10 Gambling Movies Every Casino Lover Should Watch

Certain subject matters are sure to make for an exciting movie, and one of those is gambling. We have seen some incredibly gambling movies that can be touching, heartbreaking, blood-curdling, stressful, and so much more. This genre is just full of emotion that creates great viewing entertainment. We’re going to run down the ten best movies that every casino lover should watch. So get your popcorn at the ready, because some awesome movie recommendations are coming your way!

Casino, 1995

• Casino (1995)

Casino is arguably the most legendary gambling film of all time. This masterpiece is inspired by a true story and brings together Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone and Martin Scorsese. The film is set in 1973 Las Vegas and follows DeNiros’s character Ace Rostein as he navigates mob-run Las Vegas, with a hotheaded gangster friend played by Pesci bringing plenty of heat.

The intricate drama is a classic story of rising to the top before everything comes tumbling down. The film picked up a few Oscar nods with some excellent performances. As you would expect from a Scorsese gangster flick, there is plenty of violence and a rockin’ soundtrack with the likes of the Rolling Stones.

Molly’s Game, 2017

• Molly’s Game (2017)

Molly’s Game is another true story of an Olympic skier turned underground poker game host. The movie is written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, the best scriptwriter in Hollywood. The film is based on the memoir of Molly Bloom, who ran high-stakes poker games after suffering a career-ending skiing accident.

Jessica Chastain portrays the central character, while the supporting cast includes Idris Elba. This thrilling film follows the process of running illegal poker tournaments for the rich and famous. The movie features many characters who succumb to the thrill of gambling, with poker pros, addicts, movie stars, and other interesting faces.

Uncut Gems, 2019

• Uncut Gems (2019)

Uncut Gems is a movie that is stressful to watch as you are drawn into the edge-of-your-seat journey of the main character Howard, played by Adam Sandler. The film is worth watching for the incredible Oscar-worthy performance of Sandler. The film follows a New York jewellery dealer and gambling addict, who goes around down placing risky bets with dangerous people on basketball games. Howard lives a turbulent life that is rife with shady people.

The movie has you rooting for Howard as he places a life-changing bet, and needs it to pay off. The film gets crazier as it goes on and the ending is nothing short of shocking. The way the movie is shot ties into the addiction Howard has with chasing the thrill of gambling, enough to give you anxiety as a viewer.

Oceans Eleven, 2001

• Oceans Eleven (2001)

You can’t have a list of great gambling movies without mentioning Oceans Eleven. The movie has one of the greatest casts ever assembled, with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, Bernie Mac, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts, and more. The film is about Danny Ocean, played by Clooney, who assembles a team of thieves to rob three Las Vegas casinos.

The movie is slickly shot with plenty of comedy elements to lots of great one-liners. The film has you watching every second with all your attention. But it’s the chemistry between this amazing cast that steals the show. The film was so loved that they made two awesome sequels.

The Color of Money, 1986

• The Color of Money (1986)

The Color of Money is another film by Martin Scorsese. The movie is a sequel to The Hustler (1969). The film stars the legendary Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson, an ageing pool hall hustler who is at a crossroads. He has stepped away from hustling but is thrust back into the world when he crosses paths with Vincent, a flash up-and-coming hustler played by Tom Cruise.

The movie follows the two characters as they navigate the sharky waters of pool hall hustling. Like most Scorcese films, the picture is shot masterfully, with a top-notch soundtrack to heighten the experience.

Rounders, 1998

• Rounders (1998)

Rounders is one of the most-loved gambling movies of all time. The movie features Matt Damon, Edward Norton and John Malkovich as poker players who enter high-stakes games. If you’re a poker lover, then this is a must-watch. The film focuses on Damon, a poker pro who enters a game to help pay off debts run up by Norton’s character, who is more of a wild card.

The film does a great job of displaying the drama around gambling and how poker can bring the best and worse out of people.

The Cincinnati Kid, 1965

• The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

The Cincinnati Kid stars the king of cool, Steve McQueen as a cocky poker hustler. There’s plenty of poker action in the movie, with some smooth acting from McQueen that any movie fan will appreciate.

The film has a classic storyline where an up-and-coming poker player has to prove himself in a high-stakes poker game against a long-time master. It still holds up as a great gambling movie, even after all these years, and many believe it’s better than Rounders. The movie is still current and stands high on the best of the best gambling movies of all time.

Californian Split

• Californian Split (1974)

Californian Split stars Elliot Gould as Charlie, a casual gambler, and George Segal as Bill, a professional gambler. The two play their way into the sleazy gambling world where the stakes keep getting bigger. The film follows the two as they form a friendship over placing bets, getting drunk, and making money.

They wager through casinos and race tracks in a bid to pay off debts, by addiction gets the best of them as they pawn their possessions and head to Reno for a final shot of righting all the wrongs in a poker game of a lifetime.

The Great Gambler

• The Great Gambler (1979)

The Great Gambler is a Bollywood classic and one of the most loved gambling movies. The film centres around Jai, a professional gambler that has never lost a game. In turn, gangs want to use his skills to profit. Jai agrees and gets sucked into this seedy world of gangsters and gambling, which is a perfect mix of chaos. The movie doesn’t forget Jai’s personal problems and eventually, it all blows up. The movie is a must for any fan of Bollywood, with the legendary Amitabh Bachhan as the lead.

Jannat, 2008

• Jannat (2008)

Jannet mixes gambling with romance, featuring Emraan Hashmi in the title role. The story is set around Arjun Dixit, a young and successful gambler who made a fortune placing bets in card games. Reckless and confident, his obsession with making money through wagers compromises his love life. We see Arjun rise from small-time gambler to big-time money maker, and how he is stuck in a love triangle between betting and a woman. The film brings classic Bollywood drama with some attention-grabbing songs and dances to keep up the tempo.

You now have a list of great movies to keep you entertained. You may even beinspired to head to a casino or play online casino games, just remember to always play responsibly.