The Poker and gambling scenes are filled with entertainment, and we don’t solely mean from the perspective of the players. Sometimes, even those on the outside can find the amusing side of things especially when you consider how freaky and odd the industry can be. There has been a myriad of stories across 2023 to confirm this, which we have put together in the Freaky Fortnight collection.

The weirdness and amusement hasn’t come to a sudden halt either with the past couple of weeks bringing some quirky moments to light. Let’s take a look at some of the most amusing gambling-related stories from the latter half of November 2023.

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Return to Vegas – Where They Almost Split 20 Years Ago!

Celebrities will always want to draw attention to themselves as much as they can. It’s how they ensure they stay relevant. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez always made headlines wherever they went back in the early 2000s. The pair, affectionately given the title of Bennifer (which we’re sorry to have ever written), had the media and fans in a frenzy wherever they went.

We all know that Affleck is an avid gambler, having put on many charity poker tournaments and attended some of the world’s biggest casinos. In fact, he has been mentioned in several of our previous Freaky Fortnight articles at ProfessionaRakeback. He was also responsible for hosting a PokerStars charity event during the COVID-19 outbreak. His appearance in Las Vegas in November was therefore not really so surprising.

What was surprising about it was that he attended the gambling hub with his wife, Jennifer Lopez. The duo, who married in July 2022 (in Las Vegas as it happens), were not visiting the city for a wedding this time. Instead, they were attending a charity blackjack and poker tournament in support of the Eastern Congo initiative hosted by Affleck. Again, this isn’t such huge or amusing news on the surface, but when you think about it, it is a little odd.

Around 20 years ago, the couple were spotted in Las Vegas together and were, at the time, engaged. Yet Bennifer looked miserable and like things were going wrong, and sure enough, not too long after that visit, the engagement was called off and they split. Those photographs of them at poker tables together almost make it look like they’re being held there at gunpoint. The fact that they decided to return to “the scene of the crime,” so to speak, is nothing short of silly – but in a very Hollywood way.

J.Lo played the part of stunning wife of the CEO at the event held at the Venetian Casino on Nov. 17, and of course she helped draw plenty of media attention. She is, after all, a glamorous woman and opted to make an impact by wearing two separate outfits in the same night.

The celebrity lifestyle clearly hasn’t caught up with either Affleck or Lopez because two days later, they were back in Los Angeles, enjoying time with their kids. Who wouldn’t want to have a drop-in visit to Vegas for some gaming activity before jetting back to LA, all while experiencing full media coverage? One thing is for sure – Ben and Jennifer are back to being the celebrity “it couple” we all needed!

A Massive Tip from James Bond in “Casino Royale”

In another wondrous moment from the world of Hollywood, film, and celebrities, we go to James Bond. The latest actor to play the English spy is Daniel Craig, and now there are many rumors going around about who will be next in line to portray the character. In fact, avid gamblers can even place bets at at many online sportsbooks on who they believe it will be.

There is little doubt that the Bond that Daniel Craig brought to the silver screen was a different variation than previous interpretations of the character. His debut film as Bond saw a more realistic tone created although that has also fallen by the wayside in one or two of his follow-up appearances as 007.

Yet one of the most amusing parts of the “Casino Royale” film comes when Bond is playing poker. Everyone knows that high stakes are all that James Bond ever plays for as, after all, what’s the point if you’re not going to get that ultimate high as a spy? Tipping the dealer is a common practice when engaging in table games, but in the film, Bond proceeds to casually hand over a $500,000 chip to the dealer for his tip.

Of course, that is amusing in itself, but when you get further into it, you’ll figure something out. That’s not his own money he’s tipping the dealer with – he’s in possession of funds from the British Secret Service and the American government. So he can seemingly be as flippant as he likes with it!

Director of Casino Royale, Martin Campbell, said in a recent interview with Polygon that he wasn’t so confident about filming the big poker scene. With so much card playing going on, he noted that it was “the thing I sweated on more than anything else.” The Texas Hold’em games taking place in “Casino Royale” come across as very authentic despite Mads Mikkelsen stating that Craig “sucked” at playing poker in an interview with “GQ.”

One thing is for sure – that half-a-million-dollar tip that the dealer gets from Bond is likely to ensure he never needs to return to his job there again!

Your Luck Could Be in If You Have One of These Two Lucky Names…

Who could have ever thought that there would be so much luck in a name or two? Well, it seems as though there is – that is, if you’re called Archie or Vivian. In the United Kingdom, customers with those two names had the most luck at an online betting site known as Lottoland. Analyzing 12 months of betting data allowed the company to discover the luckiest names as well as the time of day where betting is most fortunate for players – 9p.m. on Friday evening.

Other names that ranked highly in the luck stakes were Vera, Candice, Laurie, Claudio, and Chad. Oh, and if you’re born on June 8, then you have the luckiest birthday in the U.K.

Reported by “The Daily Mirror” newspaper on Nov. 22, the strange data collection also highlights two towns in the country that house the most fortunate people.

Maybe if you’re a superstitious kind of gambler, this information is relevant, but to everyone else, it likely has little impact. In fact, we’d probably say that the people at Lottoland need something better to do with their time. It even created a list of the top 10 luckiest birth months. Unfortunately, if you’re born in January or February, then luck just isn’t on your side.

We’re unsure of how much stock you can put into this data though especially considering that one of the top luckiest men’s names in the article is listed as Chantelle – a distinctly female name. Plus, luck is only one factor to consider in gambling especially when it comes to poker or Sports Betting. A large amount of personal skill can also be injected into these activities.

What we’re trying to say is even if you’re called Steve, you’re born in January, and you live in Oklahoma, you’ve got just as much chance as anyone!

Comedy from Illegal Gambling? “Bookie” on HBO is One to Watch

Comedy show creators and comedians in general aren’t in a good spot at the moment. The mindset of the world has changed, making it difficult for comedians to work without offending people too much. One duo in Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay are hoping for extra special results with their new comedy, entitled “Bookie,” the first episode of which aired on Nov. 30. Lorre was a writer on “Roseanne” back in the late ‘80s, and he went on to be a part of various popular sitcoms in the next four decades, such as “Dharma & Greg” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Yet, “Bookie” marks a change of pace for Lorre and writing partner Bakay. Shot on location across Los Angeles, it centers on an illegal bookmaker, Danny, played by Sebastian Maniscalco. He constantly takes bets and proceeds to weigh up all sorts of odds. Wagers come from all walks of life, including his own partner and family, as well as corner-cutting associates of his.

Danny is always on the move, dropping off winnings or, as is more often the case, picking up collections. His sidekick, former American football player Ray, portrayed by Omar Dorsey, is there as a heavy to deter bettors from trying to get away without paying.

The show would sound outrageous if it also didn’t sound like something that underground sports betting operatives are involved in today. Danny and Ray bring a comedic side to the show, of course, having entertaining banter with various people and finding themselves in situations they never expected to come across. If you know anything about sports betting in the USA, you’ll know that California remains one of the few places yet to have formally legalized sports wagering. That translates into the comedy series, with a former marijuana dealer informing Danny that his livelihood is next, considering the state legalized the drug in 2016. The threat of sports betting legalization constantly looms on the pair.

Bakay is himself a long-time sports gambler, and it was his anecdotes from years of placing bets that inspired the writing duo to create “Bookie.” The show features eight 30-minute episodes streaming on Binge from Thursday, Nov. 30. If you’re game for a laugh, then be sure to check it out.