Gambling and the movies – classic films not to miss

With the 97th Academy Awards ceremony coming up on 3 March, now seems like a good time to celebrate the enduring relationship between films and gambling. 

Gambling is inherently dramatic, with built-in stakes and (occasional) associations with criminal activity. Many aspects of gambling are also highly cinematic, lending themselves well to visual mediums. 

A gambling-adjacent narrative provides plenty of opportunities for glamour, comedy, fun and more, so it’s no surprise that Hollywood’s love affair with these films runs long and deep.

The Hangover (2009)

Director: Todd Phillips / Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis

Set in the wake of a wild Las Vegas bachelor party (stag weekend for UK readers!), The Hangover sees a group of friends searching for the missing groom. As they recall the events of the night before, they uncover a series of increasingly outrageous and disastrous happenings. 

For fans of wild comedy, The Hangover is a safe bet. A steady supply of twists and turns keeps things moving, and Vegas provides a perfect backdrop to the gang’s shenanigans. It’s puerile, crude and silly. But very funny.

The film proved to be such a success that it spawned a franchise. The following two instalments, The Hangover Part II and The Hangover Part III, were released in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

If the film alone isn’t enough to make your head throb, check out Walk of Shame, a similarly themed slot from Nolimit City, a company that doesn’t hold back any more than the crazy Hangover guys. This slot game fits comfortably into the ‘WTF’ category, with lots of wild mechanics and a 9,822x max win.

Name:

Walk of Shame

Developer:

Nolimit City

RTP:

96.04%

Max payout:

9,822x stake

Volatility:

Medium

Reels:

5

Win lines:

768

Theme:

WTF

Release date:

17th Jan 2023

Play Walk of Shame here:

Croupier (1998)

Director: Mike Hodges / Starring: Clive Owen

Delving into the seedy underbelly of certain gambling establishments, Croupier follows an aspiring writer, played by Clive Owen, as he begins work at a London casino. He soon becomes entangled in the shifty behind-the-scenes goings on. It takes an unflinching look at the moral ambiguities that can arise in a casino setting.

Whilst it may not have torn up the British box office on release, Croupier is one of those rare films that has managed to achieve cult status, with a dedicated fanbase that has kept it alive. This is perhaps thanks to the neo-noir aesthetic, as well as high-stakes gambling both on and off the tables.

Casino Royale (2006)

Director: Martin Campbell / Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench

In Daniel Craig’s first outing as the famous British secret agent James Bond, he falls in love with the vulnerable and damaged Vesper Lynd whilst facing off against a blood-weeping terrorist-financing villain, memorably played by Mikkelsen.

This isn’t the only Casino Royale; there was a spoof version of Fleming’s novel released in 1967, starring David Niven and comedy legend Peter Sellers. It’s got surprisingly little in common with the 2006 version, and is tonally very different, but works well in its own way.

In 2023, Games Global and All41 Studios teamed up to release Agent Blitz: Mission Moneymaker. This slot features a suave and sleek secret agent who could probably teach 007 a thing or two. Expect fast cars, beautiful women, and a luxurious casino setting. The max win is 10,000x and the RTP is high, at 96.40%.

Name:

Agent Blitz: Mission Moneymaker

Developer:

All41 Studios

RTP:

96.40%

Max payout:

10,000x stake

Volatility:

High

Reels:

5

Win lines:

40

Theme:

Action, Adventure

Release date:

12th Jan 2023

Play Agent Blitz: Mission Moneymaker here:

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Director: Steven Soderbergh  / Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy García, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck

Why rob a Las Vegas casino when you can rob three of them? This complex heist requires Danny Ocean (Clooney) to assemble a crew of the best criminals he can get his hands on, only for things to get increasingly complicated.

Sometimes you just can’t beat a snappy caper story. Soderbergh and his ensemble cast nail this reboot of the original 1960 Frank Sinatra vehicle. It has launched various sequels since, with varying levels of success.

If Oceans Eleven gets you thinking about big wins, consider having a few spins on High Street Heist, a crime-themed slot from Quickspin with 5 reels and 1,024 ways to win. Players stand a chance of walking away from this high-volatility slot with 21,160x their stake.

Name:

High Street Heist

Developer:

Quickspin

RTP:

96.29%

Max payout:

21,160x stake

Volatility:

High

Reels:

5

Win lines:

1,024

Theme:

Crime

Release date:

22nd Mar 2022

Play High Street Heist here:

Casino (1995)

Director: Martin Scorsese / Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles

Scorsese is arguably the master of the mob movie (sorry, Francis Ford Coppola), and Casino is up there with the best of them. It centres on a gambling expert who runs a Las Vegas casino for his criminal bosses, and it involves all of the fun, violence and excess you’d expect. 

Remarkably, Casino is based on true events, and its characters are based on real people. Tapping into the reality of events, Scorsese captures the atmosphere of the Vegas casino scene in the ‘70s and ‘80s, including the FBI’s war against the mob bosses who ran the town at that time. 

Easy Money (1983)

Director: James Signorelli / Starring: Rodney Dangerfield, Joe Pesci

Easy Money is a hijinks comedy with a heart. In order to inherit his mother-in-law’s fortune, Monty must give up the drink, drugs and vices that are so dear to him. It’s full of warmth and side-splitting one-liners, as well as Rodney Dangerfield’s signature style of physical comedy.

If you’re in the market for some ‘easy money’ you might want to try your hand at Mega Fortune. This luxury-themed slot from NetEnt features a wheel-of-fortune mini game and a progressive jackpot which can be worth upwards of £5,000,000! 

Name:

Mega Fortune

Developer:

NetEnt

RTP:

96.00%

Max payout:

2,162x stake

Volatility:

Medium

Jackpot:

Mega Fortune Progressive

Reels:

5

Win lines:

25

Theme:

Luxury

Release date:

23rd Jan 2009

Play Mega Fortune here: