The Best Gambling Movies and TV Shows of All Time
Gambling has been the subject of countless movies and TV shows ever since the introduction of the silver screen, and later, television. We are fascinated by the concept of the underdog breaking the bank at Monte Carlo, or someone so driven by gambling that they get involved in a hair-brained idea that has disaster written all over it!
In this article, we take a look at some of the best gambling movies and TV shows. Our list contains much-loved Hollywood action films, but also we've uncovered some hidden TV gems that you may not have heard of. If you're looking for some gambling-related entertainment, you've come to the right place!
Also, be sure to check out our detailed gambling movie reviews and other film and TV related blog posts for more interesting reads:
Top Gambling Movies List
Some of the greatest films of all-time feature gambling. Remember the 1978 classic Grease in which Danny bets he can win in Greased Lightening? And who can forget the $1 bet in Trading Places that saw Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy act so brilliantly together in 1983?
While these films feature gambling in one form or other, they are not the main focus of the movie. To create our list of the best gambling movies, we picked out top films where gambling is central to the setting and story. With that in mind, here is our list of top gambling movies:
If you are looking for good gambling movies to watch, read on for an overview of our recommended films. We are sure you will find something that will tick all the right boxes for you. Or if you are more interested in TV serials, head straight to our list of best gambling TV shows. Now, let’s get started with our list of best gambling movies.
1. Casino
| IMDB Rating | 8.2/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 80% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 73% |
| Released | 1995 |
| Box Office | $116,112,375 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Director | Martin Scorsese |
| Screenplay | Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese |
| Stars | Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci |
| Running Time | 2h 58 min |
There was simply no way that the 1995 classic, Casino, wouldn’t make our list of the top gambling movies. Scorsese’s award-winning film is one of the most famous movies about gambling. Containing a star-studded cast including Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone, Casino is based on a true story of a mafia enforcer and a casino executive. Replicating the Las Vegas experience, Casino is quite simply one of the best gambling movies ever made.
2. Ocean’s 11
| IMDB Rating | 7.7/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 82% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 74% |
| Released | 2001 |
| Box Office | $450,717,150 |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Director | Steven Soderbergh |
| Screenplay | Harry Brown, Charles Lederer, Ted Griffin |
| Stars | George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts |
| Running Time | 1h 56 min |
The Oceans series of films (Oceans 8, Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen) has grossed over $1.416 billion since the first instalment was released in 2001. Centred around Danny Ocean, Ocean’s Eleven is a classic crime story in which a gang attempt to steal money from three popular casinos in Vegas. You’ll struggle to find a film with so many A-listers and just as many plot twists. This gambling movie comes highly recommended.
3. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
| IMDB Rating | 7.6/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 50% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 41% |
| Released | 1998 |
| Box Office | $10,680,275 |
| Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Drama |
| Director | Terry Gilliam |
| Screenplay | Terry Gillam, Tony Grisoni, Tod Davies, Alex Cox |
| Stars | Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire |
| Running Time | 1h 58 min |
Directed by Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas wasn’t a success at the box office but has built a cult following since its DVD release. Starring Johnny Depp, the film is a psychedelic romp to Las Vegas. The gambling action takes at the Bazooko Casino, which eagle-eyed viewers will know as the Stardust Hotel and Casino.
4. Rounders
| IMDB Rating | 7.3/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 65% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 54% |
| Released | 1998 |
| Box Office | $22,912,409 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Director | John Dahl |
| Screenplay | David Levien, Brian Koppelman |
| Stars | Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol |
| Running Time | 2h 1 min |
Rounders is another film that has a cult following. The 1998 movie is a tale about a reformed gambler who is forced to play big stakes games to help a friend pay off a $15,000 loan shark debt. A highlight of this film is the performance by Matt Damon, who plays the role perfectly and is reminiscent of a young Paul Newman, star of “The Hustler” which is praise indeed.
