Watch: Mark Wahlberg's 'Gambler' home was literally the Playboy Mansion

Mark Wahlberg's character in The Gambler spat out the silver spoon born in his mouth. But it landed on a pretty impressive lawn.

If you thought the imposing mansion in The Gambler looked familiar, it's because the place is none other than Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion.

In this exclusive clip from Friday's digital release (on Blu-Ray April 28), director Rupert Wyatt explains why the place was needed to show Wahberg grew up in a very rich household.



It also shows his mother's (played by Jessica Lange) plight at the top of the wealth pile and finding out it's not that great.
"The architecture of the place is so heavy. It sort of looks like a Scottish castle. And with the grey stone, I saw it as a weight around her neck."

Of course Hefner, who just turned 89 on April 9, still lives at the mansion which features 22 rooms, a wine cellar, a screening room, a zoo, an aviary and the infamous grotto.

The location has been used memorably in Hollywood productions from Sex in the City to Entourage.