Movies About Gambling (Top Picks At A Glance)
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There’s something about gambling that just makes it irresistible. Maybe it’s the thrill of the risk or the feeling of control as you watch the cards fall in your favor. No matter what it is, there’s no doubt that gambling has been a part of human culture for centuries.
And while there are plenty of documentaries and articles out there on the topic, it can be hard to find good and fun movies about gambling to watch. So, if you’re looking for a good gambling film, you’re in luck. We’ve curated a list of the best gambling movies available to watch today!
1. Rounders
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Rounders Movie Description
Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is desperate to pay off a debt to Russian gangster Teddy (John Malkovich), so he enters into a high-stakes poker game. When he loses, he has to borrow money from his girlfriend and friend Worm (Edward Norton).
They come close to making enough money to pay back the debt but get caught cheating. Mike must now find a way to beat Teddy if he wants to keep his girlfriend and friend safe.
2. Uncut Gems
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Uncut Gems Movie Description
A jeweler must carefully balance business, family, and adversaries as he pursues a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime.
3. California Split
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California Split Movie Description
Charlie Waters (Elliott Gould), a single, carefree guy, rooms with two lovely prostitutes, Barbara Miller (Ann Prentiss) and Susan Peters (Gwen Welles).
He and his friend Bill Denny (George Segal) often gambled in search of a large payout, and though they had some good moments, they also dealt with significant roadblocks that could have ended their spree.
4. White Men Can't Jump
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White Men Can’t Jump Movie Description
Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a white basketball player who purposely lets black players underestimate his skills. When he tricks Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes), his victim sees dollar signs and they become partners in conning people across the courts of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Billy has to stay one step ahead of mobsters while also making sure his “Jeopardy!” loving wife doesn’t find out.
5. The Hustler
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The Hustler Movie Description
A pool shark’s journey from one seedy establishment to the next eventually leads him to a showdown with legendary Minnesota Fats that could change his life.
Set in the gritty world of smoky pool halls, this is the story of a damaged character who fears success as much as failure.
6. Casino
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Casino Movie Description
As an up-and-coming mobster in early-1970s Las Vegas, Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) is given the task of running the Tangiers Casino by his bosses.
He does well in the job at first, but over time, he starts to experience problems with Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), his loose-cannon enforcer, as well as with his ex-hustler wife Ginger (Sharon Stone), her con-artist ex Lester Diamond (James Woods), and a number of corrupt politicians.
This eventually puts Sam in grave danger and he must come up with a plan quickly before things spiral out of control even further.
7. Molly's Game
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Molly’s Game Movie Description
Molly Bloom ran a high-stakes poker game for 10 years before she was arrested by the FBI. Celebrities, athletes, and business moguls were among her players. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey.
At first, he thought she was guilty like the tabloids led people to believe. But after getting to know Molly, he realized there was much more to her story.
8. Mississippi Grind
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Mississippi Grind Movie Description
After convincing his friend that he is a good luck charm, a desperate gambler takes him on a road trip to a high-stakes poker game in New Orleans.
9. The Color of Money
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The Color Of Money Movie Description
Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) is a talented pool player who, after a falling out with his student Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise), takes up playing again.
They eventually meet as opponents and the two must battle it out in an epic showdown.
10. Casino Royale
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Casino Royale Movie Description
James Bond (Daniel Craig) is sent to Madagascar after receiving a license to kill in order to find a terrorist financier, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen).
MI6 orders Bond to play against Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game, gambling that their newest “00” operative will overthrow the man’s organization.
11. Maverick
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Maverick Movie Description
Maverick, a cardsharp, hopes to join a poker contest with an impressive payoff. First, Maverick must put up a considerable amount of money to enter the game.
In a preliminary card game, Maverick scams Annabelle and Angel to win the money he needs, making enemies of both players. While trying to evade Annabelle and Angel, he realizes that a cunning marshal is also after him.
12. The Card Counter
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The Card Counter Movie Description
Tell is a gambler who, after serving in the military, takes on helping young men reform themselves. One such young man, Cirk, approaches Tell for help with taking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past.