5. 21
| IMDB Rating | 6.8/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 36% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 48% |
| Released | 2008 |
| Box Office | $159,808,370 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, History |
| Director | Robert Luketic |
| Screenplay | Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb |
| Stars | Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey |
| Running Time | 2h 3 min |
21 is an intriguing story about card counting and beating the house. Based on a true story, six MIT students become trained in the art of counting cards to pay off each of their $300,000 tuition fees. Talking in code and secret hand signals are just a couple of the tactics that the team employ. The slick camerawork and excellent cast make this an enthralling movie about gambling that should not be missed.
6. The Gambler
| IMDB Rating | 6.4/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | N/A |
| Metacritic Metascore | N/A |
| Released | 1980 |
| Box Office | N/A |
| Genre | Western |
| Director | Dick Lowry |
| Screenplay | Jim Byrnes |
| Stars | Kenny Rogers, Christine Belford, Bruce Boxleitner |
| Running Time | 1h 34 mins |
The Gambler, released in 1980, is the only film on our top gambling movies list that wasn’t released in the cinema. It is actually a made for TV movie that enjoyed incredible success both in America and in Europe, especially the UK. It tells the tale of Brady Hawkes, a skilful and wise poker player, who tries to help his son. The movie will always be infamous for the soundtrack, in particular, The Gambler by the late Kenny Rogers.
7. Molly’s Game
| IMDB Rating | 7.4/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 82% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 71% |
| Released | 2017 |
| Box Office | $59,284,015 |
| Genre | Biography, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Aaron Sorkin |
| Screenplay | Aaron Sorkin |
| Stars | Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner |
| Running Time | 2h 20 min |
Molly’s Game is one of the most recent gambling-related films on our list, released in late 2017. Based on a true story, it stars Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom, an Olympic skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker games, making her an FBI target. The film won critical acclaim, partly due to director Aaron Sorkin’s insistence on rapid-fire dialogue which means the movie runs at a brisk pace.
8. Casino Royale
| IMDB Rating | 8.0/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 95% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 80% |
| Released | 2006 |
| Box Office | $616,501,619 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Thriller |
| Director | Martin Campbell |
| Screenplay | Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis |
| Stars | Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench |
| Running Time | 2h 24 mins |
You cannot have a list of best movies about gambling without mentioning Casino Royale. Released in 2006, James Bond must defeat Le Chiffre, a private banker that funds terrorists, in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale. The film was Daniel Craig’s first outing as 007, and he impressed in the role. The movie was a box office smash, earning cumulative worldwide gross revenues of over $616 million.
9. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story
| IMDB Rating | 6.1/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | N/A |
| Metacritic Metascore | N/A |
| Released | 2003 |
| Box Office | $2 million (estimated) |
| Genre | Biography, Drama |
| Director | A.W. Vidmer |
| Screenplay | A.W. Vidmer |
| Stars | Al Bernstein, Andrew N.S. Glazer, Michael Imperioli |
| Running Time | 1h 50 mins |
A gambling film you may not have watched is High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story. As the name implies, the movie retells the true story of Stu Ungar who went from being a teenage poker prodigy to a world-renowned gambling superstar. This powerful film charts the rise that culminated in him winning three World Series of Poker tournaments and his ongoing problems with the mob due to gambling debts.
10. Croupier
| IMDB Rating | 7.1/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 96% |
| Metacritic Metascore | 75% |
| Released | 1998 |
| Box Office | $6,201,143 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Director | Mike Hodges |
| Screenplay | Paul Mayersberg |
| Stars | Clive Owen, Nick Reding, Nicholas Ball |
| Running Time | 1h 34 mins |
Initially released in 1998, Croupier went on to become an arthouse hit in the USA, prompting its re-release in 2000. Clive Owen plays the role of Jack Manfred, an aspiring writer, who is struggling to make ends meet. He, therefore, takes up a croupier role to pay his bills. He finds himself drawn into the casino world, and the job gradually takes over his life. After starting an affair with a customer, he is called upon to be the inside man for a casino heist. An interesting take on the gambling theme and a must-see movie.
