- Here’s our list of top casino movies, including intense dramas, more light-hearted films, and scandalous documentaries. Our list is organized primarily by IMDB scores, but don’t be afraid to check out some of the “lower” rated films on our list — you may have more luck with them than some of the higher scoring films. 1 – Casino (1995).
- Jan 19, 2021 It's not uncommon for movies to feature characters going to Vegas or gambling in some capacity, but movies centered exclusively around poker seem exceedingly rare. RELATED: The 9 Best Gambling Anime Of All Time. Fortunately, the movies that are exclusively about poker are usually pretty good.
Casino (1995) I think Sharon Stone’s performance is sexier than Basic Instinct.Greed, deception.
Ever since the first modern casino, Casino di Venezia, opened back in 1638, casinos live in our imagination as elegant entertainment venues often portrayed in literature and film.
Wherever you are in the world, you can see these big beautiful buildings with ornate decorations on the inside and out. Famous examples include The Hippodrome in London, Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
This high-class perception helped them to develop a sense of glamour that most other places have either lost or never had. And although fashions have changed, resulting in most people dressing more casually when they go out, casinos have retained their upmarket feel. Even while NJ online casino sites have made it easier for us to play popular table games and video slots, land-based alternatives have maintained their glitz and glamour.
Great casino movies capture this and translate it onto the screen. They’re able to portray both the excitement of the games and the unique atmosphere found inside casinos. Here are some of the best casino films of all time.
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Eleven is a heist movie set in Las Vegas. It follows Danny Ocean, a former convict on parole. His criminal past cost him more than just his freedom though, as his wife also left him for an owner of a Las Vegas casino.
To get his revenge, Ocean assembles a crack team of specialists to pull off a difficult but lucrative heist that will net them $150 million.
Ocean’s Eleven stars an ensemble cast that’s made up of huge Hollywood names like Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Matt Damon.
Although Ocean’s plan involves almost no violence, it’s been cleverly devised to keep you on edge and in suspense from start to finish. Action fans have plenty to keep them satisfied too, with explosions, a (bloodless) shoot out and an EMP device.
Much of the film takes place inside a Vegas casino, both on the gaming floor and a behind-the-scenes look at the staff-only areas, including CCTV control rooms and the vault.
Casino Royale
Casinos are some of the most glamorous forms of entertainment, so a casino-setting is perfect for England’s most sophisticated spy.
Casino Royale was released in 2006 and was the first to feature Daniel Craig as 007. It marked a reset in the James Bond franchise, with a different feel to the films, a blond Bond, and a return to the first of Ian Fleming’s novels.
While chasing an international terrorist, Bond plays a high stakes game of poker. He initially gets the upper hand, discovering his opponents’ tell, but things still go downhill pretty fast.
It’s one of the best Bond movies of all time, and a great watch fourteen years later.
Best Gambling Movie Of All Time
21
21 is a film about the MIT Blackjack team and is loosely based on a true story. It follows a group of university students and staff who learn to count cards. This is a legitimate strategy used in the game of blackjack and, when done right, can give the player a statistical advantage over the house.
The real MIT Blackjack team worked for several decades and played the game in casinos right around the world, but for the purposes of the film, they focused mainly on Las Vegas.
Casino lovers will enjoy the numerous scenes from inside casinos, much of which takes place at the blackjack table.
It captures the complexity of card counting well, without going into too many technicalities that would turn off the average viewer. It also uses a lot of creative license around the interpersonal relationships between team members, creating scenes that are much more dramatic than real events.
With that said, it’s a gripping film that is well worth a watch.
Movies about gambling always have an aspect of drama as they are all about taking a risk. Such movies have different endings as there are instances where actors emerge victorious, while others, ‘lose’ everything.
Jacek Michałski loves spinning slots and watching movies during his free time. We have checked his profile and decided to ask him to give us some tips on which gambling movies are worth our time.
Casino
This movie appears on Top All-Time Favorites lists. It is a movie that is based on a mob-controlled casino gambling in the City of Las Vegas and features Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci as the main characters. Robert De Niro is the owner of the Casino, and he is known for his connections with mafias while the latter is famous for his erratic behavior.
The Sting
The entertainment and gambling worlds are always interconnected. That is why you will find movie-themed slots at sites likebetamo casino and plenty of movie titles such as The Sting.
This classic is a worthy mention in the top gambling movies’ list and features Robert Redford and Paul Newman as the main characters. They play the role of two con men where one is just a newbie conman while the other has perfected the conman ship’s art. The movie is full of twists that you are unlikely to find in a typical gambling movie.
Casino Royale
It is hard to talk about movies and casinos and fail to mentionJames Bond (played by Daniel Craig). He takes the role of a poker player and the movie is set at bottleneck speed. The movie has an unforgettable scene where the main character, James Bond, takes part in the all-or-nothing game.
The Hustler
It is a movie that brings a classic tale set in the modern era. The movie can be described as one of those classics that incorporates pool-halls and back rooms that were very vital to creating the modern US gambling industry.
The Cincinnati Kid
The movie revolves around Steve McQueen, an upcoming gambler who plays against a known high-roller, Lancey Howard. Howard agrees to take on Steve as he views him as a kid who has only made his name through backdoor games and does not thus pose any serious competition. The movie’s culmination is when both players raise their stakes in the finale, where only one emerges the winner.
The Gambler
James Caan players the role of a university professor in the Gambler movie, and he has a gambling addiction. His gambling addiction gets worse as the movie progresses, and he enters a state of self-destruction. The movie gives good lessons on the addiction of any kind as we see James Caan get deep into debt as he tries to maintain his lifestyle.
21
It was of the few casino movies that are based on a true story. The movie was set before the era of online gambling but still strikes the right chords among movies and gambling fans worldwide. Kevin Spacey, a math professor, trains a group of talented students on how to count cards in casinos in Vegas, which ultimately leads to a thrilling tale of betrayal, hedonism, and adrenaline-fuelled trickery.
Rounders
Matt Damon is the main character in this movie during his youthful days. He plays the role of an entrepreneur who pays for his school fees through the proceeds he gets from the poker table. Rounders also features prominent faces such as John Malkovich and Edward Norton and depicts some of the best poker strategies that gamblers can try.
The Cooler
Created by Wayne Kramer, the movie has William H. Macy as the main character. Macy assumes the ‘cooler’ role where his bad luck makes him be employed by casinos where he stands at the table of punters on hot streaks. The casino’s house edge changes without fail, but his fortunes later change to become the charm of every gambler in Vegas and his employers start losing.
Conclusion
The list of gambling-based is endless. The good news is that we have composed a list of some of the best. You will for sure find a new favorite gambling movie, if you don’t already have one. We hope you enjoy your binge-watch!
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