Top 10 Gambling movies on Netflix

Gambling Movies on Netflix

If you are a fan of gambling and movies, you might be wondering what to watch on Netflix that combines these two passions. Well, you are in luck, because there are plenty of gambling movies available on the streaming platform that will keep you entertained and informed. Whether you are looking for thrillers, comedies, dramas or documentaries, there is something for everyone in this list of top 10 gambling movies on Netflix.

Ratings of Gambling movies on Netflix:

1. Casino (1995)

One of the most iconic gambling movies of all time, Casino is a masterpiece by Martin Scorsese that depicts the rise and fall of a mob-controlled casino in Las Vegas. Based on a true story, the film stars Robert De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a skilled gambler and bookmaker who runs the Tangiers casino for the mafia. His life is complicated by his relationship with his wife Ginger (Sharon Stone), a former prostitute and drug addict, and his friendship with his childhood pal Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), a violent and unpredictable enforcer. Casino is a gripping and gritty portrayal of the dark side of gambling, with stunning performances, cinematography and soundtrack.

Interesting facts about Casino (1995):

• Most of the conversations between Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci were improvised. Martin Scorsese would tell them where to start and where to end. The rest was up to them.
• The costume budget for the film was $1 million. Robert De Niro had seventy different costumes throughout the film, Sharon Stone had forty. Both were allowed to keep their costumes afterwards.
• Joe Pesci bore some natural resemblance to Tony “The Ant” Spilotro, upon whom his character was based. In make-up, he looked even more like Spilotro, so much so that, according to Pileggi, when Pesci entered the casino where the movie was being shot, some pit bosses who’d had personal dealings with Spilotro “almost fainted”.

2. Rounders (1998)

Rounders is widely considered to be the best poker movie ever made, and for good reason. It follows the story of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), a law student and talented poker player who dreams of playing in the World Series of Poker. However, he loses his entire bankroll to a Russian mobster named Teddy “KGB” (John Malkovich) and vows to quit gambling for good. That is, until his old friend and mentor Lester “Worm” Murphy (Edward Norton) gets out of prison and drags him back into the underground poker scene. Rounders is a thrilling and realistic depiction of the high-stakes world of poker, with authentic dialogue, strategy and atmosphere.

Interesting facts about Rounders (1998):

• Poker games in the film were advised by professional poker players Johnny Chan, Steve Zolotow and Joel Bagels Rosenberg.
• Matt Damon actually lost $25,000 at a poker table in Las Vegas while preparing for his role.
• Film is credited with starting the poker boom in the early 2000s, as many players were inspired by the movie to take up the game.

3. 21 (2008)

21 is based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, a group of math students who used card counting and team play to beat the casinos at blackjack in the 1990s. The film focuses on Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a brilliant but shy student who joins the team led by professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) and falls in love with fellow team member Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth). However, their success attracts the attention of casino security chief Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne), who is determined to catch them and expose their scheme. 21 is an entertaining and fast-paced heist movie that showcases the skills and risks involved in blackjack.

Interesting facts about 21 (2008):

• Film is based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, but most of the characters and events were fictionalized or exaggerated for dramatic effect.
• The real MIT Blackjack Team members have cameo appearances in the film. For example, Jeff Ma, who was the inspiration for Ben Campbell, plays a blackjack dealer named Jeffery.
• Film used over 20,000 decks of cards during production. They were provided by a company that specializes in supplying casinos with cards that have been used and discarded.

4. Mississippi Grind (2015)

Mississippi Grind is a road movie that follows two gamblers who embark on a journey across the American South to play in a high-stakes poker game in New Orleans. Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a down-on-his-luck gambler who owes money to various shady characters. Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) is a charismatic and carefree gambler who befriends Gerry and convinces him to join him on his trip. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles, opportunities and temptations that test their friendship and their luck. Mississippi Grind is a poignant and humorous exploration of the joys and sorrows of gambling, with excellent chemistry between the two leads.

Interesting facts about Mississippi Grind (2015):

• Film was shot on location in several states, including Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri and Alabama.
• Film features several real-life poker players and gamblers as extras or minor characters. For example, David Levien, one of the co-writers of Rounders, plays a poker player named Mr. Ruderman.
• Film’s title refers to both the Mississippi River, which the characters follow on their road trip, and the gambling term “grind”, which means playing with a small edge over a long period of time.

5. The Gambler (2014)

The Gambler is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, starring Mark Wahlberg as Jim Bennett, a literature professor and compulsive gambler who borrows money from dangerous sources to fuel his addiction. He has a complicated relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange), who disapproves of his lifestyle, and his student Amy Phillips (Brie Larson), who has a crush on him. He also has to deal with three loan sharks (Michael Kenneth Williams, John Goodman and Alvin Ing) who threaten him with violence if he doesn’t pay them back. The Gambler is a dark and intense drama that explores the psychology of gambling addiction.

Interesting facts about The Gambler (2014):

• Film is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, starring James Caan as Axel Freed, the character that Mark Wahlberg plays in the remake.
• Film features several references to literature and philosophy, as the main character is a literature professor who quotes authors like Shakespeare, Camus and Dostoyevsky.
• Film’s soundtrack includes songs by artists like M83, Bob Dylan, Ray LaMontagne and Aloe Blacc.

