Cinema Review: 50 BEST CASINO MOVIES OF ALL TIME

In “Uncut Gems,” Adam Sandler takes on a non-comedic role to embody a character consumed by the thrill of gambling. Sandler portrays a frenzied jewelry store owner whose gambling addiction puts him in a financially difficult situation. “Molly’s Game,” one of the best movies about poker (in our humble opinion), is a compelling journey into the clandestine world of high-stakes poker, showcasing the rush and pitfalls of hosting the world’s most exhilarating casino game.

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Find us in Lemoore, CA, not far from Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles and other southern California cities. Try your luck at slots, bingo and over 21 table games in our high-energy casino. It’s a black-and-white film starring Steve McQueen as an up-and-coming poker player making a name for himself during the Great Depression. He eventually comes up against the best in the game, Lancey Howard, and the threat of a fixed game. When Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson, and Paul Thomas Anderson are on the table, it’s a Royal Flush.

Molly’s Game (

Jessica Chastain embodies the real-life Molly Bloom, an Olympic skier who reinvents herself as the “poker princess” of Hollywood. This iconic film takes us back to the time of the Great Depression when poker wasn’t just a game but a way of life. Steve McQueen delivers a stellar performance as an up-and-coming poker player seeking to establish his reputation by challenging a seasoned pro. Our list begins with a modern classic, “Casino Royale,” where the world of espionage intersects with the equally risky poker realm.

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It is also probably the most violent movie involving casinos as the story does not shy away from the Mob related behaviour in Las Vegas at the time. The MIT gang from 21 can be happy they never card counted at one of Frank Rosenthal’s casinos. In short, Netflix has a bunch of awesome movies all about casinos that cater to different tastes. Whether you like action-packed heists, tense poker games, or stories about interesting characters, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Axel Freed, played by James Caan, appears successful with a good job and a generally stable life.

Breaking Vegas

Kim Yoon-seok, who played Macao Park, mentioned that during a fight scene with Lee Jung-jae’s character, he had to deal with distractions from the non-actors around them who would shout, clap and laugh. Actress Kim Hae-sook, on the other hand, found that she was struggling to complete a scene under a time constraint as she kept hitting the jackpot on the slot machine, even though her character was meant to be losing. The film talks about the life of Henry Hill and his allies’ criminal careers.

Hard Eight

Directed by Steven Soderbergh and featuring an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts, “Ocean’s Eleven” is a stylish and slick heist film set in the glamorous casinos of Las Vegas. Clooney stars as Danny Ocean, a charismatic ex-con who recruits a team of skilled criminals to pull off an ambitious robbery of three of the biggest casinos in Vegas. Gambling is the setting rather than the content of this story and it’s all the better for it with the casino giving the film its heart and its edge while the engaging story of those who try and make money from it plays out.

Gambling Movies and Their Impact on Casino Culture

• Macao has long been a magnet for international movies, thanks to its exotic mix of cultures, world-class casinos and bags of atmosphere.
• 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.
• Gambling movies, with their high-stakes drama and glittering portrayal of casino life, have long captivated audiences, weaving a complex narrative that deeply influences our collective perception of gambling culture.
• The gambling in the film is more of a backdrop to Hard Eight’s character study of an assortment of interesting figures.
• Forget the suspense and drama that most gambling movies on Netflix seem to focus so heavily on.
• The lasting phrase from the film may be a delusionally confident Howard exclaiming, “This is how I win,” but the tragic irony of it all, gambling is ultimately how he loses everything.
• All goes well until John gets involved with a sex worker named Clementine.
• Featuring Clive Owen in the title role, Croupier is one of the most remarkable and distinctive casino films ever made.

Much of the heist action was filmed at the City of Dreams, with one particularly thrilling scene involving Jun Ji-hyun of My Sassy Girl (2001) fame scaling the building. The director, Choi Dong-hoon, however, layers the film with complexity by having the thieves distrustful of each other, as well as fleshing out their backstories. A significant amount of the film was shot at MGM Macau, with the integrated resort’s VIP lobby, luxury suites and gaming rooms all making an appearance. The film also strives to showcase the more historic side of Macao by featuring scenes with the Guia Lighthouse, the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and Long Wa Tea House. In that film, the Roger Moore incarnation of James Bond is on the hunt for a deadly assassin that wields a golden gun. The journey takes Bond to Macao where he finds a Portuguese gun expert who leads him to Macau Palace, a floating casino in the Inner Harbour area.

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James Toback based the screenplay on his own gambling habits, which might explain why he’s been hit with so many allegations for problematic behavior. Sean Connery lays on the charm at the Craps table in Diamonds Are Forever. But if we’re going to include a Bond film (and how could we not?), it’s gotta be Casino Royale, which features a poker game in which Bond goes head to head with a terrifying villain, Le Chiffre. He doesn’t even seem interested in casinos, which is weird since the movie is called Casino .

