What Happens at the Casino Stays at the Casino: Bollywood Stars Share Their Wildest Gaming Stories
Nov. 6 2024, Published 1:14 a.m. ET
Bollywood’s Love Affair with Glitz, Glamour, Luxury, and Privacy
Our continued fascination with the lives of the rich and famous is not only centred around Hollywood, but also extends to Bollywood in India. Established in Bombay (now Mumbai), by Badasahel Phalke in 1932, Bollywood is producer of films in the world, with thousands of films in several languages released every year. The company earns over two billion dollars in profit annually.
Bollywood has not only influenced Indian social life and culture for almost a century, but has also turned into a worldwide phenomenon. Films such as “Slumdog Millionaire” have helped Bollywood to become a globally accepted luxury brand that has led to international collaboration with other film companies.
Bollywood is known for its love affair with luxury and glamour and the extravagant lifestyles of Bollywood actors and actresses are a true reflection of this ethos.
Bollywood Stars and Their Fascination with Casino Games
Bollywood is known for creating exciting films that explore different aspects of society and culture. There are many famous films with important scenes that are set in casinos. These films have become very popular and some even have a cult following among viewers. Casino themed films have made casino gaming socially acceptable and also created a fascination and an increased number of players in casino venues and through online platforms.
Many celebrities and Bollywood stars are avid fans of casino gaming, openly showing their support and passion for online gaming platforms and traditional casinos. They enjoy playing games during festivals such as Diwali with their families. There are also many celebrities that support casinos through promotion of new venues or promoting existing businesses which encourages fans to play in those venues or online platforms.
The Value of Secrecy
Though they are often in the public eye, Bollywood stars also enjoy anonymity. It is common for them to host casino evenings in their homes where they can enjoy a certain amount of privacy, at the same time enjoying the thrill of playing their favourite games without being under public scrutiny. Indian film stars like many other Indian citizens play games during festivals such as Diwali.
So passionate is their love of casino games, some of these famous personalities have constructed their own casinos at home. It is common for lavish parties and casino nights that are exclusive invite only to be hosted by Bollywood A-listers like Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra at their luxurious mansion.
Another fan of casino games is Aamir Khan who hosts high stake games at his home in Bandra. Wagers start at a very reasonable Rs 5 but can rise to a staggering Rs 5,000 per point in high stakes games such as Rummy, Poker, and Flush. Apparently Mr Khan’s reputation as an actor has far surpassed his luck as a player and he often loses more than he wins.
There are other stars that prefer to go to top end casinos who will, at the request of a celebrity guest, create a “no-rule zone”. This unique environment provides A-listers with access to exclusive areas in a casino where they can gamble in private and not be obligated to adhere to conventional gambling rules.. No limit poker games are a popular pastime; and it is common for stars to lose or win staggering sums of money. These no-rule zones are private paradises where celebrity gamers can unwind and enjoy themselves anonymously.
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Big Wins and A Scandal Everyone Would Rather Forget
Ranbir Kapoor took a break while promoting a film in Macau to play at the local casino tables. Though he started by making small wagers, his friends encouraged him to try his luck. He made a substantial wager, and ended up winning a large sum of money. Though he did not disclose the actual amount that he won, he did share the story of his monumental win among his friends.
Aksay Kumar is worth over 240 million dollars. He enjoys playing classic casino games to relax. His friends say he is a magician when it comes to gambling, he is reported to have said that he has “the luck of the devil” when it comes to winning card games. He won big when filming in South Africa and says that his success was down to patience, strategy, and knowing when to take calculated risks.
Ranveer Singh took a holiday in Monaco and was seduced by the glamour and thrill of playing high stake games. He did not end up winning the jackpot but enjoyed the thrill of the game and was lucky enough to break even while enjoying the ambiance of one of the world’s most glamorous casinos.
Unfortunately, casino games are not always associated with glamour and fame. Several Bollywood stars found themselves entangled in the Mahadev Betting Scam of 2023.. At least thirty-four Bollywood actors and actresses were summoned for questioning by the anti-money laundering agency after they attended the lavish wedding of the co-founder of the app Saurabh Chandrakar. Fourteen individuals were formally charged for their involvement in the scheme including the co-founders Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar along with actor Ranbir Kapoor was paid to promote the app.
The anti-money laundering agencies investigation uncovered around $49,581,466.80 worth of jewellery, cash, and gold bars from 39 different locations that were all part of the Mahadev Online book betting application which served as the umbrella to a betting ring that allowed the creation of illegal betting platforms.
Experience the Luxury and Glitz of Online Gaming Safely in Your Home
Casino days India is a great platform to visit to experience the excitement of playing in a virtual casino from the comfort of your home. The wide variety of different games that range from slots, table games such as Baccarat, Roulette, and Poker, or even playing games with a live dealer are endless. Many online casinos have created interfaces that are so realistic that you can easily imagine yourself sitting in a real casino surrounded by glitz, luxury, and glamour. An added advantage of playing online games is that many platforms offer incentives and bonuses when you first join or through loyalty programmes for those who play games on a regular basis. A word of advice, always ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of the promotions. Choose a well-rated online gaming platform to ensure that you have the ultimate online gaming experience that is legal and safe.