Gambling has been a huge part of human life since the beginning, so it’s no wonder that there have been a lot of movies created about gambling throughout the years. Casinos and gambling are two of the most popular filmmaking subjects, particularly in movies released in the 1990s and prior. Gambling movies have an inbuilt drama since they are, by default, about risk. It’s not exciting seeing someone be cautious, but it’s much more entertaining to watch someone repeatedly putting his life at stake in delusional hope of that one huge jackpot. The gambling movies spanned a wide range of historical periods and locations. Sure, many of them take us to cities like Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Monte Carlo, and contain unique poker plays as well as exciting scenarios. The adventure will take us further into worlds of drama, mafia, and some of the best comedies available. We will give you a comprehensive list of the top gambling movies of all time, which you should surely see if gambling is of any interest to you.
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The Gambler (1974)
The 1974 classic is one of the earliest and most well-known gambling movies, and it rocked the viewers to its core. James Toback based the script on his own gambling behaviors, which could explain why he’s been accused of so many misdoings. It portrays the life of a professor who is severely addicted to casino gambling. His character is also harsh, sexist and confused. Meanwhile, due to an inability to manage the addiction and greed, the film finds the central character’s life in disarray, attempting to fall apart both financially and emotionally in a short period of time. Aside from James Caan’s flawless performance, the culminating experience is unmatched.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
If you enjoy casino heist movies, you have probably seen Steven Soderbergh’s gem Ocean’s Eleven. This is one of the most well-known gambling movies ever made. It is entirely set in Las Vegas, where a leader Danny Ocean (acted by George Clooney), and a gang of high-risk takers plan to perform one of the most sophisticated casino heists ever. The Ocean’s Eleven are aiming at three of Las Vegas’ biggest major casinos: the MGM Grand, the Mirage, and the Bellagio. Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), a sleazy businessman, owns and runs the three casinos in the movie. The movie is loaded with gambling scenes. At the beginning, the major protagonists are placed against each other at a poker table, and things only get worse from that point. The robbery will take many turns and twists along the way, despite the fact that Ocean and his group have put out a very precise and sophisticated plan. You will enjoy Ocean’s Eleven regardless if you like gambling or not. This is one of the finest gambling movies ever made, with great acting, adrenaline-pumping action, and hilarious humor $10 minimum deposit casino canada
Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale depicts 007 James Bond’s (aka Agent 007, acted by Daniel Craig) activities as he attempts to defeat Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a well-known sponsor of terrorist groups. After discovering that Le Chiffre intends to use high stakes poker to finance terrorist operations, MI6 engages James Bond’s assistance in trying to defeat him at the poker table. Even though it isn’t the main focus of the story, poker plays an essential role in this movie. He is playing poker to stop terrorist finances by defeating an opponent in a $10.000.000 buy-in tournament. Bond not only demonstrates incredible deception skills, but he also manages to dismantle Le Chiffre’s organization. Casino Royale is still one of the most beloved and viewed Bond movies.
Casino (1995)
This movie is based on Nicholas Pileggi’s great factual book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. This is an epic, star-studded drama directed by Martin Scorsese. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone were among the famous names. The primary protagonists are two eccentric mobsters, performed by two eccentric actors, De Niro and Pesci. Ace (De Niro) is an extremely intelligent mafia-related tipster who is hired to perform tasks for the mob. The duty includes running The Tangiers, one of the Strip’s earliest casinos. Ace’s world is flipped upside down when Santoro (Pesci) arrives in town. Surprisingly, Santoro is a boyhood buddy who has become a well-known mafia murderer. The film exposes the two sides of gambling in Las Vegas: the vicious and ruthless deals that take place behind the scenes, as opposed to the glam and glamor that is frequently shown in mainstream media. Casino concludes with many deaths and arrests, as well as the development of Las Vegas into what it is now, in the style of other mob-related movies.
The House (2017)
In most cases, gambling is a serious matter, but The House is an amazingly funny comedy that will make you smile as you follow an apparently regular American family on an unbelievable adventure. Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler play the Johansens, a couple who wasted their daughter’s college scholarship at the very last minute and who are determined to sort things out whatever way necessary. To recoup their losses, a couple establishes an illegal casino at the home of a friend. Gambling sessions are held in their basement, and things quickly get out of control. They should be able to pay for their daughter’s college expenses in no time since they are the house – the house always wins.
