All Time Best Gambling Movies

gambling movies

Houston’s passing game, led by Stroud and Collins continues to be the team’s strength. Stroud had a season-high 345 yards passing with two touchdowns Sunday to become the seventh quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards seven times through their first 19 games. He leads the NFL by a wide margin with 489 yards receiving and is the first player in franchise history with more than 450 yards receiving though the first four games. New York Giants rookie Malik Nabers was second entering Monday night’s games with 386 yards. High on suspense and complete with all the casino trappings—tumbling chips, stylish tuxedos, and martinis (shaken, not stirred)—this Bond film illustrates just how high the stakes can get at the casino table.

The Cincinnatti Kid

The episode we have in mind has to do with the story of Tim Donaghy, an NBA referee who was caught red-handed betting on his own games, and seriously putting the integrity of the game at risk. Money, Explained may not be your typical movie about gambling on Netflix, but there is a good reason why we have included it here. Gamblers are often tempted by the idea of making money and a living by just playing casino games. Money Explained though is a documentary that goes deep into the institution of money and how it works. Adam Sandler plays Howard Ratner, the owner of KMH, a jewelry store in New York, but he also has some problems on the side. For one, Ratner is a gambling addict who has raked in massive amounts of debt, and he owes money to many people – not all of whom are willing to cut Ratner a break.

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story

gambling movies

Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a world-renowned Olympic-class skier. Molly’s athletic career is certainly noteworthy, but her side gig garnered even more interest once it was made public. Molly just so happened to be running an exclusive poker game ring for an entire decade that welcomed celebrities, business tycoons, and even mobsters. After being arrested during a massive FBI sting, Molly comes into contact with a criminal defense lawyer and relays more of her enthralling life story to the viewing audience. Hard Eight features three A-list actors that you might not have expected to see in a film such as this one – John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel Jackson.

Poker

According to Henry Hill, whose life inspired Ray Liotta’s Goodfellas character, Spider’s fate in the movie happened just as it did in real life – and it was equally as shocking. Film students have analyzed the legendary poker scene in Casino Royale from every angle, bluff, and tell. It’s an edge-of-your seat drama that sees Bond at a $10m Texas hold ’em tournament at Montenegro’s Casino Royale playing his villainous rival Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). It is must-watch movie magic that rebooted the entire franchise and guaranteed Craig’s 15-year reign as 007.

The Top 5 Gambling Movies On Netflix

Before “Ocean’s Eleven” came “Bob le Flambeur” from the French master of noir, Jean-Pierre Melville. Roger Duchesne plays the eponymous high roller, a middle-aged gambler and ex-con whose elegance is so apparent that he has even won the respect of the town’s cops. For Bob, gambling is not a mere addiction but an essential state of existence. When it is revealed that the Deauville casino will hold 800 million francs on a given night, Bob, who’s on a bad streak of luck, assembles a crack team of cons to carry out the heist.

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  • A wonderful drama about an English language teacher who gets addicted to gambling; and gets chased by debts and creditors.
  • Remember to set limits, educate yourself, avoid chasing losses, take breaks, seek support when needed, and make informed choices about where and how you gamble.
  • Every gambler that I’ve ever known can find their story in here, perfectly expressed.
  • The movie was released a few months before Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 Series of Poker main event.

Letterboxd — Your life in film

During the night out, one of the friends steals casino poker chips belonging to a gangster. However, they all request one of the friends who happens to be good at counting cards to help them win the money needed. It is an exhilarating ride from start to finish and definitely worth watching if you are a fan of gambling movies. The 1961 original is less concerned with a swaggering Tom Cruise–Paul Newman movie-star face-off and more focused on loyalty and integrity and ambition. Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson is like a more interesting version of Cruise’s character, and his battle to take down Jackie Gleason’s Minnesota Fats follows a more human, soulful narrative than a typical sports-movie arc. It’s better the less it is about the pool hustling … which is great, but keeps it lower on this list.

Win Sun

For a little over 90 minutes, Hard Eight Sydney takes John under his gambling wing after helping his homeless protege get enough money for his mother’s funeral. Jeweler Howard Ratner, played immaculately by Adam Sandler, will gamble anything away to crawl out of a never-ending debt spiral, including Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett’s 2008 NBA Championship and mobster money. The film is an uncompromising look into how much gambling is truly a disease that can destroy a gambler’s life and the lives of nearly anyone who touches him.

Rounders (

The villain differs a lot from the usual bad guys Bond movies have; he does not want to destroy or conquer countries – or the whole world. Mikkelsen plays the role of an arrogant terrorist banker, who ends up playing at Casino Royal for his life. It is a game of life and death, where the characters are gambling for their lives; that is why it is number one on our lists. The film is centered on the routines of professional casinos based in Las Vegas.

