Alex Rodriguez’s Illicit Gambling Scandal With Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon and Future Rival Ben Affleck

Aug 27, 2023 | 12:00 PM EDT

Link Copied!

Alex Rodriguez is one of the most famous names in the baseball world. The ex-New York Yankees shortstop had a legendary and inspiring baseball career. He played for over two decades and achieved all the success and fame. But he also had a few unlikeable chapters that put Rodriguez’s image under suspicion and left him with many regrets. It involves his two-year ban on using PEDs. But there is another chapter that brought him under MLB scrutiny.

Rodriguez was a star and had a great relationship with many celebrities. Notably, he attended many events alongside them and got all the limelight. Once such a meeting with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and his ex-fiancee Jennifer Lopez’s husband, Ben Affleck, put him under suspicion of many. It happened after he was accused of attending an illegal betting event.

When they questioned Alex Rodriguez for his attendance in an illegal poker game with several Hollywood stars

Alex Rodriguez has been known for his open acceptance of his mistakes. But when he was accused and questioned about attending an illegal poker game, he did not acknowledge much of it. But given the allegations, MLB took it seriously and launched an investigation. It happened years after the Yankees warned him against playing illegal poker games that could damage his image.

According to the hollywoodreporter.com, MLB termed it a serious case. They said in a statement, “We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation,”

They started the investigation after they accused Alex of attending a Texas Hold ‘Em game at the Beverly Hills home of record executive Cody Leibel. Some of the other notable personalities included Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon. Interestingly, it might be the first meeting between Alex and his future competitor, Ben. The competition is due to him being the husband of Jennifer Lopez, whom she married after calling off her engagement with Rodriguez.

The report also stated that “Allegedly cocaine was being used in the open, and the game turned violent when two players refused to pay their losses of “more than a half-million dollars.” But Rodriguez’s publicist, Richard Rubenstein, denied all the allegations. However, the same was not the case with his PED suspension.

A-Rod’s acceptance that led to his MLB suspension

Though Rodriguez battled the illegal poker accusations, when it came to PEDs, he accepted his mistake. The 2009 champion said that it was the worst thing he had done in his life. He also warned future baseball players against going on the same line as him for quick success.

Notably, an investigation followed him after his acceptance of PED usage. After that, they suspended him for the entire 2014 season. However, he made a comeback and finished off his career at the Yankees. But the scandal continues to haunt him and his missing the Baseball Hall of Fame is one example of it. What do you think about it? Will he be able to make it to that exclusive list in the coming years? Let us know your take in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY – Alex Rodriguez’s Dating History: Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, and More