Bullsh*t the Gameshow

Based on a true story but given the Hollywood treatment, the plot follows several MIT students who are too clever for their own good when the descend on Las Vegas as a crack team of expert card counters. Things begin to fall apart as the team fractures and casino security catches wind of their scheme. But he is about to spend it again when he has a medical emergency and is rushed to a hospital. The movie ends, but although it depicts a happy ending, we need to be reminded that gambling addiction and problem gambling ought to be treated seriously. We wholeheartedly recommend watching Money, Explained in its entirety as it’s a highly educative if somewhat mass culture series.

Molly’s Game (

It exudes a particularly anxiety-inducing tone to its general style of cinematography and sound design, which remains a main talking point among fans to this day. If you happened to miss this critical darling from a few years back, it’s undoubtedly worth checking out. The heist is shown on screen, but things get interesting when Pitt’s character, a hitman named Jackie Cogan comes into play.

Gambling Movies on Netflix

The film is an exciting ride through the highs and lows of living a double life; one as studious college students and the other as high rollers. Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” stands unrivaled as a cinematic masterpiece that explores the seductive yet brutal world of the gambling industry. Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone deliver exceptional performances in this tale of greed, deception, power, and betrayal. In 1982, the FBI discovers Piscano’s records, closes the Tangiers, and Green agrees to cooperate. The FBI approaches Sam for help by showing him photos of Nicky and Ginger together, but he turns them down.

The Sting ( – The Heist is On

• 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 internal logic of the film works great; the actors do an amazing job.
• Charlie takes Raymond to the blackjack table in hopes his card-counting gift will help Charlie win.
• Casino depicts the epic story of the traditional casino gambling culture in Las Vegas.
• The sequel takes the crew from the US to Macao, where they are tasked with having to steal a computer chip on behalf of a wealthy young businessman.
• The film tries to balance the role of religion and gambling in the team’s lives but mainly just uses interviews and clips to tell what is a pretty extraordinary tale of pretty normal people smashing up Vegas for $$$$.

If you’re looking for the best movies about casinos to get ready for the slots and games, we’ve got you covered. The film is based on a true story of the MIT blackjack team, a group of college students who win millions of dollars from Las Vegas casinos by using their math skills and a card counting system. 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.

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, this is The Social Network (2010) of gambling films — which makes sense, as the biographical drama about the founder of Facebook was also written by Sorkin. Here with Molly’s Game (2017), though, the screenwriter took his directorial debut and chronicled the life of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic skier. Whether it’s a gritty depiction of a gambler’s descent into obsession or an exhilarating ride with card-counting geniuses, each film on this list offers a unique perspective on the alluring yet dangerous world of gambling. Directed by Robert Altman, “California Split” follows the friendship between two gamblers played by George Segal and Elliott Gould. The film is an insightful exploration of the gambling lifestyle and the different forms it can take. 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.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (

• Gould commands the screen with cocaine-fast charisma, while Robert Altman’s casual realism sucks you into every frame, casino, and horse race.
• Our expert Jacek Michalski takes us through the eleven movies with realistic casino scenes.
• With the Mafia now out of the casino industry, nearly all the old casinos are demolished, and new casinos are built with money from junk bonds.
• Some people craved a unique atmosphere of watching movies about casinos.
• As in other best casino films about gambling, Maverick explores Bret Maverick, a gambler requiring money to join a poker tournament.

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. There’s nothing the casino can do if someone’s playing hot and winning a lot of money—unless they send in “The Cooler,” anyway. Played with a timid, nervous energy by William H. Macy, “The Cooler” is naturally unlucky, and he works for the casino by jinxing players and spreading his misfortune. 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.

And since they’re so much fun, you’ll definitely want to see as many of these movies as you can this year. Directed by Mike Hodges and starring Clive Owen, “Croupier” is a stylish and atmospheric thriller set in the world of London’s casinos. Owen plays Jack Manfred, a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier to make ends meet.

Featuring some of the best action of the series, Casino Royale takes Bond back to his roots, letting fans rediscover the original Bond. Unlike earlier films, Casino Royale shows Bond’s affection for women, and his human side. Daniel Craig’s performance as James Bond in Casino Royale was nothing short of brilliant. Not only does he have the most impressive beach body in the history of the Bond franchise, but he also has the most dramatic chops. He carries the entire movie by himself through the first hour, with Judi Dench as his only real peer. The movie follows the usual Bond formula, revolving around the spies and the occasional high-speed chase, but it’s also set in the beautiful locations of Madagascar, Miami, and the Bahamas.

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Upon its release, the film received a mixed response, with some critics praising it for its tongue-in-cheek self-awareness, and others criticising the project as a shallow cash grab. Scorsese, however, defended the project, stating in a Los Angeles Times report that “a short film is even tougher in a way…It has to be contained in and of itself.” Make your own judgement by watching it above. About a dozen actors have taken on the role across movies and television and captured Lex Luthor’s arrogance and villainy against the Man of Tomorrow. These films give further insight into the complex, often tense relationship between people and their wagering habits.

