There are many child actors who gambled away their fortune, but these famous people who broke gambling laws didn't even legally enter the casino in the first place.
baccarat casino oddsIt's well known that being a child actor or actress can be detrimental to young stars. Many have been corrupted by the industry and met cruel ends. Some turned to drugs, others became criminals, while some took their own lives.
Being involved in Hollywood also exposes children (and their parents) to the glamour of Las Vegas casinos. It's not uncommon for movie producers to take young actors under their wing, which can lead down a dark path.
Many child stars came from broken homes or were raised by greedy parents. Predatory adults promised them money and "good decisions" if they did as they wished, which often led to underage gambling.
Some celebrities gambled at pool tournaments or played board games for high stakes, but it's still against the law. Others snuck into casinos with the help of staff and were eventually busted cheating slot machines.
Below are some famous names you wouldn't expect to find on a list of gamblers who got in trouble with the law.
Macauley Culkin
The most famous child actor to make headlines for questionable gambling habits is Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin. After his parent's divorce in the mid-90s, Culkin was left to raise himself.
Did you know? The Rich Man's Wife actor's godfather is none other than Vegas legend John Al Leo. Culkin has said that Leo introduced him to the casino lifestyle when he was only 12 years old.
Culkin's spending habits drew concern after his financial affairs were handled by former lawyer Michael Leitzke and sister Dakota. They claimed the actor wastes his money on "adult toys," prostitutes, and drug paraphernalia.
Leitzke also revealed that Culkin's monthly expenses totaled approximately $105k a month - far more than the actor was bringing in. He reportedly owed over $200,000 in back rent on his New York apartment alone.
Although accusations were thrown back and forth, and lawsuits were filed, no solid evidence was found. Culkin denied all allegations and accused his sister and attorney of trying to scam him out of his earnings.
Despite money woes, Culkin moved to Seattle with his then-fiancée, went through a brief homeless spell, and landed a gig writing for a gaming magazine. Today, the Uncle Buck actor appears to have gotten his finances in order, although he admitted in a 2016 interview that he's "precariously close to being homeless."
In recent years, Culkin has made headlines for the opposite reason - too much savings. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, he spoke out about having way too much money and not being able to spend it due to lockdown restrictions.
"Nobody wants to go out to dinner with a guy with a mask who has too much f---ing money," joked Culkin.
Best Casino Sites That Accept PayPal Deposits in the USA 2023Dina Lohan
Dina Lohan, mother of Mean Girls actor Lindsay, made headlines in 2008 for getting kicked out of Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal. At the time, Dina managed her daughter's career.
According to reports, Dina was asked to leave the casino after threatening employees and resisting arrest. She was later charged with disorderly conduct, but the charges were dropped after she completed court-mandated anger management classes.
Rumors circulated that Lindsay stood to inherit a large sum of money from her father, which may have contributed to her mother's gambling problems. Michael Lohan denied the claims, saying his daughter's trust would be split between her and her siblings.
Like her daughter, Dina has had her fair share of run-ins with the law. She's been arrested for DUI and has had several run-ins with the authorities for minor offenses like disorderly conduct and traffic violations.
Nowadays, Dina works as a hotel manager in Dubai, where her two youngest sons work as models. Her eldest son, Michael Jr., is a recovering addict and gambler. In fact, he once stole $100,000 from his dad to pay off his debts.
Lindsay has kept a relatively low profile in recent years and seems to have gotten her life together. Here's hoping the Lohan clan has left their gambling days behind.
No Deposit Bonus Casino Real Money Wins You Can Brag AboutJoey Buttafuoco
Long before Joey Buttafuoco made it onto the VH1 show My Super Sweet 16, he made headlines for underage drinking and sex with a minor. The party boy made national news in 1987 when then-girlfriend Amy Fisher shot Buttafuoco's wife in the face.
After serving time for attempted murder, Fisher tried to rekindle her romance with Buttafuoco. When he shot her down, the "Long Island Lolita" turned to gambling to get revenge on the Lido Beach native.
According to reports, Fisher told authorities that Buttafuoco owed her $3,000, which she lost at Resorts World Casino in Queens. She said he'd borrowed money from her on multiple occasions but never paid her back.
Buttafuoco denies owing Fisher any money, telling reporters, "If anyone's got a gambling problem here, it's not me. I think she's looking for some attention."
