Top 10 Casino Movies

We all have our own Achilles Heal when it comes to online gambling. Maybe for you, it’s the live casino games or the online slots. Regardless of our favorite online games, real casino lovers always have a soft spot for the real thing. Whether you love to play poker, blackjack, roulette, or baccarat, you´ll find them all included in a way or another from this Top 10-list!

When it’s time to take a break from the computer and spend time with the family, why not indulge yourself in some old-fashioned casino entertainment, with no money on the line. Movie night is basically a tradition, so why not bring the thrills of the casino to your living room.

Online casinos are thrilling, but from time to time watching others hit the Jackpot (or maybe lose everything they have) can be just as powerful. Hollywood has produced some epic movies, each with a hit of casino-related adrenaline and a healthy dose of educational insight.

Here’s our list of the top 10 casino movies that do the trick. If you need a few Saturday night movie ideas or want to organize a Casino-themes movie marathon, here’s a good place to start.

Best Casino Movies

1. Casino (1995)

Image: wikimedia.org

Since we are making a list of the top 10 casino movies, we have to start with the classic - the movie where the title speaks for itself. Casino was released in 1995 and remains one of the greats for those who want an inside scoop on the glamorous lives of those who play the big numbers in Las Vegas.

Universal Pictures distributed the movie. Barbara De Fina served as the producer of the movie, while Martin Scorsese was the director. This is the perfect casino movie for those who like to enjoy crime films with added hints of casino drama.

The movie is set in a time where online casinos were not a thing. Instead, you get to see how the Las Vegas lifestyle was lived in the 1990s. Many people also consider Casino a trendsetter - it created a foundation for a genre of more modern movies that highlight Las Vegas gambling.

Casino narrates the life of Ace, played by Robert DeNiro, an ex-gangster in Las Vegas. Ace attempts to live a normal life after retiring from the gangster life, but things do not go as planned. Following a position as a manager at a Las Vegas casino, Ace faces difficult times when a friend, Nicky Santoro, played by Joe Pesci- shows up unexpectedly. What follows is a story about attempting to break rules to hit jackpots,and their battle with the FBI and the mafia bosses who want to get in their way.

2. Rain Man (1988)

Image: m.media-amazon.com

Another classic casino flick is Rain Man, one of the older entries on our list that remains relevant today. Rain Man features Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in their early years, and launched both actors into the Hollywood spotlight.

Rain Man has everything you want in a casino film - from sweat-inducing progressive jackpot drama to teeth-grinding roulette scenarios. Tom Cruise plays the role of Charlie Babbit, a businessman who returns home after the death of his father and is reunited with his autistic older brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman).

In an attempt to harness Raymond’s natural talents, Charlie takes him to a Las Vegas casino, where he attempts to get Raymond to count cards at a Blackjack game.

The film offers a lot of suspense and drama, but at the same time pulls at the heartstrings. It also highlights the grey line or legality that exists in the casino industry. Relevant even today, these lessons are important even when setting up an account at an online casino!

3. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Image: wikimedia.org

Whether it's the deadly combination of George Clooney and Brad Pitt or just the thrill of the high stakes in the film, Ocean’s Eleven is a staff favorite here at Viabonus.com Sure, this is not the only film in the series, but let’s face it - it is the best one!

Ocean's Eleven features a stacked cast of well-known celebrity faces. Apart from Pitt and Clooney, we also get to see Julia Robers and Matt Damon in action. What makes this film so great is also the fact that the producers were able to frame a realistic plot and combine it with elements of comedy, wit, and unexpected casino twists. This creates the perfect movie for the whole family, casino obsessions aside.

Every scene offers significant detail and insight into the casino industry - something that we often do not see in many movies. The plot focuses on a team of people, led by Danny Ocean, who is considered a professional thief. Everyone in the team is a con artist - and they have one goal: to steal 150 million dollars from the biggest casinos that exist in Las Vegas.

Danny and the team take us on an adventure of “ethical conning”, attempting to beat the house and rob the casino of undeserved money.

4. Casino Royale (2006)

Image: media-amazon.com

Casino Royale's 2006 remake is a shoe-in on our list. Remakes are always a gamble, especially one that’s part of the 007 series.  Yet in our opinion, they nailed it.

In Casino Royale, we are taken on another James Bond adventure, a secret agent that has become a famous name in all countries. If you haven’t heard of him, it’s time you find a door to that rock you live under.

Bond is played by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, who is now famous for a blue steel poker face. Obviously James Bond is not trying to pull off a heist- that would be very un-MI7 of him. Appropriately, James is on a mission to stop a criminal - Le Chiffre.

During the film, James goes undercover to stop Le Chiffre from pulling off a heist at the Le Casino Royale, located in Montenegro. We soon learn that this is a bigger operation that includes more bad guys, more women, and more action. From money laundering to car chases to beautiful cocktail waitresses, Bond has his work cut out for him.

Can James pull this job off? You'll have to take a quick break from your favorite online casino and watch for yourself to find out.

If your goal is to hone your gambling skills to become the next Daniel Craig, master your poker skills with the best online casino games and our 007 worthy bonuses.

