Gambling and betting always provide necessary drama, thrill, and exciting storylines for movies. Some betting and gambling movies released over the years are doubtlessly worth checking out if you are looking for a movie that revolves around the most profitable casino gambling and betting industry. Today, there are many solid betting and gambling movies to explore but at the same time, there are several iconic gambling movies that no fan should miss.
Since you are in the right mood for binge-watching gambling movies, get comfortable, prepare popcorn, and pick any of the five top betting and gambling movies featured in the guide. Expect to be very entertained as their storylines are quite exciting. Once done, you can test your luck and skills at real-money sports betting sites but make sure you first check out BettingBilly.com for the best betting tips and winning strategies.
Our top 5 betting and gambling movies you should watch list includes:
- The Gambler (1974)
- Rounders (1998)
- Casino (1995)
- 21 (2008)
- The Sting (1973)
The Gambler
When discussing the best betting and gambling movies to watch, we have to start with The Gambler released in 1974 directed by Karel Reisz, starring Paul Sorvino, James Caan, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky, and Jacqueline Brookes. This iconic movie introduces you to a college professor Axel Freed played by James Caan who struggles with gambling addiction. Throughout the movie, Axel Freed also struggles with a rather self-destructive behavior as his gambling addiction is taking a toll on his professional and personal life.
As his addiction spirals out of control, the professor inspires his students with his great work while in his personal life, Axel has the support of his family including his mother and grandfather. At the same time, constantly borrowing money to fuel his addiction has left him an enormous debt and no way to get out of this situation. The story of Caan’s character who put himself in danger to pursue his addition serves as a warning against gambling addition in one of the most iconic movie climaxes.
Rounders
Our top five betting and gambling movies list would be incomplete if we did not include one of the most iconic movies of the genre, Rounders released in 1998. Directed by John Dahl and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the movie stars Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich, Gretchen Mol, and is fully available on the popular streaming service Netflix.
The story follows a reformed gambler Mike McDermott played by Matt Damon who decides to return to playing high-stakes poker in order to help his good friend return a massive debt owed to loan sharks. The two play an underground high-stakes Texas Hold’em run by “KGB” played by John Malkovich. Offering an exciting and inspiring storyline, Rounders has it all from a great acting crew to an amazing script and much more a great movie always has.
Casino
Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, James Woods, and Don Rickles, Casino released in 1995 remains one of the most iconic gambling movies ever released. Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Nicholas Pileggi, Casino tells a dramatic story of murder, and power that culminate in the gambling capital of Las Vegas over several years.
It should be noted that the main characters in the movie including Sam Rothstein, Ginger McKenna, Nicky Santoro, and Lester Diamond are inspired by real people including Frank Rosenthal who run several iconic Las Vegas casinos back in the late 1970s. In the movie, Sam Rothstein is asked to oversee the hotel and casino operations at the Las Vegas Tangiers Casino which turned out to be much more than Sam has asked for as he is pulled into the criminal underworld. If you like legal betting just visit BettingBilly.com.
21
Another gambling movie that is based on real people and real stories is 21 released in 2008 directed by Robert Luketic and written by Allan Loeb and Peter Steinfeld. The movie also stars Hollywood stars including Kevin Spacey who plays Micky Rosa, Jim Sturgess who plays Ben, Kate Bosworth who plays Jill, and Aaron Yoo who plays Choi.
As previously mentioned, the movie is inspired by the true story told in the best-selling Bringing Down the House book released by Ben Mezrich in 2003. It follows a story of a great mathematician Ben who cannot afford to go to Harvard Medical School. To make some serious money, Ben joins his professor’s blackjack team that consists of four other MIT students who turn to card counting to win large sums of money at casinos. The crew has managed to scoop millions but not without consequences.
The Sting
We conclude our top five betting and gambling movies list with the iconic The Sting movie from 1973. The Sting is a drama and crime movie with all the right ingredients for a suspenseful movie night. The movie is directed by George Roy Hill and it stars the biggest Hollywood names from the 70s including Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
The movie follows two experienced con men Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff as they decide to pull the ultimate coin. The two work on their plan to take down a mobster Doyle Lonnegan played by Robert Shaw. At the time of its release, The Sing was a huge commercial and critical success. It won seven Oscars after being nominated for ten including Best Writing, Best Film Editing, Best Director, and Best Picture. Oftentimes regarded as the greatest movie ever made, The Sting is a must-watch for all fans of gambling and betting movies.
No matter which movie from the list you pick, you will not be disappointed as each five deliver something unique in their way. We definitely recommend you start with The Sting which is one of the classics in the genre. Even though there are many other great betting and gambling movies out there, those five listed here had to make it to our list and once you watch them, you will understand why. So, waste no more time, and watch some of the greatest gambling movies ever made.
