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9 Best Gambling Movies Worth Placing A Bet On

gambling movies

Bob Montagne, the main character of the film, is known as an extremely lucky gambler who’s a big hit amongst the populace. But when things turn dour for him and his good luck subsides, the ones that once loved him the most decide to abandon him. In order to regain his wealthy status, Bob maps out a plan to rob a casino during a, particularly important weekend. But pulling off such a big heist is a lot harder than he expected it to be.

The Hustler (

This film is one of our top movies about poker because the world of gambling can serve as both a refuge and a battlefield for personal demons. It’s not just a movie about gambling; it’s a story of regret, penance, and the search for forgiveness. Charlie Waters and Bill Denny are gamblers who come together through a mutual appreciation of their hobby. Charlie goes out of his way to gamble as much as he can in a bid to win the biggest payday there is alongside Bill.

‍9. Casino (

There is a trove of exceptional movies about gambling that match Peaky Blinder’s level of entertainment. Fans of poker, roulette, or just placing bets on sports teams understand the adrenaline and despair that can occur with the make-it-or-break-it atmosphere of gambling. Filmmakers from Spike Lee to Martin Scorsese understand this all-in mindset of gambling and infuse it into their awesome films. Nothing captures the stress of a gambling addiction more than Uncut Gems, the Adam Sandler-starring film about a New York City jewelry dealer who can’t stop himself from chasing the big win. He owes money to everyone in town, including the mob, bookies, watch salesmen, his own brother-in-law, and basketball legend Kevin Garnett. Based on a true story of a crippling gambling addiction, screenwriter James Toback wrote The Gambler about his own problematic behavior, anger, and feelings of general desperation.

“The Cooler” (Wayne Kramer,

“Ocean’s Eleven” grossed $183.4 in the U.S. and had a great reception, with an 83% rating from critics and 80% from audiences. This movie holds up well, with an 86% rating from critics and a 78% from audiences. If any of the tickets is a winner, the person who has won the pot gets to keep the winnings. Tepper looks into the wallet he found and realizes he already has a lottery ticket. He volunteers the ticket but soon discovers that that is the winning ticket of a $6 million jackpot, putting him in a difficult spot. With the owner coming to retrieve the ticket, Tepper realizes that he needs to win the game not just for the sake of the owner, but also for the chance to get his Finder’s Fee for securing the ticket and the lottery ticket.

‘The Cincinnati Kid’

These movies go into the lives of various gamblers, their struggles, and their obsession with gambling. Based on a true story, “Molly’s Game” has a fantastic cast and a captivating script. Jessica Chastain plays Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who runs an exclusive poker game for the wealthy and famous. One night, she gets arrested by the FBI and wrapped up in a high-stakes investigation into her players, some of whom are members of the Russian mob. Directed by Jeff Probst, the movie has an interesting if somewhat unlikely plot. Tepper, the protagonist, finds a lost wallet on the street and he calls the owner to come and pick it up.

  • From the Safdie Brothers, Uncut Gems follows fast-talking jeweler Howard as he tries to juggle family obligations, his mistress, angry collectors, and mounting debts on top of his insatiable thirst for gambling.
  • John Malkovich, Grethchen Mol, John Turturro, and Martin Landau all played supporting roles in a well-conceived New York underground poker world.
  • Check a 1988 American road drama film and one of the best casino movies of all time starring Tom Cruise for comedy.
  • Thanks to Martin Scorsese’s direction, plus an award-winning turn from Tom Cruise, The Color of Money is proof that not all sequels have to be scams, even when they are, in fact, about scams.
  • But Bernie’s “cooler” abilities start to falter when he comes across a waitress named Natalie Belisario, who he falls head over heels for.
  • We get to see what gambling’s like from a dealer’s perspective while gaining insight into the manipulations, calculations, and human drama unfolding at the casino table.
  • Slowly, the rush of the gamble turns into a draining habit and a numbing existence, and Altman seems less concerned with studying addiction and more with the business’ gravitational push and pull between bewildered addicts.
  • It’s easily the most well-assembled cast any gambling film has to offer, even if all its characters in the end stifle the overall pacing (and realism, for a different time) of the film itself.

