Movies about casinos and gambling are always at the center of attention because of all the risks and drama involved. They are usually spiced with failures, success, and lots of money. Such movies are also often based on real-life stories which show us that everything is possible. You have surely seen Ocean’s Eleven, Casino Royale, and other famous gambling-related movies. But this article is different because we want to share 8 less popular films that are still worth your attention.
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1. Vegas Vacation (1997)
What had to be a fun family vacation, turned into a disaster for Clark Griswold. In a series of unsuccessful attempts to beat the casino, the man played all sorts of games from blackjack to slots. But the funniest thing happened when he came up to a table with a ‘Guess the Number from 1 to 10’ sign where the dealer just thought of the number in mind. Of course, Clark lost.
2. Atlantic City (1980)
Atlantic City is a timeless and heartwarming movie with two stars playing the main parts – Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon. She is a casino waitress who dreams to become a dealer but feels exhausted and depressed because of her ex-husband. This movie tells the story of Vegas where dreams can crash and resurrect in a blink of an eye.
3. 21 (2008)
This movie is based on a 2003 book by Ben Mezrich where he shares the story of a so-called MIT Blackjack Team – a group of card counters from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This movie is great at showing the science and math behind gambling although it got its share of criticism for turning mostly Asian students from the real MIT team into white people. But it is impossible not to like all the young and handsome actors on the screen – Kate Bosworth, Jacob Pitts, Jim Sturgess, and others.
4. Croupier (1998)
Clive Owen doesn’t appear on the screens very often but you can always watch him play in the Croupier movie. It is about a novelist without money who decides to become a croupier and explore casino life. During the conversations and real-life situations, you can see the lowdown of the industry. Often, it is not as bright and pleasant as it may seem at first.
5. Maverick (1994)
No matter how weak the plot is, Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster can save the situation. This happened in the Maverick movie which is based on television series from the 1950s. Although the story seems a bit dragged out, it is still fun to watch a nobleman and a distressed woman making their bets.
6. Eight Men Out (1988)
Grace Tennet, a content manager of NZ CasinoHEX says that Eight Men Out is one of her favourite movies of all time. And we couldn’t agree more! It is a historical drama depicting the 1919 Black Sox scandal when the Chicago White Sox members established the World Series for punters. The team owner refused to pay the players for the season, so they had to earn the money in an alternative way.
7. Casino (1995)
This drama from Martin Scorsese stars Robert De Niro, a gangster who owns a casino and wants to make everything right but something always comes on his way. For example, his unstable friend and an ambitious woman played by Sharon Stone.
8. California Split (1974)
California Split by Joseph Walsh and Robert Altman is a story about a casual gambler who makes friends with a professional player and begins to copy his life. The bets are getting higher, and so is the tension. The stars of the movie are George Segal, Ann Prentiss, and Elliott Gould.
Great stories to learn from
Movies are not only about entertainment and leisure. They are about finding out something new about yourself and the world. We hope that our collection of gambling-related films will brighten up your evening and become a great source of inspiration both for new and experienced players.