The Gambler (

Thanks to its incredible success, two more movies – “The Hangover 2” and “The Hangover 3” – were made. Some of these gambling movies have received essential honors for their exceptional depiction of gambling. They are an excellent way to experience the joy of gambling without risking money. Critics of the production have argued that many of the arguments made in the documentary were actually debunked and disproven over the years and that Fine should have done a better job of the narrative he put together in the end. Regardless, we still think this is one of the best gambling movies on Netflix and definitely worth seeing.

gambling movies

#6: “The Color of Money” (

You can check out sites like comeon.com for some fun casino games to enjoy in your free time. “Uncut Gems,” a film released in 2019, became a sensation on Netflix. The movie features Adam Sandler, typically known for his comedic roles, playing a character named Howard Ratner, a compulsive gambler who owns a jewelry store. To pay off his debts, Howard must get his hands on a rare and costly gem, all the while attempting to prevent his addiction from harming his relationships and personal life. Gambling is unpredictable, and high stakes make it a popular movie subject. Netflix has a plethora of gambling movies that are not only entertaining but also educational.

Jake Green, a gambler, seeks revenge against a crime boss who sent him to prison unjustly. A famous casino movie quote is, ‘Change the rules on what controls you, and you will change the rules on what you can control.’ Its IMDb rating is 6.3/10, but it has 15% Rotten Tomatoes. Another pool-based good gambling film about casinos is The Color of Money.

  • Spider (Michael Imperioli) finds his voice while working as a gangster gofer but nobody crosses Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) and his shine box.
  • Some of these gambling movies have received essential honors for their exceptional depiction of gambling.
  • Even Donaghy appears in the series to tell his story and admits that he acted foolishly, costing him a lot over the years.
  • The movie doesn’t merely portray the destructive path of gambling but also highlights the friendships and connections that can burgeon amidst despair and dream chasing.
  • The film’s gripping central scene takes place at Montenegro’s luxurious Casino Royale, where Bond must outplay the sinister Le Chiffre in a nerve-racking game of Texas Hold’em poker.
  • This revelation pushes Eric to defy such a dishonorable victory and show everyone that he can win the match through his skills alone.
  • It’s not uncommon for these films to focus on a single genre and be made on a…

You can find many casino movies on Netflix that are worth watching for educational purposes and entertainment as well. Some of those movies even won awards for the way they represented the stories of different gamblers, their struggles, and their obsession. Mel Gibson plays a poker expert in the Old West, who’s making his way to a renowned tournament to prove his mettle. Along the way, he encounters many obstacles as he attempts to earn enough money to pay the tournament entry fee. But it’s fun, light-hearted and full of gambling, so it earns its spot. Most gambling movies focus on the casino’s glamor and excitement, but what about the unsung heroes that work the tables?

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  • The ’90s were the Wild West of fantasy films, rife with experimentation before the genre found its way to Middle Earth.
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  • The poker is almost an aside to what is more of a meditation on the role of luck in life and what gambling for a living can do to a man’s soul.
  • The world of high-stakes gambling has long been an enticing playground for filmmakers, inspiring a plethora of stunning films that immerse audiences into the exhilarating casino atmosphere.
  • To pay off his debts, Howard must get his hands on a rare and costly gem, all the while attempting to prevent his addiction from harming his relationships and personal life.
  • The memorable casino scene is when Tommy DeSimone approaches the craps table with lots of money to place bets.
  • While not strictly a poker movie, the classic scene means Casino Royale has to make the list.
  • As a recent modern Bond film, it’s relatively easy to find a way to watch Casino Royale online.
  • If you can’t participate, watch these best Netflix gambling movies to enjoy the natural high.
  • Its story of two professional grifters who team up to con a mob boss and avenge the death of their mutual friend.

A few of these are in abroad casinos, and others aren’t set in gambling houses at all. Some are in more underground locations, or in other settings entirely. As such, we thought it’d be worthwhile to share a list of poker films you may want to watch. When PokerNews took to social media, fans mentioned many other poker movies. No, you can have the same fun when you try the Polish online casino sites that offer a variety of games.

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.

Atlantic City (

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.

Best Gambling Movies Worth Placing A Bet On

While players today are used to table stakes, there was no such thing in the old west. The movie tells the story of Mike McDermott, played by Matt Damon, a reformed gambler who gets pulled back into the game due in no small part to his friend Worm, played by Edward Norton. John Malkovich, Grethchen Mol, John Turturro, and Martin Landau all played supporting roles in a well-conceived New York underground poker world.

gambling movies

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 payoffs to the mafia, the politicized wranglings with the Nevada Gaming Board, the berated Blackjack dealers, and the showgirls are explored like parts of the blueprints of the Vegas gambling world.

