The 15 Best Gambling Movies of All Time

It’s not quite Goodfellas (although Joe Pesci does play a similar, psychotically inclined character in both films), but Casino is just as bold, stylish, and slick as any other Scorsese picture of its kind. Director Steven Soderbergh takes us through all the intricate planning and execution, then wraps up with a satisfying ending. It may not have been showered in Oscar nominations, but Ocean’s Eleven is undoubtedly the most famous heist movie of our age. Everything about the Safdie brothers’ crime-thriller is high-wire and frenzied, just like its haphazard protagonist. And, of course, being a Safdie movie, it was produced by A24, so expect a lot of visceral neon lights that illuminate its dark themes.

The Color of Money (

By exploring themes like obsession, addiction, deceit, and redemption, some of the top movies about gambling reveal the complex nature of human beings and the consequences of their actions. “Eight Men Out” is a sports drama based on the true story of the 1919 Black Sox scandal caused by the eight players who wanted to make big money from sports bettors. It shows an impressive moral dilemma between personal choices and the impact on careers and reputations.

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His rival is Minnesota Fats, one of the coolest named characters in gambling film history. The story goes that Robert Altman sent Elliot Gould the screenplay to California Split, hoping he’d play Charlie, a gambler who befriends fellow gambler Bill (George Segal). And yet the two men’s rakish charm, in one of the high watermarks of ’70s hangout cinema, makes this not just a great buddy movie but a beautiful exploration of boys-will-be-boys friendship. And, of course, there’s a whole lot of gambling, which Altman films with casual mastery, letting us eavesdrop on the weird characters and dangerous oddballs who populate that world. California Split remains perhaps the director’s most underrated classic — and its gut-punch ending is so muted, yet so perfect. Spacey is particularly checked-out here, and the movie was criticized for “whitewashing” in its casting, turning the mostly Asian-American real-life players into generic white people.

Honeymoon in Vegas (

Through the journey of the two brothers, the film sheds light on the challenges and strengths of individuals on the autism spectrum and the challenges for their families. Gambling in the movie is one of the tools for human connection between the two brothers. The very first original movie shot back in 1960, Ocean’s Eleven became a foundation for the three famous movies about Ocean’s friends.

Win It All (

He, along with his friends, then comes up with a heist plan in order to pay off the debt. The film received positive reviews from critics for its smart script, consistent tone and unique approach to a seemingly formulaic plot. The movie was written and produced by Joseph Walsh in what would wind up being his only feature-film credit in either capacity, though he regularly worked as an actor from the late 1940s into the 1990s.

All In: The Poker Movie

Another movie that has sadly slipped into obscurity, ‘Eight Men Out’ is a must-see flick for any baseball fan. The film makes an attempt to document the Black Sox scandal, wherein athletes intentionally lost the 1919 World Series after having a deal with some gamblers. The film was widely praised at the time of its release and was rated as one of the greatest sports dramas ever made. One might argue that it’s more of a sports flick than a gambling movie, but both elements are essential to the film.

The Captive City

And a large part of that was due to its cast — aside from Newman, it also featured the likes of Tom Cruise, John Turturro, and Forest Whitaker. But it also had an intriguing premise, with Newman’s character now a retired pool hustler who takes a new gambler (Tom Cruise’s character, Vincent Lauria) under his wing. 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 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. 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.

Television & Film

Jessica Chastain delivered one of the strongest, most dynamic female performances of the year as she showed how one woman stood up to the most powerful men in the world without flinching. Like most gamblers, Mike loses more than just his money—but that doesn’t stop him from driving towards the lights of Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. In a sense, William is spending his days in sort of afterlife, given that his former life was spent in a military prison.

• Sure, it’s a heist film as well, but the featured location of said robbery is of course a Las Vegas casino.
• Except for Hoffman, that is — although, his one scene in the film almost managed to steal the entire show.
• There is a trove of exceptional movies about gambling that match Peaky Blinder’s level of entertainment.
• And while director Norman Jewison didn’t top the list with The Cincinnati Kid (1965), the number five spot is nothing to complain about.
• And they’re all portrayed by talented thespians, most of whom shine particularly bright within comedic roles — Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Heather Graham, for example.
• With seven wins at the Academy Awards out of ten total nominations, The Sting (1973) is perhaps the most acclaimed film of the entire list.
• In Croupier, which translates to “dealer,” Clive Owen plays a struggling novelist who gets a job at the casino.

