Taking a cue from Zac Efron's old 'do, Ben Affleck debuted some new blown out and freshly flat ironed longer locks in Santa Monica this weekend.



It's amazing what a new cut will do to a 38-year-old.

Tobey Maguire's super-exclusive high-stakes celebrity poker circle was SERIOUS when it came to cash -- in fact, TMZ has learned, if you didn't pay up ... you were blackballed for life. 


A regular player in the exclusive poker circle -- which included Leo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Nick Cassavetes and Todd Phillips -- tells TMZ, the poker games took place every Tuesday night for nearly 2 years ... from 2005-2007. 

The circle was small -- only 8 or 9 players at a time -- and we're told, the mood was always "super serious" ... no joking, no drinking. The games would start around 10PM and go all night.

It wasn't uncommon for tempers to flare either -- we're told screaming matches happened on the regular ... and on the rare occasion, the table even got tossed over.

There was no official buy-in -- but we're told, hands often got as big as $150,000 a pot. We're told players would regularly lose $500,000 in one sitting ... no big deal.

But these guys weren't carrying briefcases of cash with them -- we're told most of the time, they played on credit ... and if someone didn't pay, that was it ... they were out of the circle forever.

Inside the room, there were dealers, massage girls, lots of security, food, and a full bar ... presumably for the spectators -- which included a list of billionaires ... and one time, the Olsen Twins.

As for who was the ultimate card shark -- we're told that was Tobey, no question.

"Girls Gone Wild" kingpin Joe Francis -- who was named as a player in the Tobey Maguire poker scandal -- is adamant the card games are "perfectly legal" ... and he can back it up!


Francis was leaving Katsuya in Hollywood last night ... when he told us the legendary Hollywood games have been going on for "quite a while."

Joe also claimed he had a lawyer research the law about private poker games and found out, "As long as [the games] are between those few [players] and there's no house that takes a commission ... all these games that go on in Hollywood are perfectly legal."

TMZ spoke with powerhouse poker attorney Marc Zwillinger -- who reps the interests of poker players including through the Poker Players Alliance -- who backed up Joe's claim ... telling us, "Private home games in California are not illegal where there is no 'house.'"

Tobey Maguire is the only one getting sued for allegedly playing unlicensed poker with a ponzi scheme criminal, but we've learned other big celebs regularly put their chips on the table with Tobey.


Here's what we know.  Tobey, Leo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon often played high-stakes, Texas Hold 'em poker together, where tens of thousands of dollars regularly changed hands.  We've learned the games were sometimes played at the Hollywood Hills home of Rick Salomon, Paris Hilton's sex tape partner in "One Night in Paris."

Tobey is being sued by the trustees in the bankruptcy case involving Brad Ruderman, who's currently in prison for running a Ponzi scheme.  Ruderman was allegedly involved in some of these illegal, unlicensed poker games with Tobey, who came out on top to the tune of over $300,000.  The trustees feel the scheme was illegal so they want Tobey's winnings back.

Here's a fun fact.  The house these stars sometimes played at -- located above the Sunset Strip -- was purchased by Rick Salomon with the proceeds from his sex tape. 



And here's a funner fact.  We're told Leo pulled out of the games after he started dating Bar Refaeli and he didn't think it would be a good idea to continue.

When you live in Hollywood ... you never know who you're gonna bump into. Check out some of the celebrity photos TMZ's Matt Weiss has collected through the years.

Hollywood hunks Ben Affleck, 38, and Christian Bale, 36, showed off their burlier sides at the same event in NY on Tuesday.



Question is ...

"The Town" stars Ben Affleck (who's also the director) and Jeremy Renner shared a moment at the same event in Italy on Wednesday.



Question is ...

We all thought it, but it's actually true -- Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are related. How do you like them apples?



The New England Historic Genealogical Society concluded the Oscar-winning man-friends are actually 10th cousins ... once removed, the Boston Herald reports. They share a common 10th great-grandfather, William Knowlton of Ipswich, a bricklayer who died in 1655.

It also turns out Ben is an 11th cousin to Barack Obama and Matt is related to "six or seven" presidents.

What a family gathering that would make.

"Role Models" scene-stealer Bobb'e J. Thompson had a good gathering of autograph collectors the other day in NYC -- and though he cleaned up his language, he's still dropping Ben Affleck's name.

TMZ caught Ben Affleck in New York yesterday -- looking grumpy as ever as he tried to walk down the street incognito in a gray hoodie. Where's the adorable Violet when you need her?!


Also out last night -- A light-on-his-feet John O' Hurley at Il Sole, a too big to sign autographs Kim Kardashian at Mr. Chow, a fully recovered Cheryl Burke at Hyde -- and the always delightful Katey Sagal on 3rd St. in L.A.

All this and more in today's "Nightmare after Christmas" edition of Star Catcher.

Actor-turned-director Ben Affleck was in New York City when some Cleveland Indian fans wanted his John Hancock. Lucky for them, Ben's BoSox won the game, dodging elimination from the playoffs.


Also in New York: Russell Crowe and wife Danielle Spencer, Rebecca Romijn and comedian Chris Rock.

In L.A., Jessica Alba, Lisa Rinna, Nicollette Sheridan and Eva Longoria made an appearance at the Padres Contra el Cancer charity event.

All this and more in today's "Cleveland rocks" edition of Star Catcher.