Hollywood hunk Ben Affleck appeared to have replaced a gambling habit with another pricey obsession.

Friends close to the tall and handsome star are concerned the Hollywood A-lister had cultivated a worrying addiction to shopping.

Affleck blew an amazing $500,000 on one shopping spree in Las Vegas over a Thanksgiving weekend. The main beneficiaries of his generosity were his (?) future in-laws.

The wealthy star paid $150,000 in cash for a Mercedes motorcar for ex-beau Jennifer Lopez's mother Guadalupe. He also reportedly splashed thousands more dollars on clothes and jewellery for J. Lo, Guadalaupe and Jennifer's sister Linda.

A source says, "It's this addiction thing. Addicts spend like crazy, and we were concerned because we think he is exhibiting addictive behavior."