Top Classic Gambling Movies to Revisit and Enjoy

gambling movies

There are so many options for watching movies these days, so you may be wondering how to watch A Big Hand for the Little Lady. You can always try to find a copy on DVD, but in the age of streaming services, here’s what you need to know. While players today are used to table stakes, there was no such thing in the old west.

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Vegas is probably not the right place to go for your honeymoon, a subtle fact Jack Singer (played by Nicolas Cage) learns the hard way. After burning through his life-savings of $65,000 at the poker table, Jack who’s about to get married to Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) is forced to lend his fiancée to the winning opponent and con artist, Tommy Korman (James Caan). Casino Royale remains one of the most loved and watched movies in the Bond franchise.

Australian Movies that feature casinos

Whether it’s the cunning strategies at the poker table or the suspense of a life-and-death gamble, these movies provide a cinematic experience that’s as exhilarating as the games themselves. Months pass and Mike stays true to his promise until his childhood friend Lester «Worm» Murphy is released from prison. While Mike is an honest player, Worm is a hustler and unapologetic cheat.

Casino Royale at Otrobanda

There’s no more miserable sight than walking through an RSL club at 10am and observing scores of people hypnotically spinning their money into oblivion. Yet as much as regulators turn the thumbscrews on masking their existence, the pokies won’t disappear. Jump forward to now and certain sections of society are worried we have a looming catastrophe on our hands. Forget Caine, we’ve even had Samuel L. Jackson extolling the virtues of a particular sports bookmaker.

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There seems to be something captivating about gambling, perhaps the nature of the activity and the risk-reward system that is tied to it, that gives writers promising vehicles for delivering effective storytelling ideas. Fortunately our main location, the apartment, was relatively spacious and had lots of different areas to shoot in. The client loved the reference and wanted us to follow a similar structure; a young guy sees his friend is gambling and thinks of all the worst-case scenarios that could happen. Problem gambling counsellor Rhonda Woodford added «it is one of the few movies that actually tells the truth about gambling.»

Casino Details

  • Tovia Alefosio was a young rugby player in New Zealand when he first began laying bets on pretty much any sport he could get odds on.
  • If you have a larger group, then start looking at some venues in your community.
  • At home, McDermott is being pressured by his girlfriend Jo to call it quits from gambling.
  • It’s considered one of the best poker films of all time and is credited with helping to popularize Texas Hold’em during the early 2000s poker boom.

From Matt Damon’s younger days, this film is all about exploring New York City’s private bars devoted to high-stakes poker. Jo’s concerned over the recent release of Mike’s gambling buddy Worm (Edward Norton). Worm, in no time, draws Mike back toward the tables to help him pay his prison debts, forcing Jo to move out. When they are ordered to get $15,000 in five days, the two indulge in a gambling binge, which brings them back full circle to Teddy.

Where to watch Betting With Ghost

Not because Lootz is terribly clever and notorious, but rather because he has quite a knack for bad luck. In June 2023, the federal government’s Inquiry into Online Gambling and its Impacts on those Experiencing Gambling Harm, commissioned on a referral from federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth, published its final report. The inquiry was, to put not too fine a point on things, rather damning of sports betting and its apparent harms.

  • The “Ocean’s” franchise, starting with “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001), is a prime example of this category.
  • While it investigates lotteries, Out of Luck is significant to those of you who got involved in this movement because you believe government should not bring casinos into your community.
  • However, when the Americans soldiers arrive in Australia for leisure, they have plans of their own once they grasp the magnitude of Ryan’s wealth.
  • The client loved the reference and wanted us to follow a similar structure; a young guy sees his friend is gambling and thinks of all the worst-case scenarios that could happen.
  • After being loaned $2,000, Worm gets up to $10,000 and cashes out for the full amount which starts a tab in Mike’s name.
  • Student Edge members enjoy exclusive movie ticket discounts at HOYTS every Monday – Thursday with $12.50 tickets for general session and $32 tickets for HOYTS LUX.

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  • Films about cards, roulette, and casinos bring to life the thrill and high stakes of gambling, often portraying characters who are willing to risk everything, sometimes even their lives.
  • Funded by 3 Bridges Community through their Partners in Recovery (PIR) program, students joined the Bus Stop documentary studies workshops to engage in an accessible ‘film school experience’.
  • The rattled KGB calls off his goons and admits that Mike won fairly, allowing him to leave with his winnings.
  • Among other things, visitors will find a daily dose of articles with the latest poker news, live reporting from tournaments, exclusive videos, podcasts, reviews and bonuses and so much more.
  • Meanwhile, Nicky Santoro (Pesci) is sent down by the Chicago Mafia to keep things in check and ensure profits are being skimmed from the casino.
  • Rounders follows the story of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) who must beat Teddy “KGB”, a Russian gambling baron in a high stakes poker game.
  • A prime example is the opening of “Iron Man” (2008), where we first meet Tony Stark at a craps table in Las Vegas.
  • His interests were primarily in real estate – but he saw the value MGM’s glamorous reputation could bring to a Las Vegas hotel and casino.