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story

  • “Ocean’s Eleven” grossed $183.4 in the U.S. and had a great reception, with an 83% rating from critics and 80% from audiences.
  • Imagine handing someone two quarters and they hit a massive jackpot right in front of you.
  • When Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson, and Paul Thomas Anderson are on the table, it’s a Royal Flush.
  • They crack down on card-counters, have a mob boss on their radar, earn rugged reputations around town, and get raided by the FBI — all with hilarious twists and side-splitting performances from the cast.
  • This compression can warp audience perceptions, making the world of gambling appear far more fast-paced and emotionally charged than it typically is in a real casino environment.
  • The list of casino movies with realistic casino scenes is not limited.
  • The plot revolves around a pair of aspiring musicians who travel around Nevada playing slot machines in the hopes of winning the lottery.
  • The advantage is that this motion picture is based on the real story of a group of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

So much so that Gerry takes Curtis on the road with him as he taps into his good luck during their gambling tour around the South. Gerry hopes that with Curtis by his side, he’ll be able to hit it big at a high-stakes poker game in New Orleans. Mississippi Grind is the perfect road trip film that just so happens to be tied to big money bets and a nail-biting poker game. A fresh take on the 1974 film of the same name, The Gambler stars Mark Wahlberg in a striking story of fighting gambling addiction and breaking free from debt.

ROUNDERS (

Following his breakthrough “Good Will Hunting,” Damon takes on the role of yet another math wunderkind in John Dahl’s cult classic, though he trades in his janitor gig for a steady life on the poker grind. Until, that is, he goes bust against Teddy “KGB,” an eccentric Russian gangster played by John Malkovich, who chews the scenery as he literally chews on Oreos. Having already lost his tuition, Damon proceeds to gamble with his own life as he has to come up with $15k in five days.

Storyline

Casino Royale often serves as a prime example when discussing the authenticity of gambling scenes. The movie showcases elaborate poker matches where James Bond coolly assesses his opponents amidst the luxury of an exclusive gambling venue. While it captures the tension well, real-life casino operations are vastly more complex and regulated. Casinos are designed with a sharp focus on security and game integrity, aspects that are sometimes glossed over in movies for dramatic effect. If you have not watched some of these yet, roll under your blanket and get ready for a thrilling ride full of gambling, betting, and drama.

Rounders (

Everything changes when the young craps player falls in love with Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), forcing him to break some of his mentor’s rules to disastrous effects. In Daniel Craig’s debut as a young James Bond, Casino Royale features 007 playing in a high-stakes Texas hold ’em poker tournament. He’s up against Mads Mikkelsen, who plays an international criminal with a questionable tell, risking the funds of the exact sort of people you don’t want to be on the bad side of. Though not a traditional gambling film, Ocean’s Eleven is a favorite casino movie. Starring an ensemble cast of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, and Carl Reiner, the gang comes together to pull off the biggest Vegas heists of all time. The worst gambling addicts are the ones who seem to be addicted to losing yet always think they have a shot at winning, and Eddie Garrett (Jake Johnson) in Netflix’s original comedy film Win It All fits that bill perfectly.

#6: “The Color of Money” (

As depicted in this source, many of the happenings would be impossible in an online European casino. In Robert Rossen’s “The Hustler,” a young Paul Newman plays Fast Eddie Felson, a talented and cocky pool shark who puts it all on the line against Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason, in a rare straight role), the best player in the business. After a hot start, Eddie’s pride gets in his way and the game continues for a grueling 25 hours.

In the meantime, Tepper is also part of a bizarre poker game in which the players agree to each purchase a lottery ticket and throw it in the pocket. The main character of Axel’s weakness for gambling ranges from betting on basketball to hot shot casino games, showing that the protagonist is entrenched too deep in his addiction to think logically. Caan manages to make his character, who steals from his own mother to pay his gambling debts, one that the audience can still root for. Philip Baker Hall plays surly gambling pro Sydney; Gweneth Paltrow plays waitress/prostitute Clementine; John C. Reilly plays gullible loser John Finnegan; Samuel L Jackson plays slick-talking, no-nonsense casino security personnel Jimmy.

gambling movies

Atlantic City (

This just inspires him to push harder and keep it going, and while this might turn out to be a disaster in a movie like, say, Uncut Gems, here, it’s just a wacky ’80s comedy. Let It Ride still gets a lot of comedic mileage out of Dreyfuss’s mania and goes a long way on some very fun supporting performances from Teri Garr, Jennifer Tilly, and David Johansen. But let’s just say they don’t show this one at Gamblers Anonymous meetings.

