Best Casino Scenes in Movies
Casino Royale - James Bond
007 is possibly the most iconic casino-adjacent movie character of all time. That was solidified in 2006’s Casino Royale adaptation. Daniel Craig’s Bond was pitted against his evil adversary Le Chiffre in a game of poker in an attempt to force the latter’s hand and push him to divulge his secrets to British intelligence. Texas Hold’em replaced the baccarat that was in the original novel and did it with great strength. With a poisoning and a Bond win in the $10-million buy-in tournament, it’s a tense and action-packed entry to the annals of movie casino scenes. Partner all that with the tense action scenes of James Bond battling henchmen while surrounded by komodo dragons and you have a nail-biting look into the seedier side of poker. You won’t find that at your local casino!
Ocean’s Thirteen
Danny Ocean has been played by some of the hottest stars in Hollywood in his two eras. Frank Sinatra originated the role and George Clooney picked it up for the 2000s remake of the heist caper. Ocean’s Thirteen includes one of the most interesting casino narratives around, with Ocean and his team looking to rig Al Pacino’s Willy Bank’s casino machines as revenge for his swindling behaviour. In the movie, slot machines are rigged to pay out millions in winnings, bankrupting the casino. They have to do all of this while avoiding security and state-of-the-art cheating detection systems. In particular, the final scene stands out, with Brad Pitt’s character handing a slot player a coin which leads to a win of millions.
21
Anyone who has played blackjack will tell you that it’s a game that can have you on the edge of your seat. Because of that, the real-life story of the MIT Blackjack Team was a perfect pick for the big screen and provided some of the best casino movie scenes. Using the controversial techniques of card counting and signalling between players, this rag-tag group set out to beat the house. However, double crossing and in-fighting ensues as the college students turn against each other as the winnings increase. Trips to Planet Hollywood in Vegas are tense as the security team begin to keep their eye on the group and look to put a stop to their lucrative blackjack antics.
Casino - Robert De Niro
You can’t talk about casino scenes in movies without covering the 1995 Scorsese classic, aptly named Casino. In it, the legendary De Niro plays a gambling expert called Sam who is assigned to look after the operation of a casino in Vegas. Despite the whole movie revolving around the casino, one scene in particular stands out as iconic. That’s the one in which a cowboy removes his shoes and puts them on the table in the middle of a game of poker, only for De Niro’s character to call on security who remove the foul-mouthed ranchman head first through the casino’s doors. It’s humorous, tense, and a perfect encapsulation of the movie’s warts-and-all approach.
Molly’s Game
True stories are like catnip when it comes to cinema-goers. Because of that, the real-life story of Molly Bloom made for a classic film with Molly’s Game, based on her own memoirs. Bloom, despite once being an Olympic hopeful, would go on to become the organiser of an illegal poker ring that attracted high-profile celebrity gamblers. The movie follows her illicit activities, as well as the FBI’s investigation into it and her subsequent legal problems. It’s a fan favourite for its cutting Aaron Sorkin dialogues and depiction of underground poker. It shows the glamour of the game alongside the dangers of underground rings and the hubris it takes to think you can beat the authorities.
The Hangover
The 2000s was a great time for goofy comedy. Nowhere is that more evident than with The Hangover movies. In the first instalment, the groom-to-be is taken hostage by Mr Chow, a Chinese gangster who lost $80,000 because of the group. Alan, played by Zach Galifianakis uses his knowledge of card counting to get himself and the rest of the team, namely Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms, to the blackjack table to win back the money they owe. A fast-paced, white-knuckle montage ensues as the boys fight against the clock. Can the boys come away with the money they need? Is the bumbling Alan really a card counter or is he bluffing, much like he has done throughthe rest of the movie?
Maverick
Bret Maverick might not be a name casual film fans will be familiar with but he is the main character in both the television series and movie adaptation which carry his name. In the movie, played by Mel Gibson, he is a conman and talented card player. He uses his wiles to accrue the money he needs to enter a high-stakes poker game with a half a million dollar prize pot. Being set in the Old West, nothing quite goes to plan and gunslinging is to be expected from the less-than-savoury characters involved. The poker game scene is iconic for its breathtaking action and nervy fight between all of the players involved.
Goodfellas
Another Scorsese classic is the timeless Goodfellas, a movie that regularly tops best-of lists. Understandably, this movie is much less interested in the inner-workings of the casino, instead focusing on how crime families work and the lives they live. Ray Liotta’s Henry basks in the heady life of nightclubs and gambling dens, but probably the most iconic casino-adjacent scene is when the group collect a gambling debt, which leads to their arrest and ultimately their incarceration and downfall. It’s a cautionary tale and doesn’t pull any punches.
The Sting
This 1970s movie shows two con men using their tricks to attempt to pull a fast one on a mob boss and get their hands on his money. However, in one famous scene, one half of the pair loses his haul in a rigged roulette game. It’s this that leads to the two men meeting and beginning a sportsbook con that they use to make their illicit big bucks. It might not be entirely casino-related but the trackside gambling operation still provides some tension as the pair look to avoid getting on the mob’s bad side or being caught by the FBI … if it even is the FBI that’s on their tails.
Diamonds are Forever
Proving our point that 007 is the ultimate casino icon, here’s another casino movie scene with Bond. Sean Connery famously plays the game craps with bond girl Plenty O’Toole. After watching his partner lose on her roll, Bond goes on to win $50,000 before tipping the dealer and giving Plenty a slice of his winnings. It’s a thrilling scene that indicates the agent’s casino proficiency and pure confidence. He might be famous for having a licence to kill but the martini-drinker also has the skill it takes to beat the house.