Best Gambling TV Shows
While the big screen may get the big budgets, TV shows that feature gambling have always been popular with audiences worldwide. You can’t help but laugh thinking about the Only Fools and Horses episode where Derrick Trotter beats Boycie in a game of poker, both are cheating, but Del Boy has one over his rival. Gambling has also been the source material for many dramas as well, bringing out the worst in people and providing tension and intrigue.
We have carefully selected the 10 best gambling TV shows:
In our list, you will find a diverse selection of TV shows about gambling. Some will make you laugh; others will make you cry. Check out our reviews of the best TV gambling shows in the following section. And let us remind you to check out our best gambling movies list for more recommendations of what to watch.
1. Cracker
| IMDB Rating | 8.4/10 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Mystery |
| Created by | Jimmy McGovern |
| Stars | Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O’Brien |
| Production Company | A+E Networks, Granada Television |
| Years | 1993–1996 |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Number of Episodes | 24 |
| Country | UK |
Few play the role of the anti-hero better than Robbie Coltrane in Jimmy McGovern’s Cracker. Obnoxious and anti-social, the hard-drinking gambling addict and womaniser manages to amaze and disgust in equal measures. Dr Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald can get into the minds of the most hardened criminals but struggles with his own turbulent domestic life.
2. Luck
| IMDB Rating | 7.5/10 |
| Genre | Drama, Sport |
| Created by | David Milch |
| Stars | Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz |
| Production Company | HBO |
| Years | 2001–2002 |
| Number of Seasons | 2 |
| Number of Episodes | 10 |
| Country | USA |
Renowned producer David Milch (Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, Deadwood) called on all his experience as a recovering gambling addict to create what is arguably one of the best dramas that HBO has ever produced. Milch describes his addiction as “the most expensive research period” of his career, and it shows. A genuinely mesmerising insight into the horseracing world with a five-star cast.
3. Stan Lee’s Lucky Man
| IMDB Rating | 7.2/10 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Created by | Neil Biswas, Stan Lee |
| Stars | James Nesbitt, Sienna Guillory, Darren Boyd |
| Production Company | Carnival Film & Television |
| Years | 2016 |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Number of Episodes | 28 |
| Country | UK |
If you could control luck, what would you do with it? This exciting concept is the premise of this surprising production from the late legendary Marvel guru, Stan Lee. Staring the famous comedian James Nesbit, Lucky Man is a story about a brilliant but flawed police officer, with drink and gambling demons. We soon see that “Lucky Man” may not be that lucky at all, and that his luck is rather double-edged.
4. Big Deal
| IMDB Rating | 8.1/10 |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama |
| Created by | Geoff McQueen |
| Stars | Ray Brooks, Sharon Duce, Pamela Cundell |
| Production Company | BBC |
| Years | 1984 – 1986 |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Number of Episodes | 30 |
| Country | UK |
Classic British comedy/drama at its finest! Big Deal tells the story of Robbie Box, who is a heavy gambler. Set in a bleak and drab time, Big Deal feels like a documentary as you are transported back to a time of 70’s wallpaper and football on the streets. An interesting bit of trivia is that the great Michael Crawford was offered the role, but declined due to theatre commitments.
5. Tilt
| IMDB Rating | 6.8/10 |
| Genre | Drama, Poker |
| Created by | Brian Koppelman, David Levien |
| Stars | Michael Madsen, Chris Bauer, Kristin Lehman |
| Production Company | Big Slick Productions, ESPN Original Entertainment, Orly Adelson Productions, Sports Cartel Management, Whizbang Films |
| Years | 2005 |
| Number of Seasons | 1 |
| Number of Episodes | 9 |
| Country | USA |
Set in the fictitious Colorado Casino in Las Vegas, Tilt is a poker-based drama featuring a group of professional players. They come together to take down legendary gambler Don “The Matador” Everest. Each of the group has a personal reason to overthrow The Matador but which, if any, will prevail? Created by the same team behind Rounders, one of the best gambling movies of all time, this TV show is a must-see for poker aficionados.
