For many, a trip to the casino is a sporadic splash of fun, but former Uber driver Brian Christopher transformed it into a thriving business. About a decade ago, the Canadian native relocated to California, aiming to break into acting.
The acting industry’s competitive nature meant Brian needed a side hustle, so he turned to driving for Uber. Fast forward to present day, and Brian’s earnings have skyrocketed to approximately 10 times his initial daily goal, thanks to a fortunate pivot during a trip to Las Vegas.
However, it wasn’t by mastering the odds at the casinos. His financial uplift came from a different angle. While looking up tips online for his Vegas trip, Brian stumbled upon videos of people gambling. Initially skeptical, he found himself engrossed. “The first reaction that I had is probably the same as everyone gets – ‘who the heck would watch that? Why would you watch someone else gamble? Why wouldn’t you just gamble yourself?’,” he said. “But I got myself sucked into it somehow. And, you know, I just kept watching. It was really, really fun to watch. So I thought, ‘what the heck, maybe I’ll film some videos’.”
To make his content unique, Brian decided to gamble whatever he earned from a day of Uber driving, hoping to double it in Vegas. Although he often lost all his money, there were also successful days where he exceeded his target. He uploaded these gambling adventures to his acting YouTube channel, thinking it would be a fleeting hobby. Surprisingly, his subscriber count quickly surged from about a dozen to over 1,000 in just one week.
Encouraged by the rapid growth, Brian continued posting gambling content and was soon invited into the YouTube Partner program, starting to earn money from his videos. “It started off as, you know, 30 cents this day and $1 the next day, $1.50, I’m like, ‘cool. It’s gonna keep on going up.’ Right? You never know,” he remarked. “So I just I decided… this is going somewhere. I have been an actor since I was 11, I’ve been following this dream. It’s still my dream. But there’s this new path in front of me right now… Let’s just see where this takes me first… And it exploded.”
Brian has since attracted over 1.7 million followers across social media platforms, who eagerly anticipate his slot machine videos, showcasing both wins and losses to underline the reality of gambling.
“I’m very aware that problem gambling is a thing, and I did not want to have a part in that,” he said. “I didn’t want to show people that I always win… [I was] very transparent from the beginning, showing all my wins and all of my losses.”
For Brian, gambling is more about the entertainment journey than the financial outcome. He stresses that the funds he gambles are solely meant for entertainment. “This is not a way to pay your bills. Treat it like you’re going into a concert, pay your entry fee, leave without expecting any money back – but hey, sometimes you might get a little extra to go back with you. And that’s pretty cool, too.”
He does offer advice for those aiming to win big, suggesting that larger bets are typically necessary, but also recommends moderation to enjoy the experience with less stress.
Brian’s highest slot machine win was a staggering $34,000, in a Las Vegas slot room that proudly bears his name, promoting a smoke-free gambling environment. “It’s the only smoke-free gambling area in downtown Vegas,” he noted. “And it’s got my name on it. I’m so proud to promote that and promote responsible gambling and smoke free gambling.”
Beyond gaming, Brian has leveraged his platform for greater visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, earning the Harvey Milk Foundation’s Visibility Award. He proudly shares his life as a gay man married to a man, impacting fans deeply, including one who credited Brian with helping him accept his own son’s sexuality.
Looking forward, Brian intends to expand his YouTube channels and explore new opportunities in both physical and online casinos. Despite his success, he cherishes the casino’s roller-coaster of emotions, from thrilling wins to challenging losses.
