betting, particularly on AFL games where his insider knowledge gives him an edge. He’s admitted to winning over $500,000 on a single Melbourne Cup bet, though he’s equally open about his losses.
McGuire frequents Crown Casino’s private rooms and has been spotted at exclusive poker games with other media personalities and business leaders. His approach is methodical — he treats gambling like business investments, setting strict limits and walking away when ahead.
Shannon Noll – From Farm to High-Roller Tables
The Australian Idol runner-up’s transformation into a gambling enthusiast wasn’t widely known until recent years. Noll has become a regular at casinos along Australia’s east coast, with a particular fondness for poker and blackjack. Staff at The Star Sydney recognize him as a VIP player who isn’t afraid to bet big.
What’s unexpected is how good he apparently is. Fellow players report that Noll has serious poker skills, regularly competing in tournaments with $5,000-$10,000 buy-ins. His rural background might suggest a conservative approach, but at the tables, he’s known for aggressive play and substantial bets.
Lleyton Hewitt – The Competitive Edge
The tennis champion’s competitive nature extends well beyond the court. Hewitt is a skilled poker player who’s competed in professional tournaments, including the Aussie Millions. His analytical approach to tennis translates perfectly to poker, where he’s known for reading opponents and calculating odds with computer-like precision.
Hewitt’s gambling isn’t limited to poker. He’s a regular at top-rated Australian online platforms (see casinowhizz.com) during tournament downtime, particularly enjoying high-stakes blackjack. His total gambling turnover reportedly exceeds $2 million annually, though his win rate is supposedly among the best of celebrity gamblers.
Shane Crawford – The AFL Analyst Who Backs His Tips
The former Hawthorn captain and current AFL media personality doesn’t just analyze games — he puts his money where his mouth is. Crawford is known for placing substantial bets on his AFL predictions, sometimes wagering five figures on single matches. His insider knowledge and analytical skills have reportedly made him one of the more successful celebrity sports bettors.
Crawford’s gambling extends to casino games, where he’s a regular at high-stakes roulette tables. Crown Casino staff describe him as one of the more entertaining high-rollers, known for his loud celebrations and good-natured reactions to losses. His annual gambling spend reportedly exceeds his media salary.
Anthony Mundine – Boxing to Banking Big Bets
The controversial boxer and former rugby league player has never hidden his love for gambling. Mundine’s betting is as bold as his personality — he’s been known to place six-figure bets on boxing matches and has admitted to losing over $800,000 in a single casino session. But he’s also had massive wins, including a reported $1.5 million score from a sports betting run.
What makes Mundine unexpected is the scale of his gambling relative to other athletes. While many sports stars dabble, Mundine goes all-in, sometimes betting his entire fight purse on subsequent sporting events. His regular presence at high-roller baccarat tables in Australian casinos is legendary among casino staff.
The Culture Behind Celebrity Gambling
These celebrities reflect broader Australian gambling culture, where betting is deeply embedded in social life. The difference is scale — where average Australians might bet $20 on the Melbourne Cup, these celebrities bet amounts that could buy houses.
Their openness about gambling also reflects changing attitudes. Twenty years ago, celebrities hid their gambling habits. Now, many treat it as another part of their public persona, sharing wins on social media and discussing strategies in interviews.
The High-Roller Lifestyle
What unites these unexpected gamblers is their approach to risk. Whether it’s Warne’s poker face, Packer’s billionaire bets, or Mundine’s all-or-nothing style, each brings their professional competitiveness to the gambling world. They’re not satisfied with small stakes or casual bets — they want the adrenaline that comes from putting serious money on the line.
For these celebrities, gambling isn’t about the money as much as the competition and excitement. With net worths in the millions, their bets are proportionally similar to average punters — it’s just that their 1% happens to be more than most people’s annual income.
The Australian celebrity gambling scene shows no signs of slowing down. As online platforms become more sophisticated and private games more exclusive, expect more surprising names to emerge as serious players in the high-stakes gambling world.