6. Café Kremlin
| IMDB Rating | 7.6/10 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Created by | Joseph Graziani, Joseph Lampugnano |
| Stars | Jon Kasunic, Vernon A. Hintt III, Harry W. Walters |
| Production Company | Joe and Joe Media |
| Years | 2012 – 2015 |
| Number of Seasons | 2 |
| Number of Episodes | 14 |
| Country | USA |
Café Kremlin might be a gambling related TV thriller that has managed to evade your attention. Set in Chicago, it features two young gamblers who decide to set up a business. Things take an ominous turn when the duo start placing bets with a Russian player called Sergei. Featuring bet rigging, mob wars and plenty of action, this is a very underrated series, and deserving of its place on our list of best gambling TV shows.
7. Deadwood
| IMDB Rating | 8.6/10 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, History |
| Created by | David Milch |
| Stars | Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker |
| Production Company | CBS Paramount Network Television, HBO, Paramount Network Television, Red Board Productions, Roscoe Productions |
| Years | 2004 – 2006 |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Number of Episodes | 36 |
| Country | USA |
This is the second gambling TV show we feature from David Milch and arguably his greatest creation. Ian McShane won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series in 2005 for his portrayal of Al Swearengen. Set in the 1800s, Deadwood is a western crime saga set in the rough gambling taverns of the mid-west.
8. Mr Lucky
| IMDB Rating | 7.8/10 |
| Genre | Comedy, Thriller |
| Created by | Blake Edwards |
| Stars | John Vivyan, Ross Martin, Tom Brown |
| Production Company | CBS Television Network, Spartan Productions |
| Years | 1959 – 1960 |
| Number of Seasons | 1 |
| Number of Episodes | 34 |
| Country | USA |
Anyone who has an interest in the history of gambling will find a treasure chest of information in this 1959 production. Based on the true story of an honest, professional gambler, the series tells the tale of the struggles of a man wanting to run a river-based gambling ship. Despite good viewing figures, the topic was too controversial for the network and was cancelled after one series.
9. The Player
| IMDB Rating | 7.0/10 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Created by | John Fox, John Rogers |
| Stars | Philip Winchester, Damon Gupton, Wesley Snipes |
| Production Company | Davis Entertainment, Kung Fu Monkey Productions, Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television |
| Years | 2015 |
| Number of Seasons | 1 |
| Number of Episodes | 9 |
| Country | USA |
The Player stares Hollywood A-lister, Wesley Snipes, and centres around the life of security expert Alex Kane. Recruited by the enigmatic pit boss Mr Johnson, Kane uses ‘big data’ to predict or identify future crimes. Set in Las Vegas, Kane soon realises that the data analyses can also help set up life or death bets for the wealthiest gamblers in the world.
10. Sunshine
| IMDB Rating | 7.9/10 |
| Genre | Drama, Comedy |
| Created by | Craig Cash, Phil Mealey |
| Stars | Steve Coogan, Lisa Millett, Dominic Senior |
| Production Company | 2008 |
| Years | BBC |
| Number of Seasons | 1 |
| Number of Episodes | 3 |
| Country | UK |
Featuring well-loved British comedian Steve Coogan, Sunshine is the tale of Bob ‘Bing’ Crosby. A hopeless gambler, Bob can’t resist a bet on the horses, leading him to blow the family’s Disneyland fund on a race. Head of gambling addiction helpline, Gambling Therapy called the show, “a fantastic illustration of the archetypal problem gambler” and recommended his counsellors watch it.
Final Words on Gambling Movies and TV Shows
If you are interested in watching TV shows and movies about gambling, you are spoilt for choice. The topic lends itself perfectly to drama, comedy, crime, and countless other genres. Did you agree with our list of top gambling movies? Did your favourite film make it onto our list? Maybe you found some new suggestions that have piqued your interest? If the topic has got you interested in other gambling-related entertainment, then be sure to check out our guide to the best gambling sites where you can indulge in real money gaming online.
FAQ
To wrap up our best gambling movies and TV shows blog post, we have created an FAQ section. We have collated some of the most frequently asked questions about the topic. And below, you will find the answers.