The Long Island native has certainly been in the public eye a lot over the past few decades. These days, he owns a carwash and detail shop in Florida and occasionally makes appearances on reality TV shows.
Live Casino Shows to Try at Every Casino Live BetDan Schneider
You may not know his name, but if you grew up in the '80s, '90s, and '00s, you're familiar with Dan Schneider's work. The writer/producer created some of Nickelodeon's biggest hits, including Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, The Amanda Show, All That, iCarly, Victorious, and Henry Danger.
Schneider discovered the world of gambling at the young age of 14. While attending a concert in Las Vegas with his father, the producer convinced a bellman to let him use his keycard to enter the MGM Grand casino. From there, his dad's chauffeur drove him back to the hotel after his slot machine sessions.
Schneider says he was lucky and won a lot that night. From then on, he begged his dad's drivers to take him to the casino whenever they went to Vegas. By the time he was 16, the TV producer knew nearly every MGM Grand employee and could get in and out undetected.
Looking back, Schneider admits he was "obsessed" with the casino and almost had his TV career ended before it began. Fortunately, his behavior went unnoticed and didn't affect his personal or professional life.
These days, Schneider still enjoys playing slots and visits Vegas a couple of times a year with his wife. But unlike his early days in the casino, he doesn't set foot on the gambling floor unless his spouse is by his side.
Rachel Cameron Uchitel
Before Rachel Uchitel found herself at the center of a Tiger Woods scandal, she worked as a hostess at Butter, a trendy NYC nightclub. That's where she met aspiring actor Danny Masterson, who introduced her to Scientology.
Uchitel soon moved to LA and started a relationship with the actor. Like many young couples, they spent a lot of time at casinos, but instead of the craps table or roulette, they competed in poker tournaments across California.
Things took a turn when Uchenell claimed the ex-couple started seeing other people while they were still involved. Shortly after, she discovered Masterson had been colluding with other players in tournament games.
The Texas Hold'em player said she wasn't the only one he cheated, either. Danny alleged that Joe Sebok, Griffin Benger, and Phil Galfond all benefitted from his dishonest acts.
Uchitel contacted the Fantasy Factory stars stopped paying attention to her, which supposedly pushed her over the edge. Thus, she spilled the beans to tournament organizers and had the four gamblers banned from the event.
Sebok, Benger, Masterson, and Galfond vehemently denied the accusations, calling Uchitel a liar and a gold digger. The players even conducted a polygraph test to prove their innocence.
In the end, it was Masterson and Sebok who were banned from the tournament, not Benger and Galfond. Danny sued Uchitel for $20 million, alleging she ruined his life and career because of her lies. Uchitel countersued, accusing the actor of assault and battery. Both cases were eventually dismissed.
Today, Uchitel runs a PR company and appears on podcasts and talk shows, discussing everything from 9/11 conspiracy theories to her experience with the Church of Scientology.
Jake Pavelka
Jake Pavelka may not be as famous as Pilot Inspektor Lee Marvin or Ricky Schroder, but the former Bachelor is certainly known by reality TV fans. Interestingly enough, the pilot-turned-reality star dabbled in acting in his late teens and early twenties.
Pavelka appeared in commercials, films, and TV shows before deciding to follow in his father's footsteps and become a pilot. He returned to the small screen in 2009, competing on Superstars before becoming ABC's leading man.
In 2010, the Texas-born celebrity checked into the Sundance Mountain Resort's Treatment Center for "stress" prompting speculation he sought help for alcoholism. Unnamed sources alleged Pavelka had a gambling problem and blew through most of the cash he made on The Bachelor.
Pavelka denied going to rehab or having financial troubles, saying he visited the facility for work reasons. Although he didn't elaborate on what that work entailed, the center offers treatment programs for addiction and mental health issues. Perhaps he visited the resort to learn more about running a successful program?
Either way, the former Bachelor seems to have gotten his life back on track. He now flies for American Airlines and occasionally makes appearances on Christian networks.
Gary Coleman
Most people remember Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson from Diff'rent Strokes. The child actor suffered from health issues from birth and stood a mere 4' 8". His small stature earned him the role of Jacksons, which catapulted him to fame in the late 70s.
While filming the hit sitcom, Coleman demanded a raise, claiming he was not being paid fairly for the work he did. Producer HBO Independent Productions refused, leading Coleman to miss several shoots. Ultimately, the network fired him from the show.
