by Brian Holegate
Before you start rolling it on your own on your favorite mobile casino–such as 777 Casino–here are some of the most essential gambling movies you MUST watch. Check them out, and who knows–you might even pick a trick or two that you can use!
Casino (Martin Scorsese, 1995)
The title of the movie speaks for itself. This film was one of the most renowned works of director Martin Scorsese. It was based on the non-fiction book titled “Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas,” which was written by crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi. The original book tells the story of the alliance between mafia men Lefty Rosenthal and Tony Spilotro and their life in the casinos in Las Vegas that are secretly controlled by the mafia.
The movie depicts the same issues of the two different faces of the high life in las Vegas–the sparkle and glamour in the foreground, and the dangers and the cruelty that is happening in the background.
If you are into a casino movie with the perfect blend of blood, murder, power, deception, and money, then Casino would be a good watch for you.
Honeymoon in Vegas (Andrew Bergman, 1992)
In this romantic comedy movie, Jack Singer (played by Nicolas Cage) loses all his money at a poker table in Vegas, just before his marriage to his fiancé Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker). As a result, he was forced to lend his fiancé to con man Tommy Korman (James Caan) as payment for his loss in a game.
As Betsy starts to develop feelings for Korman, would Jack be able to win her back in time?
Ocean’s Eleven (Steven Soderbergh, 2001)
No gambling movie list is complete without Steven Soderbergh’s prized gem Ocean’s Eleven. If you are looking for the best casino heist movie, it cannot get any better than this one.
The team in Ocean’s Eleven targets three of the biggest casinos in Vegas–the MGM Grand, the Mirage, and the Bellagio. In the film, all these three big gambling places are owned by evil tycoon Terry Benedict (played by Andy Garcia).
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (A. W. Vidmer, 2003)
If you are into poker and followed the happenings in the world of the game, you probably know who Stu Ungar is already. He is one of the most legendary poker players in history and was the first person to win three WSOP Main Event tournaments in the history of World Series of Poker. Sadly, his career ended as he went bankrupt due to bad horse racing bets.
This biographical film tells the life of Stu Ungar (played by Michael Imperioli)–from his road to success, the peak of it, and his eventual downfall. The film is known for being detailed throughout, not leaving any important part in every aspect of the famous gambler’s life story.
Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006)
This James Bond 007 film remains one of the best films in the franchise, both for fans and critics as well. The film centers on Bond and his mission to Le Chiffre, a financer to large terrorist organisations.
Aside from the usual action and love scenes that you would expect from a Bond film, Casino Royale also features some of the most thrilling and most suspenseful gambling scenes ever to be in a film.