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.

But he does have some gems, like this 1999 cult classic about a croupier who spins roulette tables by night, writes novels by day. 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. It also holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry. And one could argue that the bulk of its admiration from fans and critics alike stemmed from the chemistry of its cast. As one of the more well-known entries of the James Bond film franchise, Casino Royale (2006) stands out much as the most action-packed project ever made about gambling.

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, https://true-fortune.us/ 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.

From a low-budget film to a cult favorite, Swingers is a must-stream film. A week before IF’s release, the highest probability based on market activity was that the film would score as high as 80, which would have sunk most of Zubkoff’s bets. On the Monday after IF opened to what was considered a disappointing $35 million and Hollywood assessed the box-office impact, what Zubkoff cared about was the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score .

  • In this article, we will delve into some of the best movies that tackle this issue, exploring the emotional depths and consequences of compulsive gambling.
  • In an effort to bail Norton out of his debt the two friends go on a poker playing tear.
  • In the movie, you’ll see some beginnings that worked great in their roles.
  • The Card Counter is a revenge thriller about an ex-military interrogator turned gambler who is haunted by his past.
  • Based on a true story, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a Canadian degenerate gambler who embezzles millions from his bank in order to feed his gambling habit.
  • Cinematic techniques — such as close-ups on tense faces, quick cuts during exciting hands, and the strategic use of music and sound effects — enhance the emotional impact of gambling scenes.
  • The film’s title refers to the job of a casino cooler, someone who is paid to keep gamblers from winning too much money.
  • More than 100 years later and baseball historians are still talking about one of baseball’s biggest scandals ever.

The gambling in the film is more of a backdrop to Hard Eight’s character study of an assortment of interesting figures. Hard Eight is Paul Thomas Anderson’s directorial debut, showing the early talents of one of the best directors of his generation. Possibly Paul Thomas Anderson’s least known film, Hard Eight tells the story of a veteran gambler who teaches stranger John the tricks of the trade. All goes well until John gets involved with a sex worker named Clementine. This seedy, ’50s gambling noir was the Hollywood debut for actor Charlton Heston, who would go on to star in Planet of the Apes and The Ten Commandments.

Mixon missed a second game Sunday and Pierce was out for a third straight week. Mixon returned to practice in a limited capacity Friday and could be available this week. LT Laremy Tunsil had two holding penalties, both in the fourth quarter, on Sunday.

The script brims with wit until the final hand is dealt, and the poker players themselves are portrayed wonderfully by each respective performer. Directed by Norman Jewison, many hardcore film fans would cite this as the greatest gambling movie, period. And while director Norman Jewison didn’t top the list with The Cincinnati Kid (1965), the number five spot is nothing to complain about. Billed as “the wildest poker game in the west,” the poker featured in A Big Hand for the Little Lady is realistic in that it portrays several common poker motifs such as degeneracy, high stakes, and the con. The “big hand” that results in a massive pot of $20,500 – remember it takes place in 1880, so that’d be equivalent to about $550,000 in today’s dollars – is a lot of fun, though today’s poker audience might take issue with the betting. He finds himself in over his head and his wife has to step in, though all may not be as it seems.

Richard Dreyfuss plays a cabbie whose friend overhears a conversation about a fixed race in this little-known gem. It also deals with the social distinctions of the track, from the high rollers to the down on their luck. It features a young, sexy Jennifer Tilly – who is better known now for her real-life poker skills – and Teri Garr is terrific as the drunk wife. A must watch for anyone with even a passing interest in horse betting.

Unfortunately, He loses that stone and spends several days chasing after him and at the same time escaping from being chased by angry creditors. Sunday was Stroud’s eighth game with multiple passing touchdowns and no interceptions, tying Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson for the most by a player age 22 or younger in NFL history. “The Sting” is a 1973 American caper film set in September 1936, involving a con artist and a rookie grifter who seek revenge on a crime lord who murdered one of their partners. The film was directed by George Roy Hill, written by David S. Ward, and starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the leaders of the con artists. The title refers to the scams (“stings”) used by the grifters to con their mark. These films give further insight into the complex, often tense relationship between people and their wagering habits.

This movie is sure to delight those who have seen  “Cards, Money, and Two Guns”. This movie has a similar background, but the events take place in Las Vegas. The plot of the movie is centered around a priceless artifact that is lost during a poker game. You can meet different characters in the picture – cowboys, Native Americans, girls of easy virtue, and police officers who prefer corruption. Robert De Niro starred as Ace Rothstein who controlled the mafia in Chicago.

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