Struggling to find work as an adult, Coleman auditioned for roles below his skill level. Despite typecasting, he booked a few jobs, including a guest spot on Married... With Children. That's where he met his future wife, Shannon Price.
The pair married in 2007 but split less than a year later. Soon after their separation, Price alleged that Coleman had an affair with another woman on set and accused him of abusing steroids. Things got messier when the actress claimed the former child star threatened her with a gun.
Price dropped the weapons charge, and Coleman denied the allegations. They reconciled, only to split again in 2012. This time, Price filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
In the years leading up to his death, Coleman made headlines for more than just his troubled marriage. In 2008, the actor filed a $1 million lawsuit against his parents for mishandling his finances. According to Coleman, Oliver and Sharon Coleman bought a lavish home, several luxury cars, and drained his bank accounts.
His lawsuit also mentioned that his mom took out more than $700,000 worth of loans in his name and that his dad cashed dozens of his royalty checks. The actor claimed the actions left him financially stranded and forced him to take menial jobs to make ends meet.
Then, in 2009, the Chucky star was arrested for misdemeanor battery after getting into an altercation with a 19-year-old who tried to take a picture with him. Coleman allegedly grabbed the kid's phone out of his hand and hit him, breaking his thumb.
After his parent's house went into foreclosure in 2010, Gary Coleman turned to gambling to make ends meet. The actor scored some big wins at the craps table, raking in around $70k in three days. Unfortunately, he lost it all within a week.
On March 28, 2010, the Utah native died from a brain injury after falling unconscious at his home. An autopsy revealed that Coleman had several medical conditions, including hydrocephalus, kidney and heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Judyard Paris
Most people will remember Judyard Parfitt as Rebbeca Bradley in Wish Upon a Star. Like many child actors, she struggled to find work as an adult. So, the actress turned to writing, penning novels like The Book of Love and co-authoring Fallen Angel.
Online Poker Tournaments You Can Enter Right Now - PokerListingsParis also tried her hand at producing and directed a short film titled I Do (Without You). However, the project didn't go as planned. Actors failed to show up on set, equipment malfunctioned, and the production fell further and further behind schedule.
To make matters worse, the producer of I Do (Without You) disappeared with the film's budget. According to Paris, Paul Watson conned her out of £35k ($49k), leaving her in serious debt. To make ends meet, the Borrowers actress turned to payday loans and built up a staggering £160k ($224k) in interest.
By 2013, Paris owed so much money that debt collectors harassed her constantly. She received hundreds of texts and calls each day, some of which were threats. The situation became so bad that the actress considered taking her own life.
In a desperate attempt to pay her creditors, Paris set up an online bingo account and gambled £8k ($11k). Not only did she lose all the money, but she racked up thousands more in debt.
Thankfully, Paris received help before things got even worse. Today, the Willow alum advocates for improved regulation of the payday loan industry and helps others who have fallen victim to predatory lending.
Best Mohegan Sun Casino Online Games You Shouldn’t MissTodd Bridges
Everyone knows Todd Bridges as Willis Jackson from Diff'rent Strokes. Much like his onscreen brother, Bridges found himself in hot water as an adult. The child actor was accused of beating up a 12-year-old in 1989 and was charged with battery. Although he denied attacking the boy, the case ultimately got dropped.
Things took a turn for the worst in the early 2000s. Bridges blamed Gary Coleman for his struggling acting career and developed a reputation for being difficult to work with. Producers stopped casting him in shows, and his finances took a downturn.
To make matters worse, the former child star accumulated thousands of dollars in gambling debt. Bridges went bankrupt in 2001 and claimed Coleman was responsible for his financial troubles. According to the actor, the Orange Is the New Black alum pressured casinos not to let him gamble.
In Todd Bridges' opinion, Coleman ruining his credit and costing him job opportunities. But a representative for Arnold Jackson claimed he hadn't seen or spoken to Bridges in years and had nothing to do with his debts.
Regardless of who was at fault, the actress behind Kyle Sacksofer on Days of Our Lives, Kristina Malandro, bailed Todd out of his financial hole. Reports at the time suggested the pair were dating, but Malandro shot down the rumors, calling Bridges her "brother" and insisting they were simply friends.
Mike Lookinland
Child actors aren't the only minors to get in trouble with the law for underage gambling. Mike Lookinland was all grown up when he entered a Las Vegas casino in 1981. Security guards recognized the Little House on the Prairie star and allowed him to enter the gambling floor.