• The biographical movie combines comedy and crime, where the well-known American actor Kevin Spacey embodies the role of (Jack Abramoff) the prominent politician and an influential member of the republican party.
• A popular quote is, ‘Gambling’s not about money… Gambling’s about not facing reality, ignoring the odds.’ Croupier release was two years later & features 3 alternate types, with a 7/10 rating on IMDb and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
• When the protégé becomes the mentor, that’s when things get interesting.
• Highly organised, trained and intelligent they take on the big casinos and win.
• 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.
• The movie features James Caan, an English Professor who has a gambling addiction.
• Be sure to check out our beginner gambler’s guide to understand why it’s imperative to gamble within your financial means.

Sitting in-between those two periods is The Big Sleep, a charming, sleazy noir about a private eye who flirts with Lauren Bacall and caresses her gambling debts. The highest-grossing film of a year that also included Die Hard, Coming to America, and Who Framed https://true-fortune.us/ Roger Rabbit– Rain Man  coasts off its feel-good charms, particularly the blackjack scene between Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. But he does have some gems, like this 1999 cult classic about a croupier who spins roulette tables by night, writes novels by day.

Based on the book by renowned Chinese author Yan Geling, A City Called Macao is jam packed with multiple SAR locations, including the Ruins of St Paul, Macao Airport and the casinos at the Lisboa, Grand Lisboa and Venetian. A team of four street magicians known as the Four Horsemen, who use their skills to conduct seemingly impossible heists, is the premise of Now You See Me 2. The sequel takes the crew from the US to Macao, where they are tasked with having to steal a computer chip on behalf of a wealthy young businessman. Released during the Chinese New Year holiday period, the films proved to be a major box office success in China, with the third movie earning a total of 1.1 billion yuan against a budget of 250 million yuan. “It was imperative that we shoot the film in a real casino to be believable,” said Choi in a promotional video.

One of the most popular casino movies of the last decade was “21”, which was based on true events. Jim Sturgess plays Ben Campbell, an MIT math student who learns to count cards with the help of a professor. He then recruits a group of brilliant young people to become part of his team.

The cast is stacked – Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Brie Larsen, and more – and the story is nothing short of gripping. The story centers on a literature professor who gets in deep with an underground casino operator. Owing a local loan shark as well, Professor Bennett has a week to pay it off or it will cost him his life.

It also included the Strip and its numerous eye-catching features, which are nonetheless magnificent despite being viewed through the warped eyes of heavily drugged individuals. Five years after Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese returned to the subject of organised crime with this virtuosic chronicle of Las Vegas’s formative years. Starring Robert De Niro and an Oscar®-nominated Sharon Stone, Casino is a technically-dazzling epic from one of America’s greatest living filmmakers. The year 2007 was not exactly easy for the NBA, and the Donaghy scandal made it even less so. Even Donaghy appears in the series to tell his story and admits that he acted foolishly, costing him a lot over the years.

There’s the Shooter, wise and bitter and failed, who still remembers that he was once a Kid himself. If you’ve not read the book by Ben Mezrich then this US made-for-TV dramatised documentary will be a fascinating watch. It’s the story of a team of students from a US university who perfected a card-counting system that they used to take Vegas casinos for huge sums of cash. The combination of mathematical strategy and old-fashioned con trickery required to pull this off makes this a massively entertaining watch, if you can forgive the slightly cheesy American production values. With music by Giorgio Moroder and that man Dreyfus in a lead role it’s a real blast from the past, but still stands up to repeated viewing today.

Manfred finds himself drawn to a woman who is a gambler at his table – a serious transgression of the casino’s rules for employees. Under pressure from creditors, the woman asks Manfred to be the inside man for a robbery at his own casino. Manfred must evaluate the stakes and consider what he is willing to risk. Croupier describes this distinctive world from a professional dealer’s perspective.

In doing this, it promotes gambling safety, and that’s something that should be celebrated. Maverick is a 1994 Western comedy film starring Mel Gibson, directed by Richard Donner, gaining a 7/10 IMDb rating and 68% Rotten Tomatoes. As in other best casino films about gambling, Maverick explores Bret Maverick, a gambler requiring money to join a poker tournament. Based on a 1950s television series created by Roy Huggins, earning a box office of $183,000,000. I didn’t do any of my tells.’ To which Maverick replied, ‘You held your breath. Croupier is one of the best casino movies of all time, featuring Clive Owen starring Jack Manfred, an unlucky writer.

Fans of the films have come to adore Craig’s portrayal of the British secret agent, and that all started here with Casino Royale. The film offers a profound look into the mentoring aspect of gambling, where experience meets raw ambition, set against the moody ambiance of casinos and race tracks. The nuanced performances by Philip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly add depth to the movie.