Seen through their eyes, the movie reveals the details of mob involvement in casinos in the 1970s and ’80s. Ace is the smooth operator of the Tangiers Casino, while Nicky is his friend and strongman. Not only are they seen as being a reflection — no matter how slight — of the real and dirty world, but, if the writers are feeling merciful, the cleverness with which the main character weasels his way out of trouble is very entertaining to watch. Any push by the federal government to ban or severely constrict gambling advertising is the construct of ideologues who believe they know best and who also think that they are best placed to decide what’s best for others.

The Haunted Casino (

A new Australian film about gambling addiction in sport – how it can devastate the lives of former star players – has started rolling out in festival screenings. When playing online roulette at Ignition, these themes become more relatable, as one delves into the contrasts between chance and control, fate and free will. The game itself demonstrates the unpredictable nature of life, which is something many casino-inspired movies explore, as characters take major risks, make critical decisions, and enter high-stakes forms of entertainment. There are several movies that either feature poker or see the actors play poker. Some of the more famous poker movies are The Cincinnati Kid, Molly’s Game, Rounders and Casino Royale, all of which have poker form some of all of the action in the film.

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We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of the land. We thank them for their storytelling, music and dance, and appreciate their impact on the performing arts industry. If you are looking for a casino movie jam-packed with murder, power, money, deception, and greed, Casino will simply knock your socks off. William Jefferson Slade (Rip Torn), https://allspinswin.org/ a wealthy con man with a chip on his shoulder for Lancey Howard, tries to blackmail Shooter into rigging the game in Stoner’s favour, just to get back at Howard. Problems start because of this attempted blackmail and the lead up to the game is in no way pleasant, regardless of whether Shooter accepts the offer or not. Borrowing from the songwriter Tim Freedman, the pokies should all be exploded.

The reasons are that these ages represent, on average, significant changes in children’s development and stages of life. At age 5 they start school; at 9 are exercising critical thinking signalled by the shift from early to middle childhood; at 12 start secondary school and enter puberty,  at 16, can leave school, but not yet an adult. The independent committee that advises the NSW government on the TV and film industry has two new members. The sixth movie in the Alien franchise will start pre-production before Christmas and shoot in Sydney from April 4 next year. The solid supporting cast includes Max Cullen, Claire van der Boom, Brendan Cowell, Steve Bastoni and Justin Rosniak. Regardless, these cameo appearances of gambling, while short, are carefully crafted to leave a lasting impression and provide insight into the characters or the world they inhabit.

With no way of getting $300k to attend Harvard Medical School, Ben decides to join the card-counting team. Unfortunately, power and greed get the best of the students, putting their plan in jeopardy.

  • Through their engaging narratives and complex characters, these films offer a fascinating glimpse into the seductive yet perilous world of gambling.
  • The first instalment of this year’s awards, the industry dinner for craft categories, will be at the Star in Sydney next Monday.
  • On the eve of a grand final that the AFL predicts will attract the largest audience in the code’s history, CEO Andrew Dillon has acknowledged that there has been too much gambling advertising for the league on television and online.
  • Whereas the male gamblers are pitching a lonely and desperate battle against the evil opponent, the female gamblers portrayed in the movies are housewives or small-time players who gamble only for their personal gain.
  • You can always try to find a copy on DVD, but in the age of streaming services, here’s what you need to know.
  • A new Australian film about gambling addiction in sport – how it can devastate the lives of former star players – has started rolling out in festival screenings.

What we’d like to see is Aussie producers bringing out more movies that feature the casino industry Down Under. The industry is huge Down Under, and people all over the world can only get a peek into this interesting facet if filmmakers do their bit to showcase it. The movie has been acknowledged by professional gambling de-addiction centers as reflecting how gambling addiction really takes over people and their lives. There is maybe nowhere else that this unique culture has been captured like on film, with everything from classic movies to modern blockbusters taking place in the casino.

It may be a bit old for today’s poker audience, but those who don’t mind watching a classic will surely have fun. The film was released the same year Johnny Moss won his last WSOP Main Event (1974). It’s a comedy-drama directed by Robert Altman, and while on its face it may seem lighthearted, California Split cuts much deeper. The movie is based on a book of the same name, written from Bloom’s perspective, so there may be an expected bias toward her side of the story. As the name suggests, this movie is an adaptation of a novel authored by Peter Carey.

His single mom, Cynthia, gives him an ultimatum – to step up or move out. Doug, played by Justin Bartha, and his three friends, played by Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, go to Las Vegas for a wild bachelor party two days before the wedding. The next day, the three groomsmen wake up with no memory and can’t find Doug. They scramble to retrace their steps and find him, aiming to return him to LA for the wedding. The film is full of hilarious moments, perfectly depicting just how wild and crazy adventures in Las Vegas can be. Four years before the WSOP was even a thing, Warner Brothers released A Big Hand for the Little Lady, also known as Big Deal at Dodge City.

9 stars – based on 10 reviews on Google.

