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Amazon Prime and Netflix provide excellent selections for documentaries and movies that reflect the world of the gambling industry. While some of them are pure fiction, there are others based on real events. They offer insight into some shady deals that took place or take you on an exciting adventure of intrigue and mystery.
Daniel Bennet is the leading expert and reviewer from Casino Canada, with top insight on everything to do with gambling and casinos. In this article, you’ll gain information on the best gambling movies on Netflix and Amazon and why you should watch them. They’re not ranked in any order, so feel free to watch at your leisure.
Here are our top five show and movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime:
1. “Eight Men Out”
2. “James Bond: Casino Royale”
3. “Casino”
4. “Life On The Line”
5. “Croupier”
Top Five Gambling TV Shows and Movies
1) “Eight Men Out”
This casino Amazon Prime movie hails from 1988, based on the book by Eliot Asinof’s ‘Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series.’ It takes a cold, hard look at the court case that rocked the sports betting industry. Eight of the Black Sox team members agreed to throw the World Series in exchange for money.
The movie’s primary focus is on the courtroom drama that unfolded, and a behind-the-scenes look on the impact on baseball players’ lives. It portrays the tense family relationships, with a stellar cast that includes John Cusack and Barbara Garrick, among others. If you’re in a mood for a relatively old movie that’s still relevant today, Eight Men Out is perfect.
2) “James Bond: Casino Royale”
The James Bond franchise is famous for incorporating espionage with popular global themes. As the movie’s title suggests, “Casino Royale” has a plot that revolves around gambling. There are also elements of seduction, mystery, and high stakes.
If you’re a fan of poker movies on Netflix, you’ll want to see the 2006 version with Daniel Craig. Bond uses every trick up his sleeve to win at Texas Hold’em. However, the original 1967 film stays true to the Ian Flemming book, where he plays baccarat to beat the villain instead.
3) “Casino”
Returning to the classics, this 1995 casino crime movie focuses on handicap gambler Sam “Ace” Rothstein. The mob asks him to manage the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. The tension builds while you’ll see what life is like as a high-roller in one of the world’s top gambling establishments.
You’ll sit through three hours of screen time, but Casino is an epic movie you won’t want to miss. It features FBI chases, politics, and corruption. It’s a nail-biting adventure based on a true story that’ll have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
4) “Life On The Line”
This documentary on casino life looks at Super Bowl sports betting. It provides insight into one of the year’s craziest events to wager on when you’re in Las Vegas. From professional punters who use the best strategies to gamblers who place random bets, it studies the difference between the winners and the losers.
Isaac Feder takes the lead as the filmmaker, interviewing sports gamblers he comes across. It’s one of the few shows that present the average punter’s everyday life and the stress and glory of betting. It’s the perfect show if you’ve never gambled on sports before and would like to see more about the lifestyle.
5) “Croupier”
While the “Croupier” film didn’t do too well when released in 1999, it became a success over time. It’s a fictional story of a writer who struggles to make ends meet. With his father’s help, he accepts a job as a dealer at one of the local casinos.
Of course, he becomes drawn to the exciting life of the gambling world. It causes a strain on his relationship, pulling him into all the vices that casinos have to offer. It’s a thrilling ride that will keep you tuned in to see how it ends.
Final Words
You’re spoilt for choice when comparing Netflix and Amazon gambling movies, whether they’re fictional or inspired by real events. Once you’ve seen this selection of the best five gambling movies, but be sure to keep an eye out for others.