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Movies are an irreplaceable part of modern entertainment culture. The same applies to gambling and casinos to some extent. That said, for many people, there is nothing more exciting than when these two come together. Films or movies that depict casinos have always been fascinating to watch. This is especially true for those that do a great job at showcasing the impressive gambling skills of the characters in said movies.
Some of the best films often feature outstanding casinos scenes, although seldom online casinos. This could be a major way of driving the plot or they could be the whole basis of the movies. Either way, viewers will always be on the edge of their seats if the scenes in question are as realistic as possible. There are a good number of movies that manage to pull this off. For us, the ones that top that list are detailed below:
Rounders (1998)
When it was released, Rounders was nowhere close to the masterpiece that it is today. It took quite a bit of time for the movie to catch on. When it finally did, it amassed a cult following among casino enthusiasts especially those that were fans of the game of poker. Its rise was largely accelerated by the massive poker boom of the early 2000s and it maintains this high ranking even today.
Rounders tells the story of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) as he squares off against a rival in a game of Texas Hold’em. The whole movie is a near-perfect depiction of the world of poker. Each scene is impressive but the final scene of the movie does the very best job of them all. In the scene, Mike manages to get the better of the antagonist by figuring out a tell that he is bluffing. The tension of the acting combined with the amazing camera angles as well as the insanely immersive soundtrack make for one of the most brilliant gambling scenes ever.
Casino Royale (2006)
This is arguably one of the best James Bond movies from the recent past. Daniel Craig delivers a brilliant performance as 007. But that is far from the only thing that makes this move stand out. To begin with, it is one of the very few movies that are set almost entirely in a high-end casino. That not only builds up the anticipation for a classic casino showdown but also lets viewers uniquely experience the casino environment. Modern gamers who mostly play online and have never been to a brick-and-mortar gambling facility get a taste of what they have been missing.
While every scene in the movie was worth it, the most mind-blowing ones were the two key poker scenes between James Bond and Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), the villain. The showdown between the two players was particularly tenses and dramatic. They both wagered millions of dollars, further raising the already high stakes of the spy movie. If you are looking for a movie that accurately depicts the glitz and glamour in high-end gambling environments, this is it.
Casino (1995)
Since it is based on true events, Casino is one of the movies that had to be the best at depicting the world of gambling. Thankfully, it did achieve that goal and is now considered to be one of the best casino movies in existence. That is because it tells a gritty story of what happens behind the glamorous casino activities. In many ways, it is a representation of what happens in the world of underground gambling.
The most memorable scene is where the cowboy puts his bootless feet on top of a poker table and refuses to remove them. He eventually gets escorted out by the security personnel for that. This is iconic because it not only adds a bit of drama to the story but also shows the tension that often arises on the gaming floors when a hostile gambler starts to lose. In essence, it shows you the ugly side of the gambling sector, especially in unregulated and unmonitored spaces. Things can get nasty quickly in such places.
21 (2008)
This movie is also based on a true story. That means that the filmmakers had to go the extra mile to ensure the depiction was as realistic as possible. 21 is about the MIT Blackjack Team who figured out how to cheat the casino systems and utilize card counting. Set in Vegas, the movie has all the flair that makes an amazing gambling movie. It delivers in a lot of those sectors making it one of the best casino movies.
All the scenes in the movie are quite accurate but the one that stands out the most is when Ben, the protagonist, plays Blackjack. This scene depicts just how unpredictable gambling can be. He ends up having to walk away from the table and in the process loses over $200,000 in winnings. People losing large sums of money at casinos is a common scenario. It is not always about winning. But then again, that is why the activity is such a thrill to most people.
Rain Man (1998)
Rain Man is a classic casino film that stands out for so many reasons. It was so good that I inspired even other films including The Hangover which also has some impressive casino scenes. Besides that, the movie has memorable themes and references which makes it a well-rounded story that just about anyone will enjoy watching.
Perhaps the most realistic scene in the movie is when Raymond, the autistic mastermind, scores high in a game of blackjack in Nevada. He plays so well that eventually, a crowd gathers around to watch as he put his card counting talents into use. To make it even better, the movie was shot at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. That further adds to the realism of the casino scenes.
Summary
There are dozens of other movies that do a pretty good job when it comes to delivering realistic casino scenes. The list is not exhaustive which means that you are likely to discover even more than the ones listed here. Moreover, new movies are always being released and it will not be surprising to see even more true-to-life casino scenes.
All in all, the impact that these scenes have had on the fans is profound. These movies have motivated some people to try out casino games. Some people even use them as resources for when they are learning or building their gaming strategies. Most importantly, they are a great source of entertainment even if you are not interested in casinos or gambling.
