The world of rap and hip hop has always been one that’s enjoyed showing off the trappings of success with bling, fast cars and high living. So it’s no big surprise that many of the artists involved in the scene also like to take their chances in the casino or on a sportsbook or two. It also won’t come as too much of a shock that when they bet, they bet big and like to let everyone know about it.
So here are three of the most famous names who can’t resist the urge to try growing their fortunes with a little help from Lady Luck.
Birdman
Birdman, or Bryan Christopher Williams to give him his full name, is reputed to be worth $100 million, largely thanks to the fortune he’s built up from performing alongside stars like Lil Wayne as well as from the very appropriately-named Cash Money Records.
In addition to being a regular at some of the best-known casinos in Vegas, Birdman is a particular fan of sports betting, and basketball and football in particular. But it’s been an up-and-down experience for the New Orleans-born star. Back in 2011, he wrongly predicted that the Miami Heat would beat the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals. But Superbowl XLV in 2012 saw him win more than $1 million when the Green Bay Packers overcame the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25.
P Diddy
He might be the self-styled “King of Bling” but Sean Combs never misses out on the chance to try to increase his fortune either in Vegas or at an online casino or two. It’s indicative of online casino’s growing popularity that so many people are connecting with them. There is now a big audience who visit website listings of offers for free spins or welcome bonuses, for example.
Combs is also not averse to the occasional sporting wager with another superstar. When Floyd Mayweather Jr took on Manny Pacquiao in 2015’s so-called “Fight of the Century” he bet Mark Wahlberg $250,000 that the former would win. It took all of the bout’s 12 rounds to prove him correct, but he was right on the money.
Nelly
Poker’s the game for the man they call Nelly – real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. – with his particular speciality being Texas Hold’em. He’s been a semi-permanent feature on the professional poker circuit in the past, including appearing at the 2007 Globe Series of Online Poker Main Event. He’s also been a regular on the European Excursion circuit and is said to have enjoyed some pretty impressive cash-outs. So it could be that he’ll really be hitting the big time one day and win some serious money in the WSOP Main Event – the ultimate prize in poker with huge rewards for the winner.
Of course, there are plenty more hip hop and rap stars who love the roulette wheel and even the slots. But none can quite compare with the exploits of these three gambling superstars.