Even Money (

After losing it all at the casino due to a lifelong addiction, Bob decides he’s going to get the old gang back together and rob the joint—if he can only keep himself away from the tables. No scientific studies have proven if Tom Cruise in the ‘80s could make anything cooler. Still, if there were, the magnetic bravado he brought to pool hustlers in the 1986 film The Color of Money would be all the evidence you need of his infectious coolness. There’s betrayal, enraptured Martin Scorsese directing, and enough banter between Newman and Cruise to make this a must-see classic, gambling or not. You could read up on the seedy history of Sin City, or you could spend close to three hours watching a Martin Scorcese masterpiece. Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert DeNiro) unofficially runs the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas at the direction of the Chicago Mafia and acts as the viewers’ eyes and ears to the unseen machinations of running a casino in Las Vegas.

The Cincinnati Kid

• One of the most underrated movies of the 90s, ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’, directed by Guy Ritchie, is one of the finest comedies I’ve ever seen.
• Bugsy is less about gambling — although Siegel surely takes some big chances — than it is about Sin City’s messy birth, which proves fascinating, even if the movie’s glitzy, prestige-picture trappings are a bit limiting.
• As far as true gambling addiction goes, James Caan’s titular character in The Gambler (1974) portrays the mental illness better than perhaps anyone in the history of the silver screen.
• Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a small-time con man whose partner gets killed by the dastardly Doyle Lonnegan, played by Robert Shaw.
• Here on CasinosHunter, I write reviews, guides, all cornerstone content, and also make sure that every text on the site or our social media is well-written and correct.
• Clooney and Pitt’s chemistry is electric, and their camaraderie adds to the charm of the film.
• After losing it all at the casino due to a lifelong addiction, Bob decides he’s going to get the old gang back together and rob the joint—if he can only keep himself away from the tables.
• The movie received commercial success and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

‘Casino Raiders’ tells a thrilling story of two gambling friends who are up against notorious Japanese gangsters, which would go on to change their lives forever. The film came out at a time when gambling movies were a trend in Hong Kong cinema and it spawned two sequels—’No Risk, No Gain’ and ‘Casino Raiders II’—with different storylines. It’s a slick action thriller that gets all its basic genre elements right, with no narrative hiccups.

• If you happened to miss this critical darling from a few years back, it’s undoubtedly worth checking out.
• The movie was written and produced by Joseph Walsh in what would wind up being his only feature-film credit in either capacity, though he regularly worked as an actor from the late 1940s into the 1990s.
• This crime drama is set in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s, and it revolves around the operations of the fictional Tangiers Casino.
• The movie feels both dated and timeless, capturing a specific moment that has the power of folklore.
• An odd little comedy about a perpetual loser gambling addict (Richard Dreyfuss) who, for one day, hits on every single bet at the horse races.
• Once Shelly takes notice of Bernie’s changed behavior, the plotline within The Cooler blossoms into something you’ll become heavily invested in as it unfolds.
• In Casino, he’s Ace, a gangster running a mobbed-up casino who’s trying to do things “the right way,” only to be undercut by his hotheaded pal (Joe Pesci) and an ambitious woman (Sharon Stone) he shouldn’t trust.

There was a time that Mel Gibson was considered such a light and lively leading man that a big-budget studio movie could coast on his charm as a card shark and con man. But the film still has its pleasures, not least of which is Gibson’s pal Jodie Foster, who has a blast playing the sort of damsel-in-distress female sidekick role she’d otherwise spent most of her career avoiding. Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut tells the true story of Molly Bloom, the Queen of Hollywood’s underground poker empire. Loosely based on a true story, the movie tells of a married pair who exploited a fascinating flaw in a national lottery and reinvested the money they drifted off the system into their small Michigan town. This is basically a comedy about how one man brought his small community together for a common goal.

Molly’s Game

During those eight years, he learned to count cards while serving time for his hand in torturing and abusing Abu Ghraib prisoners (a real tragedy that surfaced in 2004). Gambling can be an intense, life-destroying addiction that’s as far from funny as it gets. Mississippi Grind, however, features Ryan Reynolds—so, obviously, it’s going to have laughs. However, he was not alone in his endeavors, as he was also joined by his partner, Virginia Hill, played by Annette Bening. Bugsy met Virginia in Los Angeles and fell madly in love with her, which caused him to divorce his then-wife. One of the first things most gamblers learn is proper bankroll management to ensure their bankroll lasts throughout the season.

best gambling and poker movies

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. Eddie stupidly begins gambling the money in the bag and is somehow saved from himself in the end thanks to a small heart attack. Outside of Eddie’s hilarious misfortune and idiotic gambling logic, Win It All actually has an empathetic core and is a great advertisement for the benefits of addiction counseling. The Great Recession of 2008 made many people take desperate measures to get money and Killing Them Softly punches you in the mouth with the harsh truth that robbing a mafia poker game isn’t the way to go.

If not for its plot, give it a shot for the amazing directing and incredible performances by the entire cast, especially Sharon Stone, who even got nominated for an Oscar. This exhilarating film depicts the dark side of excessive gambling and how chasing a big win may not always be the best option. If you are looking for a casino movie jam-packed with murder, power, money, deception, and greed, Casino will simply knock your socks off.

