Casino gambling is exciting and has the potential to make players a lot of money in the blink of an eye. Because of its ability to change lives in an instant, casino gambling has been featured in some extremely popular films over the years, films that have a lot of action and thrills.
Here are the top five casino gambling films of all-time and what made them so good:
5. The Cooler (2003)
“The Cooler” is a different type of gambling film. It stars William H. Macy as a man who is employed by a casino to “cool off” gamblers who are winning big because he has such bad luck himself. Whenever Macy stands next to a gambler on a lucky streak, the streak ends.
During the movie, Macy’s character undergoes changes in his life and suddenly he becomes a good luck charm for a lot of gamblers.
This film features excellent acting and a different kind of plot while still depicting the excitement and thrills of casino gambling, superstition and luck.
4. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Steve McQueen stars in this film about a poker player seeking to be the best, set during the Great Depression. McQueen challenges Edward G. Robinson, who is already considered the best poker player to the ultimate showdown. The film also stars Ann Margaret and Karl Malden.
McQueen gives an outstanding performance and moviegoers identify with his character’s quest to be the best at what he does.
3. The Sting (1973)
The famous duo of Robert Redford and Paul Newman star in this all-time classic film about two professional gamblers and their attempt to con a mob boss while gambling in a casino. The film also features an all-star cast that includes Robert Shaw, Robert Earl Jones and Charles Durning.
The film won seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director and featured a popular soundtrack that featured the song “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin.
Redford and Newman are cool customers, but can they fool the mob boss and keep the FBI at bay? The movie was popular and critically acclaimed and shows the excitement and thrills of gambling at the best live casinos. It has been selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
2. Casino Royale (2003)
This movie has it all: high stakes gambling, James Bond, an exotic location in Monte Carlo and a lot of excitement. Daniel Craig does an excellent job in this remake based on the 1953 Ian Fleming novel while Eva Green shines as Bond’s love interest.
The original film was released in 1967 and starred David Niven. That movie was more satirical and over the top.
Bond takes on the villainous Le Chiffre in a high-stakes, winner take all poker game that like casino gambling has thrills, tension and big money payoffs. It is by far the best of the new generation of Bond films.
1. Casino (1995)
Martin Scorsese’s classic is based on real people and events and that only helps make it more fascinating. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles and Sharon Stone star.
The film involves an expert gambler and handicapper asked to run a Las Vegas casino in the 1970s. There is gambling, mob involvement and a lot of action and tension in this superb film.
Stone’s performance is particularly compelling in this unforgettable film.
While movies may be fun, you can also experience the thrills and excitement of casino gambling right in your own home with online casino sites.
