Hollywood hunk Ben Affleck appears to have replaced his gambling habit with another pricey obsession.

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

Affleck blew an amazing $500,000 on one shopping spree in Las Vegas over the 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 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 are concerned because we think he is exhibiting addictive behavior."