When the narrative focuses on the craft of casino management, and how the crime syndicates of the day operated almost out in the open, Scorsese’s direction and the acting positively sings. As a dissection on criminal influence benefiting off the decadence of the American dream, Casino is at times an absolute delight. DeNiro, as Sam, is perfectly cast (when isn’t he, let’s be honest) and I think he solidifies the film just when things threaten to go off the rails. In quite the meta turn, Scorsese’s own mother appears as a woman upset with her on-screen son’s continual swearing; perhaps apropos of Casino being one of the films on the “list of films with the most uses of the word fuck”. The world of gambling, with its inherent risks and rewards, has always made for compelling cinema.

The Casino as a Plot Device/Backdrop vs The Leading Role

Furthermore filmmaking is an incredible way to teach skills such as team work, communication and it also builds confidence in people as they discus their ideas and overcome challenges. Over the 10 week program students had the opportunity to learn about the various modes of documentary,  a brief history of the documentary  form and the opportunity to participate in filmmaking at a professional level. Charlie Babbitt, played by Tom Cruise, is a car dealer that goes back to Cincinnati after learning of his father’s death. He finds out he has an autistic older brother named Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) and that his father left $3 million at the mental institution where Raymond resides. The franchise now comprises 25 films which have grossed over $US7.04 billion in total at the box office. It ultimately brought in $US59.5 million at the box office — about $US611.4 million in today’s money.

Rounders is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and on several streaming services to either rent or buy. And with Dead Money set for release September 2024, there’s yet another poker flick that could eventually make it to the list. It is believed that one of the main reasons gambling is so popular in Australia maybe due to the readily available gambling facilities and outlets spread across the country.

gambling movies

Brandon was once a successful football player, but got injured and now has to find other ways to earn money. He recalls the bookie Walter, who once offered Brandon scams promising a big payday. It’s time to say goodbye to his pride and enter a dangerous game where winning will bring riches and losing will bring death. On television, “Molly’s Game” (2017) tells the true story of Molly Bloom, who ran high-stakes poker games for celebrities and business tycoons.

It is said that nearly four out of every five Australian partakes in real money gambling in one form or the other. With the advent of online casino websites, the number of Australians playing games for real money is higher than ever. In fact, there are tons of online casino Australia that are especially geared towards the Australian consumer market. While it is not clear why gambling is so popular amongst Australians, we do know that with 4/5 Australians gambling, they are number one in the world.

gambling movies

It is one of the newer gambling themed movies, however, it portrays the ’60s. It is based on a gangster named Barry Ryan and sheds light on how one can pull the strings and make the entire gambling industry in Australia dance to his tunes. However, when the Americans soldiers arrive in Australia for leisure, they have plans of their own once they grasp the magnitude of Ryan’s wealth.

  • Ocean’s 11 target three of Vegas largest casinos – the MGM Grand, the Mirage and Bellagio.
  • Aaron Sorkin’s writing does a job of building a realistic world, and the gambling scenes aren’t out of touch.
  • As such, we thought it’d be worthwhile to share a list of poker films you may want to watch.
  • Worm runs into Grama, a dangerous pimp, who reveals he is working for KGB and has bought Worm’s debt, now totaling $25,000 with interest.
  • This film has Amy Adams and Idris Elba and shows the travails of Molly, a former olympic-level skier who becomes hostess of one of Hollywood’s most high stakes (and illicit) gambling events.
  • The Netflix show you’re likely referring to is «Molly’s Game» (2017), although it’s a movie rather than a series.
  • Rodney has been writing about films for well over two decades, appreciates a good wine, the love of his wife and kids, and the affection of his dog and cats.

When it peaked, it reached for the stars, employing thousands and creating the world’s most famous films. Mike doubles the blinds at the risk of losing everything, and possibly his life, to KGB. In the final hand, Mike baits a boastful KGB into going all-in and defeats him with a nut straight. The rattled KGB calls off his goons and admits that Mike won fairly, allowing him to leave with his winnings. Rounders opened to mixed reviews and was moderately successful at the box office. Following the poker boom in the early 2000s, the film became a cult hit.

The Cincinnati Kid has everything you can wish for in a dramatic classic poker film – the underhand moves, the betrayal, women, guns, actions … the whole shebang to keep your adrenaline pumping. It is a fast-paced thriller that unravels the world of gambling piece by piece. Another movie portraying poker, The Cincinnati Kid is the story of Eric Stoner (Steve McQueen), an up and coming gambler who is a prodigy in the game of poker, especially backroom games of stud poker. When older and more experienced Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) comes to town, it is only to be expected that Stoner would want a go against the master, to show he is better than Howard.

“We support the policy positions of the government about over-saturation, normalisation, problem gambling – so wanting to minimise that,” said Dillon, who took over as AFL CEO from Gillon McLachlan, who is now CEO of Tabcorp. The present system is based on concepts of community standards and offence, not child development. The Foundation acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present. Enjoy $12.50 tickets from HOYTS and $32 HOYTS LUX tickets on Monday – Wednesday at HOYTS Chadstone.

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