What Movies Depict Gambling in the Most Realistic Way?

Humans have been gambling for centuries. No wonder it has also seeped into our culture, literature, and even movies. They feature famous gamblers, casinos, and non Gamstop bookmakers.

You will find countless films on gambling with a Google search. However, which of them depicts the activity most realistically?

Let’s find out.

21 (2008)

The movie is based on the real-life stories of a group of five MIT students. They are trained by their Math professor in the art of card counting and poker skills. The group then takes several trips to Las Vegas and wins hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The film portrays gambling from close quarters. There are several scenes where you can see high-rollers at play. They utilize countless winning strategies and tricks, which are notable.

21 also shows the dark side of popular casinos and gambling. It gives you a look at how the activity can change people if they aren’t careful.

Casino (1995)

The Casino is a must-watch if you want to learn a thing or two about gambling. The movie is set in the 1970s but remains significant even for viewers today. Martin Scorsese has done a great job depicting the fast life of gamblers with stars like De Niro and Sharon Stone.

Additionally, the film gives you a deep look into American casinos and how they work. You can witness top gamblers in action and pick up a winning strategy or two.

The drama is also intricate and makes for a great watch.

The Gambler (2014)

The Gambler is perhaps among the best movies to throw light on the personal life of a gambler. It is based on the 1974 movie of the same name, with a few major exceptions.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, we see how a literature professor leads a dual life of teaching and high rolling. He falls into the traps of gambling and develops a bad addiction.

He even loses all his money and home in one-night gambling at a casino.

However, it is a positive tale, and we see the professor taking back control of his life. He is also able to adopt a new approach to gambling, where he indulges in it as a hobby and pastime.

Rounders (1998)

The Rounders should be on your watch list if you want to become a pro poker player. It follows the life of a law student played by Matt Damon.

The movie reveals a high level of detail about poker skills, tricks, and strategies. You can see how the student beats his opponents by tricking them into thinking he has a weak hand. He takes too long to decide, which makes his opponent bet more.

Another trick you can see in action is bluffing. The student bluffs his way to win a round of poker just by pretending to have a weak hand.

Final Thoughts

Grab a soda and popcorn and start watching the best movies depicting gambling. You are sure to have a good time and get expert insights to improve your game.