Tell tries to steer Cirk away from revenge and towards rehabilitation, and finds that redemption may be possible through their relationship.
13. 21
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21 Movie Description
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) joins a group of students who use their math skills to win big in Las Vegas.
Ben is quickly coerced by his beautiful teammate and the promise of money into a world where the stakes are higher than he’d ever thought possible.
14. Focus
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Focus Movie Description
Nicky (Will Smith), a professional con artist, takes on a new apprentice named Jess (Margot Robbie). As they work together and Jess learns the ropes, the two of them fall in love; but when Jess starts getting too attached, Nicky breaks things off.
Three years later, Nicky is in Buenos Aires working on a complex scheme when Jess unexpectedly shows up again. She’s changed a lot in the meantime, and her presence throws Nicky for a loop at a time when he can’t afford to make any mistakes.
15. Win It All
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Win It All Movie Description
When a small-time gambler agrees to store a duffel bag for an acquaintance, he never expects to find cash inside.
But temptation gets the better of him, and he starts spending the money himself. Soon, he’s in over his head and desperately trying to keep the cash hidden.
16. The Gambler
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The Gambler Movie Description
Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a literature professor with a hidden life as a high-stakes gambler. He always takes risks, but when he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral, he goes too far.
He has to stay one step ahead of his creditor and the operator of an illicit gambling ring while also trying to win back the favor of Frank (John Goodman), a paternalistic loan shark. As his relationship with a student deepens, Bennett risks everything for a second chance.
17. The Cooler
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The Cooler Movie Description
Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) is a single, unlucky guy who works at a Las Vegas casino. He uses his ability to bring about misfortune in those around him to jinx gamblers into losing. Bernie’s boss, Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), is happy with the way things are.
But Bernie finds himself unexpectedly happy when he starts dating attractive waitress Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello). When his contentment starts to affect his job performance, Shelly seeks to end the relationship.
18. Let It Ride
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Let It Ride Movie Description
After being tipped off by his buddy, a cab driver turns a $50 bet at the racetrack into a fortune.
19. Hard Eight
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Hard Eight Movie Description
Sydney, a gambler with years of experience, befriends a young man named John. John is new to Las Vegas, but he has a natural talent for gambling and quickly becomes a casino champion. However, when John falls for a prostitute, the couple soon finds themselves in need of Sydney’s help.
20. Rain Man
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Rain Man Movie Description
When Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) learns of his estranged father’s death, he returns home to Cincinnati to find that he has an autistic older brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman).
Charlie soon realizes that Raymond’s $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which he lives, so Charlie takes him out of the facility and sets off for Angeles. Along the way, the brothers’ cross-country trip changes their lives in ways they never could have imagined.
21. Ocean's Eleven
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Ocean’s Eleven Movie Description
Danny Ocean (George Clooney), a charismatic thief just released from prison, is already planning his next heist. He follows three simple rules: don’t hurt anyone, don’t steal from anyone who doesn’t deserve it, and play the game like you’ve got nothing to lose. Danny planned and carried out the most remarkable casino heist in history.
22. Croupier
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Croupier Movie Description
Jack Manfred is a croupier who works the late shift at a casino. By day, he writes stories that nobody will ever read. Marion, his girlfriend, grows increasingly frustrated with Jack’s purposeless lifestyle.
However, he becomes more concentrated when Jani de Villiers, a gorgeous South African woman, comes to the casino with a scheme to dupe the establishment. Jani is charming and seductive, but is she playing fair?
5 More Movies About Gambling (Honorable Mentions)
While our top picks showcase some of the most iconic and memorable movies about gambling, several other films deserve recognition for their unique perspectives and standout moments.
From suspenseful thrillers to lighthearted comedies, these films offer a diverse range of experiences and perspectives on the world of gambling. These films may not have made the cut for our top picks, but they are still well worth a watch for fans of the genre.
- Poolhall Junkies (2002)
- Poker Face (2022)
- The Sting (1973)
- The House (2017)
- Bugsy (1991)