Lookinland told reporters he'd been to Vegas numerous times and always allowed in despite being under 21. Of course, that's illegal. Everyone who enters a casino must be at least 21 years old. Establishments that allow underage patrons can get their license revoked.
No word on whether the Christmas Miracle actor faced any legal consequences for breaking gambling laws, but it's unlikely he did. As with Dina Lohan's case, it's possible the actors were offered a plea bargain in exchange for completing community service or attending gambling awareness classes.
Potential MI Casino App Upgrades That Will Blow You Away!Raven-Symoné
Although there's no evidence suggesting Raven-Symoné broke gambling laws, the actress gambled her Disney money on dice and cards in her early 20s. In a 2013 interview, the That's So Raven creator admitted she had a gambling problem in her younger years.
"When I was 18, 19, 20 years old, I was really big into gambling - not in a thuggish way, but in a really stupid white-girl way," the Dr. Doolittle star told ABC News. "I was out here out of my mind betting on craps tables and drawing hands."
Raven explained that she would go to the casino, draw a card, and look up the optimal strategy move to use. Then, she would walk up to a stranger and confidently put down her bets, winning a lot of money in the beginning.
However, her luck soon changed, and she lost thousands of dollars. Looking back, the actress realizes how foolish she was, walking around casinos flaunting wads of cash. Nowadays, she sticks to slot machines - you know, the responsible way to gamble.
Charlie Sheen
It's common knowledge that Charlie Sheen loves tiger blood and wins. The actor's erratic behavior in 2011 made international headlines, leading to his departure from Two and a Half Men.
Sheen blamed the show's creators for ruining his life and repeatedly claimed he had tiger blood and winning. He also called Chuck Lorre a clown, claimed he had Adonis DNA, and said he was a complete winner, winning all the time.
Reports at the time suggested the Platoon alumnus was using drugs and alcohol. Sheen maintained that he was clean and sober yet somehow managed to win consistently.
Of course, professional gamblers came forward, claiming the actor probably wasn't winning as much as he thought. Those in the know say Charlie's "tiger blood" and "winning" rant was likely a reference to using prostitutes and blowing money on high-end call girls.
Sheen's ex-wife Denise Richards alleged the actor had a sex addiction and spent thousands of dollars on escorts. If her claims are true, it's possible Charlie was winning big at the poker table thanks to the hefty allowances his rich parents gave him when he was a child actor.
Flavor Flav
For those who don't know, Flavor Flav rose to fame after appearing on The Surreal Life and Flavor of Love. The musician, rapper, and actor made headlines in 2006 when he was caught on tape attacking a Hooters waitress.
Surveillance footage showed the Tom Green Show star throwing salt and pepper shakers at the worker, punching, and kicking her. The incident occurred right after Flavor Flav gambled away $10,000 at a Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Pearl River Casino.
According to the Clerks alumni, he and his entourage lost the money in a three-card poker game that probably involved cheating. A fellow gambler at the table alleged that Flavor Flav and his crew colluded to win, which prompted the casino to ban the group from the property.
Feeling disrespected, the musician and his pals returned to the casino hours later. The Hooters incident resulted in charges of simple assault and battery. Prosecutors later dropped the charges after Flavor Flav completed 20 hours of community service and attended counseling sessions.
Types of Slots Bonuses to Look Out For (And How They Work)Since then, the Deliver Us from Eva actor has been in and out of the news for various reasons, including a DUI, assault, and failing to pay child support.
Robert Ri'chard
We cannot discuss child actors who broke gambling laws without mentioning Robert Ri'chard. Also known as Kyle Edwards on Hang Time, the actor was busted for underage gambling in Las Vegas in 1998.
Security guards initially allowed the teen into the MGM Grand at Fox because they mistook him for actor Erik von Detten, who is the same height and has similar features to Ri'chard. Once casino staff realized their mistake, they escorted the Cheaper by the Dozen star out of the casino and contacted the police.
The One on One alumni faces misdemeanor charges and could receive six months probation, a $1,000 fine, and orders to perform 100 community service hours. Like other minors caught gambling illegally, he may also need to attend classes on the dangers of gambling and how to prevent underage entry to casinos.
That’s it for our list of celebrities who broke gambling laws as kids! Did we miss any notable names, or do you have questions about underage gambling laws? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to check out our blog for more interesting reads.