The conflict makes for a great drama, as long as you’re watching the original ’70s film with James Caan and not the hated 2014 Mark Wahlberg remake. Gambling movies are so remarkably tense for viewers because the stakes of casino games are already inherently high. Perhaps it’s not surprising then that filmmakers have returned to the well as inspiration for thrillers, dramas, and action-packed adventures over the years. The main characters in these films are upping the ante by risking their lives on the big score, falling into debt or addiction—or trying to game the system. Sometimes, they’re running underworld operations; sometimes those involved are super spies. Trying to keep up with all of the twists in Lucky Number Slevin is almost as difficult as picking a winner in a horse race but just as entertaining.

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1986 American drama directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Helen Shaver & Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. It is a sequel to the 1961 movie ‘The Hustler’ https://true-fortune.us/ with a 7/10 rating on IMDb and 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Following Fast, Eddie Felson, a former pool hustler, decides to admit a pupil & return after retirement.

For those looking to these films for a true depiction of casino life and gambling psychology, it’s crucial to recognize where Hollywood’s representation diverges from real-world gambling. With a weakness for betting on sports, no gamble is too big for the larger-than-life Howard, played gamely by Adam Sandler. The movie is frenetic and chaotic, much like the character of Howard. The audience is along for the ride as they watch Howard succeed in his risks when they pay off and his failures when his gambling addiction overtakes him.

There is action, murder attempts, kidnapping and a few perilous moments that make us all ask ourselves if we will see Mr Bond come out of this alive. If you love poker, can look past the fact that Daniel Craig knows nothing about the game, and enjoy good cinematography, Casino Royale may yet be the best movie about gambling on Netflix today. Gambling hasn’t lost its cultural vitality over decades, and the same is true for great gambling films like 1974’s The Gambler. James Cann as gambling addict Axel Freed is obsessed with the thrill of gambling, even if it ends in self-destructive losses, and director Karel Reisz depicts the downward spiral of addiction with depressing accuracy. Freed gambles with more than his and other people’s money; he gambles with his life, putting himself in dangerous situations for his sadistic enjoyment.

This makes it an important watch for everyone, whether you fancy being a player at the poker table or not. The Hangover’s casino scene is a sly tribute to Rain Main, particularly as (Alan) Zach Galifianakis and Phil (Bradley Cooper) descend the escalator into their Rain Man chic suits. The card counting scene is just one of the many highlights in this road trip set in – where else? Trent (Vince Vaughan) and Mike (John Favreau) are so ‘money’ in Swingers they don’t even know it. Their ‘Vegas baby, Vegas’ road trip is effortlessly cool and Trent’s pep talk to Mike in the casino is a classic.

Pitt ends up getting the jobs done himself like an angel of death befallen anyone silly enough to gamble their lives away by messing with the mafia. The opulence of the casino, with its glitzy surface, acts as a stark contrast to the harsh realities that lurk beneath – organized crime, addiction, betrayal, and an insatiable quest for power and recognition. As Bernie’s relationship with Natalie blossoms, it juxtaposes the newfound hope and authenticity found in human connection against the manufactured and exploitative hope sold within the casino walls. His awakening to love and genuine companionship starkly contrasts with the superficial allure and ephemeral joys peddled by the gambling world. Bernie, once a passive participant in the perpetuation of gamblers’ despair, becomes a mirror through which the audience might reflect on the broader, systemic moral complexities inherent within the gambling industry. And what materializes from its slick style and intelligent script is a career-defining performance from English actor Clive Owen that dives deep into the intricate nature of the human condition.

White Men Can’t Jump is centered around two basketball hustlers, Sidney “Syd” Deane (Wesley Snipes) and Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson)— who would gamble their last breath on making a jump shot if it meant they could gamble their next one. Billy makes a living lulling people into a false sense of confidence on the court because of him being an unassuming white man before turning into Larry Bird and snatching the money he can. What makes White Men Can’t Jump is how it displays the almost imperceptible difference between betting on yourself and betting for yourself. Because she was confident in betting on her preparation and smarts because it was a dream of hers. Billy made bets because his identity is inextricable from his gambling addiction.

