Nothing quite compares to the buzz and excitement that you feel when doing laps of a casino hall. Whether you’re a fan of placing bets or want to improve your poker strategy around other hopeful players, it’s an interesting place to be – which is why so many films have been inspired by the experience.
Nowadays, you don’t have to be in Las Vegas to experience the highs (and the lows) of gambling as many casino games with attractive offers have online versions that recreate the experience of being in a real casino hall. All of your favorite casino table games, blackjack, poker, and slot machines can now be played online – many of them featuring live dealers to make the experience even more realistic.
If the online games still haven’t satisfied your appetite for the casino experience, here are some films that have been inspired by a gambler’s favorite place.
James Bond may be one of the most popular film franchises of all time, featuring a sophisticated secret agent, beautiful Bond girls, and a thrilling plot in every film, there’s not much that you wouldn’t get excited about in this series.
When it comes to James Bond movies, they can sometimes be a bit of a hit or miss according to rankings of the 27 movies, but one movie in particular that is sure to entice gamblers, in particular, is Casino Royale.
In the 2006 James Bond film featuring Daniel Craig as 007, Bond is drawn into a high-stakes poker game where he is facing another player with links to dangerous terrorist organizations. For the rest of the film Bond is not only placing bets on the poker table but is playing a larger game that could put thousands of innocent people in danger.
We all love to watch movies that have a few familiar faces in them, but the 2001 film, Ocean’s Eleven gives the term ‘star-studded cast’ a whole new meaning. Featuring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt – just to name a few – this movie is not only a modern classic but a must-see for anyone who dabbles in the gambling realm.
In the movie, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is the head of a team of criminals who are planning to rob three Las Vegas casinos at once. As the plot twists and turns, viewers are taken on a thrilling ride that takes them through several impressive casino settings.
We’re sure that when you watch this, you’re going to be sat on the edge of your seat the entire time as you attempt to guess what’s going to happen next. With excellent storytelling, a blend of humor and suspense, and a sophisticated casino aesthetic, there’s nothing not to like about Ocean’s Eleven.
The 2021 drama, The Card Counter, tells the story of William Tell, a former serviceman, and gambler who becomes close to a younger man who is set on taking revenge on a mutual enemy.
After 8 years spent in a military prison, William taught himself how to count cards, making him a formidable force in the casino. With the skills that he learned, he’s prepared to outwit any of his opponents to win big and thinks that he will be able to help his new friend get the revenge that he deserves.
Will William get the redemption that he hopes for, or will everything fall apart after one bad bet? You’ll have to watch The Card Counter to find out the answer to that question.
The next movie on our list is 21, which was inspired by the true story of Ben Campbell, who joins a card-counting group alongside other fellow geniuses who want to win big in the Las Vegas casinos.
Treading the moral line with every move, the film expertly explores the moral and ethical dilemmas that many gamblers find themselves thinking about at some point in their gaming journey. It also discusses themes like greed, friendship, and the true cost of success when you’re playing with such high stakes.
Another casino-based film that stars Matt Damon is Rounders. In this film, Damon stars alongside Edward Norton, a man trying to pay off his student debts that needs to find a quick way to raise a large sum of money.
Navigating the underground world of NYC’s poker halls, the pair do what they can to take risks and win big – before the game gets the better of them. This film explores the consequences of getting too consumed in the world of gambling – both psychologically and emotionally – as well as the unlikely friendship between the two lead actors.