The world of gambling is fascinating. People from all walks of life visit casinos and poker rooms, and these venues are always abuzz with excitement and glamour. It is no wonder that so many movies have been based in and on the gambling market. There are dozens of great gambling films out there, but we’ve narrowed our list down to our Top 5 casino movies .
Rounders
Rounders is a cult classic film starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton. Matt Damon plays Mike McDermott, a law school student by day and poker player by night. After losing his entire bankroll in a single game of poker, he decides to stick to his studies.
However, things change when his friend Lester Murphy (Norton) is released from prison. He has only a few days to repay a $15 000 gambling debt, and the pair set off to play high-stakes poker games in order to raise the money.
Casino
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Casino is a classic gangster film that chronicles the operation of the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. The film offers a gritty look at the underground gambling market and mob-operated casinos.
Casino has been nominated for a number of awards and appears on several ‘Best Movie’ lists.
21
Based on true events, 21 is the story of the MIT Blackjack Team. The main character is Ben Campbell, a gifted student who is accepted to medical school – but he is unable to pay for the tuition. He is recruited by an MIT professor to join a student blackjack team, in which all members card count in order to turn a profit.
The film recounts their exploits, as they attempt to beat the house in Las Vegas and earn millions.
Owning Mahowny
Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Owning Mahoney is the story of one man’s descent into gambling addiction. It is based on the true story of Canada’s biggest case of bank fraud, as Dan Mahowny steals $10 million to fund his 18-month gambling binge.
Ocean’s 11
Ocean’s 11 is a star-studded remake of a 1960 Rat Pack film. The 2000 film stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney (along with a laundry list of other film stars).
The main character is Danny Ocean (Clooney), who wants to pull of the biggest casino heist in history, robbing three casinos in one night. He enlists in the help of scam artists from around the world to achieve his goal, and cash in on $150 million.
