Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, casino games have become a significant part of popular culture. Both the abstract, generalized gamblers and real professional players have been depicted in literary works and, of course, numerous movie films. The list below includes top-5 pictures about gambling and casinos; if you’re looking for trustworthy betting sites to try out some of the described games, consider visiting Canadian Casinos Online.
The most popular games in casino movies
The list of games that have ever been depicted in casino films includes almost all types of gambling activities. Most films about players and casinos revolve around classic table games. Slots are shown less frequently, while other activities, such as keno or bingo, are rarely seen at all. Here’s the list of the most popular games in films:
- Poker. One of the most iconic activities in the history of gambling movies poker has been regularly depicted in films since the 1930s. Most Canadian citizens are well familiar with Texas Hold’em poker, but it’s not the only variation of the game to have even been shown on a big screen. For instance, Eddie, a card sharp from Guy Ritchie’s debut film “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” lost 500,000 pounds to a local criminal playing the ancient British game of 3-card brag. It’s believed to be one of the ancestors of modern poker, which is still played in some regions of Britain.
- Roulette. A classic roulette table is one of the most recognizable attributes of a casino. The image of a roulette player carefully observing a series of spins to discover predictable patterns had existed long before Hollywood’s emergence. The game appeared in several classic pictures, such as 1942 Casablanca, 1971 Diamonds are Forever (the last film that starred Sean Connery as James Bond), and 1974 California Split, which was regarded as the best movie about gambling ever made.
- Blackjack. Blackjack in movies is commonly favored by math geniuses and gaming prodigies, who attempt to beat the casinos through counting cards and using scientifically-proven strategies. For instance, one of the most popular comedies of the 2000s, The Hangover, revolves around a bachelor party in Las Vegas, where, in one of the episodes, 3 friends attempt to raise 80,000 dollars playing blackjack.
- Baccarat. Baccarat is often associated with a glamorous lifestyle, luxurious casinos, and one well-known British spy. Despite its long history and seeming complexity, the game isn’t that hard to master; you can play it online either completely free or betting some real money to sharpen your skills before visiting a brick-n-mortar casino. The best movies about baccarat include the first picture about James Bond – 1962 Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Agent 007, and A Hard Day’s Night – another classic act from the 60s.
Residents of Canada can try out all of the above-described games in one of the brick-n-mortar venues or on the web. Remember that you must be over 19 years of age to gamble in most provinces (or 18 in Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba).
Cinematography and Gambling
Gambling has had a significant impact on the movie industry since the early 20th century. During the earliest years of cinematography, there weren’t many pictures about punters released; for instance, the years 1908 through 1930 only saw 6 gambling films. However, the popularity of the topic skyrocketed during the Great Depression and WW2, bringing the total number of pictures shot from 1936 to 1940 to 15. The most recent growth in the number of gambling movies occurred between 1990 and 1996 25 films were released within this period. It’s worth noting that most pictures focus on live dealer games; despite the fast expansion of the online betting market, it hasn’t attracted much attention from producers and directors yet.
The Gambler (1974)
Avoid confusing the 1974 Gambler with the 2014 remake of the same name! The classic version received better reviews from critics and viewers; so, it’s strongly suggested to watch the 1974 movie. The Gambler is a crime drama with the elements of comedy; it revolves around the story of Axel Feed, an English professor who studied at Harvard University. Axel struggles from a gambling addiction, which pushes him to make crack-headed actions throughout the whole film. The main role is portrayed by James Caan; Karel Reisz directed the movie, while James Tobac wrote the script. The Gambler is sometimes viewed as an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s 1866 novel of the same name; however, the film’s creators have never confirmed this theory.
21 (2008)
21 tells the story of Ben (Jim Sturgess), a mathematics student at MIT. Due to his outstanding performance at school, Ben’s professor Micky Rosa invites the young man to join a secret blackjack team. The students regularly travel to Las Vegas, where they attempt to beat the biggest casinos of the Strip. 21 reveals the secrets behind winning in blackjack and discusses some interesting mathematical challenges, such as the Monty Hall problem. Although the film has received mixed reviews from critics, viewers were mostly satisfied, providing the picture with a B+ rating. 21 was a huge commercial success, grossing more than 157 million dollars around the world.
Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale was a reboot of the James Bond franchise; the film’s creators announced a return to the series’ roots – less computer graphics, more live tricks, and a new agent 007 portrayed by Daniel Craig. The movie’s plot concentrates on a high-stakes poker tournament organized by a private banker Le Chiffre. Bond risks a multi-million bank provided by the British government to defeat Le Chiffre and discover more information about the latter’s mysterious clientele. In addition to great performances by Daniel Craig, Judi Dench (M, head of MI6), and Eva Green (Vesper Lynd), Casino Royale includes several pleasant bonuses: beautiful scenery of Montenegro and Como Lake, unexpected plot twists, and, of course, a jaw-dropping poker game in a luxurious casino.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Unlike the 2014 Gambler, Ocean’s Eleven is an example of a great remake. The film is based on a 1960 picture by Rat Pack (a group of entertainers that includes Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and many other famous names). The 2001 movie gathered many talented actors as well – Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and Don Cheadle among others. Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is planning a heist of a century; he travels to California to gather a team of 11 best criminals on the planet. The Eleven is about to grab a jackpot of $160 million, but robbing the heavily guarded casinos of the Strip isn’t an easy task at all.
Casino (1995)
1995 Casino is partially based on a real story; its plot revolves around Sam “Ace” Rothstein – an experienced handicapper hired by the mafia to oversee the operations of a Las Vegas casino. Starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, and Don Rickles, this movie is one of the best examples of the epic crime drama genre. It was directed by Martin Scorsese and became a commercial success, grossing over $116 million across the world. Casino received mostly positive reviews on release. At the moment of writing this article, the movie’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes was 80%; so, it’s definitely worth checking out!
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