Casinos are fantastic places. Since the creation of the Casinò di Venezia (1638), the first casino ever, it’s surrounded by luxury and adrenaline. Not by chance, they have inspired countless novels and movies and continue to inspire until today. Hollywood has invested its fair share in the theme, and here are the best movies about casinos.
Living a Passion
Technology is awesome, and those who love casinos no longer need to travel for miles to reach one. Nowadays, finding your favourite games and lotteries online and for real is possible. For instance, you can earn real money by playing Satta Matka Express on 10CRIC. If it’s true, it doesn’t replace a night out in a luxurious venue; you can still find the best casino games to light up your night at home.
Alternatively, pick one of the five movies below to go deeper into the casino vibe.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale is a classic James Bond adventure first launched in 1973. The title was relaunched quite successfully, with Daniel Craig in the main role in 2006. In the plot, Bond antagonises Le Chiffre, a mob banker. The poker scene in the Casino de Monte Carlo is one of the most remarkable in cinema history for this theme.
Casino Royale is a very important title in James Bond’s world. In fact, it’s where his adventures started: it was the first novel with the character written by Ian Flemming. So, here we have the chance to see a “raw” James Bond, more lethal, less of a nymphomaniac, drinking his martini regardless of being shaken or stirred.
Casino Royale also shows a James Bond without all those crazy gadgets. Q and Moneypenny aren’t there yet, and M doesn’t hide away her disapproval of Bond’s recklessness. Daniel Craig is undoubtedly one of the best 007 ever to serve the Queen, and this title is one of a kind, even for Bond fans.
Ocean’s Eleven
Here’s another movie that launched decades ago and came back as a blockbuster. The movie was first released in 1960, and it was already a great success back then. In the 2001 version, George Clooney is Danny lives with Danny Ocean, and a team of Hollywood stars as “helpers”, like Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt. Not bad, considering that the original version starred Frank Sinatra.
In the plot, Danny’s gang plans to heist a casino with his partner Rusty Rian, played by Brad Pitt. Clooney had just left jail and had an ambitious plan: to heist not only one but three casinos in Las Vegas at once.
The movie production did so quite realistically, shooting the scenes in the actual casinos Danny’s gang would heist: the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, and The Mirage. The Bellagio’s owner is played by Andy Garcia, who’s married to Tess Ocean, Danny’s ex-wife, played by Julia Roberts.
Rounders
Here’s Matt Damon once again, wreaking havoc in a casino. Damon plays Mike McDermot, a poor but very talented student with a knack for poker. However, he decides to quit the tables after being beaten to near-death by a Russian mobster over a game. Yet, he returns to activity later to save a friend, played by Edward Norton, from a loan shark.
Rounders contrasts interestingly with other movies about gambling. It doesn’t mind to talk shamelessly about compulsive gambling in arguably glorifying lights. After all, Mike McDermot gambles away everything he has and still walks away as a winner. It’s all for the sake of the plot, though. It’s a very entertaining movie for poker enthusiasts, and the main characters are quite knowledgeable about it.
Casino
Scorcese never plays it lightly. His movie Casino (1995) is a timeless classic. It’s based on real events, as described in a non-fictional book by Nicholas Pileggi. The book described Las Vegas from the ’70s and ’80s, when gangsters dominated the scene. De Niro is a retired gangster (Sam Rothstein) managing casinos in Las Vegas, while his past comes back to haunt him. The movie also stars Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci.
Nicholas Pileggi wrote his book on the accounts of a man who once managed four casinos in Las Vegas for the mafia. The storyline kind of begins from where it ends, as it starts with Rothstein’s car blowing up into the air. Then, the movie tells the series of events that led to that moment. Rothstein marries Ginger McKenna, a street hustler played by Sharon Stone.
The movie details how Sam Rothstein stole from the casinos he managed. It shows how they stole from table games, restaurants, gift shops, and slot machines. It even shows what to do with the coins stolen from slot machines. Naturally, the real names were changed, but all characters are there. Rothstein is based on Frank Rosenthal; Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) is Anthony Spilotro. Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) is Geri McGee.
Maverick
Mel Gibson plays Bret Maverick in this legendary movie about gambling. The movie was from 1994, when Mel Gibson was still young and full of charisma, so he was perfect for the role.
Maverick wants to join a very important poker competition, but he doesn’t have enough funds for the buy-in. He needs 25,000 dollars but only has 22,000. The plot revolves around Maverick trying to win the rest in poker tables across the Old West.
The story is inspired by a Western series from the 50s, where James Garner was a charismatic gambler who used his charms to escape almost any trouble. Yet, can use a gun alright, if the situation forces him to do so. James Garner even appears with Mel Gibson in the movie as marshal Zane Copper. Jodie Foster plays Annabelle Bransford, the only poker player on the table that could match Maverick’s charms.
You don’t need to be a fan of the 50’s TV show to enjoy Maverick. Yet, if you followed James Garner in his young days, you’ll catch several references, not to mention the participation of James Garner himself.
Popcorn and Chips
Casino movies are always great fun, and you definitely can’t go wrong with the titles above. From the gruesome violence in Casino Royale to the light-hearted tricks of Maverick, there are casino movies for every taste. It’s even possible to learn a thing or two about poker if you pay enough attention.