After a decade of success, the situation suddenly turned, and her bank balances were frozen, and she found herself required to appear before the American court. 8 — Although Collins is Stroud’s top option, Stroud has done a good job of spreading the ball around and eight different players had at least one reception Sunday. Ogunbowale had an important guest at Sunday’s game in sister Arike Ogunbowale, who plays for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.

Soon after, he develops an idea around a gambling epicenter that people from all over the US could come and place their bets. That gambling haven ends up being Las Vegas, a place that’s attributed to Bugsy’s forward-thinking approach. This biopic delves into everything that made Bugsy what he was and how he helped develop Las Vegas into what it is today.

We kick off our list with one of the most popular modern movies about sports betting, Uncut Gems. In this movie, Adam Sandler portrays Howard Ratner, a New York jeweler with a huge gambling debt that is rapidly catching up to him and ruining his life. With gambling being so prevalent in the Western world for many years, it’s no surprise that it has made its way to Hollywood films. And with the rise of online streaming platforms, gambling movies on Netflix are literally just one click away. While most see The Hangover as a comedy, and it is, there’s some high-stakes gambling that takes place. When the group, dubbed “The Wolfpack,” desperately needed to come up with money immediately, Galifianakis, who played the socially awkward Alan, learned how to count cards and made a boat load at the blackjack table.

If you are looking for a gripping gambling movie that is based on a true story, then Casino is a must-watch. Clive Owen has been such a familiar, somewhat disappointing, presence in films for the last two decades that it’s now hard to remember what a lightning bolt his arrival was. So go back and rewatch Croupier, where all that promise was laid out fairly magnificently. He’s Jack, an aspiring novelist desperate for money — soon, he’s a croupier getting to know the world of casino gambling.

Billy and Sidney would become friends and team up to take on anyone willing to put up the money to play a game of two-on-two. Eight Men Out (1988), starring John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, and Charlie Sheen, is an all-time classic, especially for baseball fans. It is based on the true story about the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox, a World Series team that had eight players intentionally tanking games because bettors paid them off to do so. From the glitzy Las Vegas casinos to the USA’s clandestine poker rooms, Netflix’s gambling movies transport viewers into the heart of the action, where fortunes are won and lost on the turn of a card or dice roll. This movie is a must-watch for poker players who enjoy the adrenaline rush of the game. If you’re inspired to play a few games yourself after watching it, make sure to find a trusted and reliable online casino.

Things finally fell into place when Martin Scorsese came aboard as an executive producer. After they roll into Las Vegas with $100,000, Linda’s tango with ‘22’ is a must-watch meltdown. It’s from the golden 80s movie archives but Lost in America stands the test of time.

  • Trent (Vince Vaughan) and Mike (John Favreau) are so ‘money’ in Swingers they don’t even know it.
  • “Casino” features glamour, glitter, brutality, crime, romance, and drugs.
  • What’s worth noting off the bat about this project is its utilization of interior monologues to emulate the neo-noir or detective style of film that screenwriter Paul Mayersburg and director Mike Hodges drew inspiration from.
  • While the casino isn’t the main theme of this movie, it still deserves a place on our list of top casino movies.
  • The stakes should be believable and exciting, making for a suspenseful and thrilling experience.
  • If any of the tickets is a winner, the person who has won the pot gets to keep the winnings.
  • It is a sequel to the 1961 movie ‘The Hustler’ with a 7/10 rating on IMDb and 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • A friendship between the two blossoms after a fellow gambler gets angry at them for beating him and taking their money.
  • This movie was released in 2008 and is based on the true story of a group of MIT students who were recruited by a professor to use their skills in mathematics to count cards and beat the casinos at blackjack.

Paul Newman and Robert Redford play a couple of grifters who set up an elaborate ploy to scheme a crime boss out of half a million bucks. As the film unfolds, so do the layers of the scam, with the audience finally being let in on the very complicated con. Fun to watch and an Oscar darling, “The Sting” is about playing to win. Rounders is an entertaining film that will keep you engaged from start to finish. It’s also a great film for poker fans, as it offers a realistic look at the game and its players.