5. Croupier (1998)

Image: wikimedia.org

Prefer something with more drama? Then how about a movie that gives you a view on the other side of gambling?

For many years, gambling has been displayed as an exciting world of glamour - particularly when looking at Hollywood movies. Croupier takes a slightly different approach.

In this movie, Clive Owen plays the role of Jack Manfred. Jack is a writer who finds himself at a difficult spot, suffering from extreme writer's block while in desperate need to complete his next work.  Jack decides to gain some experience in the world of casinos and becomes a croupier. Jack is quickly exposed to the rough underbelly of the casino industry and soon finds himself knee-deep in the shadier sides of the glamorous casino lifestyle.

While he gets stuck in the gambling game and finds it hard to escape - but his experience gives him the inspiration he needed to get back to writing his novel.

6. Rounders (1998)

Image: media-amazon.com

Need something that is a bit more educational as you go about your casino online routine? Then Rounders may be the right option for you. Educating yourself on how to make money while watching movies sounds like a great Friday night!

In this flick, Matt Damon plays the role of Mike McDermott, a law student with a talent for playing poker. Following a number of lucky streaks, Mike soon realizes that every game played cannot be won - and ends up losing it all.

After his fall, Mike makes the smart decision to leave it all behind, but this decision is soon reversed when Worm- Mike's best friend- is released from prison. Worm has large debts to pay to a few unsavory characters and convinces Mike to get back into the world of poker.

This “casino-education” movie shows us how we should not become too confident when faced with a winning streak. Seeing how some struggle to maintain composure when faced with big losses or big risks is a lesson to be remembered.

Yes, we find some of the best casino bonuses for our readers, but we also stress the need to be responsible while playing. Seek help to gambling problem from begambleaware.org

7. The Gambler (2014)

Image: cdn.playlists.net

Even though many of the classics on this list are a bit older, there are some excellent options when looking at films released in the 21st century.

The Gambler is a film directed by Rupert Wyatt and tells the story of an English literature teacher named Jim Bennett.

Bennett, played by Mark Wahlberg, is addicted to gambling. He is particularly keen on high stakes, which gets him into trouble. After Jim loses an important game of Blackjack, he finds himself swimming in $240,000 of debt. To make things better, the debt is owed to a group of criminals - which means Jim now has to find a way to pay back what he owes.

The film follows Jim as he attempts to use different strategies as a way to not only pay the debt he has made but also to get him out of the situation with his life.

Similar to Rounders, The Gambler teaches us to be responsible while still having fun. All the more reason to continue to hone your skills with online casinos before attempting to take on the real thing! If you have or think you have might have a gambling issue you can seek help from organizations such as begambleaware.org

8. The Hangover (2009)

Image: m.media-amazon.com

We all enjoy the thrill that comes with high stakes in these top 10 casino movies - especially the drama that normally unfolds when characters win (and lose) big.

There are also times where you want to put down the notebook and just have a laugh. If you're in the mood for a casino-themed comedy that is sure to make you tear up, then The Hangover is the perfect film to indulge in.

The film revolves around three friends - Stu, Alan, and Phil. With interesting character dynamics already in tow, they decide to head over to a casino in Las Vegas to celebrate Stu’s bachelor party in style.

When the three friends wake up the morning after the party, they are in possession of a tiger, a baby, and absolutely no memory of what happened.

The rest of the movie follows the three characters as they try to piece together the wild adventure that unfolded the night before. For us here at Viabonus, the movie acts as a reminder why online gambling is the safer option- obviously. Less tigers involved.

9. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)

Image: wikimedia.org

Want something slow-paced that is both dramatic and extremely funny at the same time? Then you should definitely consider watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In our opinion, this is one of Johnny Depp’s finest roles, playing the character “Hunter Thompson”.

Hunter is a journalist who enjoys psychedelics and other mind-expanding drugs. Together with his lawyer, Hunter goes on a trip - starting in Los Angeles and ending in Las Vegas.

While the goal of the trip is for Hunter to cover an event related to sports, their unexpected journey takes them deep into a dark gambling world.

It’s a dark and hilarious adventure best experienced from the safety of your own home.

10. Mississippi Grind (2015)

Image: media-amazon.com

Another one for those who prefer something a bit more modern - Mississippi Grind features the iconically hilarious Ryan Reynolds, who plays the role of Curtis.

During the movie, Curtis meets Gerry, someone who appears to be a very talented Texas Hold'Em player. The story follows these two flawed characters as they tackle the “Mississippi Grind” on their way to New Orleans for a high stake poker game.

Filled with a great mixture of character development and high-stakes adrenaline, this movie is a must-watch for poker lovers!

Conclusion

The thrill of a casino does not necessarily mean you have to risk it all yourself. Watching one of these top 10 casino movies can give you an adrenaline shot without taking any risks.

There are casino movies in many genres too, which means everyone has something that they would enjoy. And if you watch these movies closely, you might just pick up a few tips to help you hit those Jackpots on your next trip to the roulette or blackjack table.