
Sports betting isn't just for the pros or die-hard fans — turns out, plenty of celebrities love to join the game too. But do they know more than a common sports fan, and is it better to follow their lead? Or maybe they're lucky in their career but unlucky in betting? Let's take a look at how some of your favorite stars might bet (or actually do) when the stakes are high.
DrakeЖ The hype-driven high roller (and certified jinx?)
Drake's betting history is practically its own genre of sports drama. The guy has dropped hundreds of thousands on single fights, and sometimes he wins big. Like when he bet $500,000 on Jon Jones to win at UFC 285, and Jones wrapped things up in the first round.
But then there's the infamous Drake Curse.
Someone even created a whole website, fully dedicated to tracking his cursed bets and team affiliations. Drake has an impressive track record of unintentionally jinxing teams and athletes simply by supporting them (or even just by taking a photo with them). From Conor McGregor to Serena Williams to even entire football clubs, being seen with Drake or backed by him has historically been a bad omen. The site even tracks which bets he's lost and won, the amounts and the unlucky players who got the "Drake bump" and then decides if Drake is currently "Cursed" or "Not Cursed."
To be fair, he does win sometimes. But at this point, every time Drake posts about a team, fans on the other side breathe a little easier. The curse is just part of the spectacle now, like a very expensive sports meme that won't die.
Charles Barkley: Loud opinions, louder bets
If there's one celebrity who's never kept quiet about his betting habits, it's Charles Barkley. The NBA legend has been betting for decades, and he's not shy about it. In May 2025, Barkley said he'd "bet any money" on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA championship. And the man puts serious money.
He's admitted to losing millions over the years, calling it "too much," but he still enjoys the rush. Barkley's bets are bold, so plenty of fans pay attention to who he's backing, just in case. But considering how much Barkley loses as well as wins, maybe blindly following his lead isn't the best idea.
Gemma Collins: Bets by vibes, not stats
Gemma Collins isn't your typical bettor, but that's what makes her interesting. The former Towie star has recently turned heads after landing a £500,000 deal with Paddy Power to front their campaign for Royal Ascot. She shot the ad in London and leaned into the fashion side of racing, especially Ladies' Day.
Paddy Power signed her after seeing how much buzz she created at Cheltenham earlier this year. She admitted to losing her bets there but didn't care — she was there for the vibes. "I just pick a name I like," she said, calling her method "intuitive." Not the most scientific approach, but hey, it's Gemma. And if you like to bet this way without hoping too much to win, you can use Gemma's example.
Beyond Gemma's vibe, what about the rest of the celebrity world?
How celebrities might bet if they have to
We don't know much about other celebrities' betting habits (even if they have some), as most of them prefer to keep their lives private. But let's imagine how they might decide who they want to back up, even if it's just for a laugh:
Beyoncé: No public bets, but picture her buying a team stake, renaming the stadium "Renaissance Arena" and turning every game into a sold-out event.
The Kardashians: Bets based on jersey style. Kim's pick? "That away kit is Chanel ski lodge vibes — let's go!"
Pete Davidson: Bets on wild stuff like "first coach to spill water" and somehow wins big. Pure chaos energy.
Rihanna: Only bets on teams with show-stopping halftime performances.
Taylor Swift: She'd bet on teams with great stories — underdogs, comebacks or a bit of drama. Everyone needs a good story for the next song.
Tom Holland: He'd probably bet on the team with the friendliest fans or the funniest mascot, making the game more about good vibes than stats.
Elon Musk: Bets against the rules and tries to start his own league in the middle of the game. Classic Elon.
These are just fun images, but there is something about them, right?
Celebrities might not always play by the usual rules, but their bets make the game more entertaining, no matter if they're backing underdogs, chasing vibes or just having fun. Next time you go to Sportbet.one sportsbook and place a bet, maybe think about which celeb's style matches yours, because in the end, betting is as much about the fun as it is about the score.