• Whether you enjoy gambling yourself or prefer to let fictional characters make the bets, the best gambling movies are always good for a rush of adrenaline.
• The characters aren’t well developed, but the highly impressive cast, which include the likes of Danny DeVito, Forest Whitaker and Nick Cannon, deliver honest performances that make for a one-time watch.
• The drama surrounding the world of gambling can suck you in with its tales of big wins, devastating losses and criminal masterminds.
• All the while, Charlie relies on his brother’s amazing mathematical skills to help him win big at every gaming table they come across during a stop in Las Vegas.
• ‘Bob le Flambeur’ is widely admired for its innovative, stylistic techniques including the pioneering use of handheld cameras, and has widely influenced many American films on the same subject.
• The movie follows two fellow conmen that decide to get revenge on a crime boss who’s responsible for the death of their mutual acquaintance.
• To avenge his partner’s death, Hooker teams up with the best grifter in the game, Henry Gondorff, played by Paul Newman.
• “Poker Queens” offers an insightful look into the lives of these remarkable women who have significantly impacted the world of poker.

Ace and Nicky begin as best friends, only to gradually become the worst of enemies as matters spiral out of control between the two of them, the mob, and the FBI. The film displays a keen eye for detail in showcasing the various goings-on within a Las Vegas casino from both the point of view of the gamblers and from those on the other side of the money. Rigging slot machines, laundering money, and crippling cheating gamblers is all in a day’s work in “Casino.”

This psychological thriller explores themes of manipulation, trust, and power dynamics within the con game. The viewers can enjoy the cat-and-mouse play between the characters who try to outsmart each other and deal with their own vulnerabilities. “Croupier” is a neo-noir drama about a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier (dealer) at a London casino to make ends meet. The movie describes the seductive hidden side of the casino industry, the charm of chance and fate, and the adrenaline of risk-taking. “Croupier” was praised for its style and atmosphere and gives an unusual perspective on the gambling genre movies.

Casino (

In Rounders, Matt Damon stars as a card-player-turned-law-student who’s trying to put his poker days behind him, but that proves almost impossible when Worm tornadoes back into his life. Happening in the stylish 1930s setting during the Great Depression, the plot is about two con artists seeking revenge for the murder of their mutual friend. One of the best things about “The Sting” is the viewers guessing until the final plot twist.

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. After losing the botched poker game, the quartet must raise £500,000 to pay off Harry’s gambling debt or Eddy will lose his dad’s pub. You have to see this thriller for yourself to discover the violence, heists and clowning these guys must go through to evade Harry’s wrath.

While filming, James Caan was battling his own addiction to drugs, and he used that to suffuse his character with a raw sort of desperation. Based on an older movie with the same name, this new variation of “Ocean’s Eleven” became the first in the popular trilogy of heist comedy movies with a charming group of thieves. The movie combines smart comedy, decent suspense, and very enjoyable styles of directing and performance. Upon its release, “Ocean’s Eleven” was a commercial success and received positive reviews and love from the viewers. ” (2020) with the lovable characters being offered $2.5 million for a single game of Texas Hold’em, which takes them to multiple locations by various means of travel to play the card turns- with absurd hilarity ensuing. The movie is delightful both for the fans of the first movie and for the new audiences due to its engaging events and charming characters.

From a cinematic standpoint, we’ve been treated to a host of films that delve into the inner workings of casinos, bookies, and pool sharks. There’s a lot of entertainment to be had when a movie is all about placing bets on horse races, boxing matches, and assorted sports games. And it’s easy to get caught up in the plight of the individuals who find themselves in the crosshairs of the bigwigs that run their own gambling underworld. Paul Thomas Anderson’s debut, “Hard Eight,” tells the story of a professional gambler who takes a young protégé under his wing. The film is a gritty, noirish tale of mentorship and redemption in the world of high-stakes gambling. This stylish heist movie follows Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his crew of thieves as they plot to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.

The movie is very lighthearted and entertaining and features clever plot twists and witty dialogues. One of the most satisfying aspects of it is the power of wit demonstrated https://crazystar-casino.com/ by the protagonist. Despite formally moderate success, “A Big Hand for the Little Lady” is considered a charming Western comedy with decent humor and suspense.

Thankfully, this list goes through the trouble of finding 30 of them and are required viewing for movie buffs everywhere. The Cooler embeds itself into the casino milieu, showing the techniques that casinos use to get all the money they can from gamblers. In addition, the film sheds a light on the change in casino policies as the movie’s setting is forced to undergo changes to keep up with modern casinos. In this comedy, Nicolas Cage plays a man who loses a high-stakes poker game and his fiancée (Sarah Jessica Parker) as collateral.