6. Win It All (2017)

Win It All is a comedy-drama directed by Joe Swanberg and starring Jake Johnson as Eddie Garrett, a small-time gambler who agrees to watch over a duffel bag for an acquaintance who is going to prison. He discovers that the bag contains $50,000 in cash and decides to use it to gamble, hoping to double it before the owner returns. However, he soon loses most of it and has to find a way to win it back before it’s too late. He also meets Eva (Aislinn Derbez), a single mother who works as a nurse, and tries to start a relationship with her. Win It All is a funny and charming movie that shows the ups and downs of gambling.

Interesting facts about Win It All (2017):

• Film was directed by Joe Swanberg and co-written by Swanberg and Jake Johnson, who also plays the lead role of Eddie Garrett.
• Film was mostly improvised by the actors, who only had a loose outline of the plot and scenes.
• Film premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2017 and was released on Netflix in April 2017.

7. Lay the Favorite (2012)

Lay the Favorite is a comedy based on the memoir of Beth Raymer, a former stripper who becomes a professional sports bettor. The film stars Rebecca Hall as Beth, who moves to Las Vegas and meets Dink Heimowitz (Bruce Willis), a successful sports gambler who hires her as his assistant. She proves to be a lucky charm for him, but also causes trouble with his wife Tulip (Catherine Zeta-Jones). She also falls in love with Jeremy (Joshua Jackson), a journalist who covers the gambling industry. Lay the Favorite is a light-hearted and quirky movie that offers a glimpse into the world of sports betting.

Interesting facts about Lay the Favorite (2012):

• Film is based on the memoir of Beth Raymer, a former stripper who became a professional sports bettor.
• Film was directed by Stephen Frears and features an ensemble cast that includes Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vince Vaughn and Joshua Jackson.
• Film received mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences, who criticized its tone, script and performances.

8. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a cult classic based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, a gonzo journalist who chronicled his drug-fueled adventures in Las Vegas in the 1970s. The film stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke, Thompson’s alter ego, who travels to Las Vegas with his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) to cover a motorcycle race. However, they soon abandon their assignment and indulge in a psychedelic odyssey of gambling, hallucinations and mayhem. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a surreal and hilarious satire of the American dream and the excesses of Las Vegas.

Interesting facts about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998):

• Film is based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, a gonzo journalist who chronicled his drug-fueled adventures in Las Vegas in the 1970s.
• Film stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke, Thompson’s alter ego, who wears Thompson’s actual clothes and accessories in the film. Depp also lived with Thompson for four months to prepare for his role.
• Film features several cameo appearances by celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire, Gary Busey and Flea

9. Croupier (1998)

Croupier is a neo-noir film that follows Jack Manfred (Clive Owen), a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier at a London casino. He becomes fascinated by the world of gambling and the people who frequent it, and decides to use his experiences as material for his novel. However, he also gets involved in a plot to rob the casino, orchestrated by one of the players, Jani (Alex Kingston), who seduces him. Croupier is a stylish and sophisticated film that exposes the dark and corrupt side of gambling, with a twisty plot and a charismatic performance by Owen.

Interesting facts about Croupier (1998):

• Film was directed by Mike Hodges and stars Clive Owen as Jack Manfred, a struggling writer who becomes a croupier at a London casino.
• Film was a critical success but a commercial failure in the UK, where it was released in 1998. However, it became a cult hit in the US, where it was released in 2000.
• Film was nominated for several awards, including a BAFTA for Best British Film and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film.

10. Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale is the first film in the Daniel Craig era of the James Bond franchise, and one of the best Bond movies ever made. It follows Bond as he tries to stop Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a banker who finances terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a treasury agent who assists him in his mission. Casino Royale is a thrilling and action-packed film that features one of the most memorable poker scenes in cinema history, as well as a complex and emotional romance between Bond and Vesper.

Interesting facts about Casino Royale (2006):

• Film is the first film in the Daniel Craig era of the James Bond franchise, and one of the best Bond movies ever made.
• Film is based on the first novel by Ian Fleming, who created the character of James Bond. It follows Bond as he tries to stop Le Chiffre, a banker who finances terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro.
• Film features one of the most memorable poker scenes in cinema history, as well as a complex and emotional romance between Bond and Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green

Conclusion

There you have it, the top 10 gambling movies on Netflix that you can binge-watch right now. Whether you are looking for excitement, humor, drama or romance, these movies will satisfy your craving for gambling entertainment. So grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy!

Posted by: Valerii B.

Valerii B. is a passionate gambling aficionado and online gaming expert based in the beautiful country of New Zealand. With a deep-rooted fascination for casino games and sports betting, Valerii has accumulated invaluable years of experience in the ever-evolving iGaming industry. As a renowned contributor to Gamblorium, Valerii draws from his extensive knowledge to provide insightful reviews, in-depth analysis, and compelling articles on the latest trends and events in the world of online gambling.