The gambling industry has gone through many changes over the years. What once brought players huge winnings can now only bring legal problems. Here are five documentaries about Las Vegas, casinos, blackjack and other subjects that have their dark side.
You can also find useful information about the gambling business on the “Casino Rating” portal, where users can find news, guides and reviews on popular online casinos, such as Wave Casino.
Now Place Your Bets, 2017
“Place Your Bets” is an Amazon documentary about the sports betting industry, one of the fastest growing industries. The movie tells the story of where sports betting started and how it came to the point it is at now. The creators interviewed successful bettors, athletes and others associated with the industry.
Gambling Addiction & Me: The Real Hustler, 2012
A BBC project sheds light on the destructive effects of gambling through the example of Alex Conran. The protagonist tells what gambling addiction can lead to.
Bet Raise Fold: The Story of Online Poker, 2014
Amazon’s documentary explores the history of online casinos, especially virtual poker in the United States. The film will tell the viewer about all the significant events in online poker during the era of the “Manimaker boom” and the U.S. government’s fight against online gambling.
The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale, 2014
This film will show the so-called “bright side” of gambling through the example of Don Johnson, a successful casino player who won over $15 million during his career. The protagonist went from a mediocre card player to the menace of gambling establishments in the United States.
Breaking Vegas, 2004
“Breaking Vegas” reveals the story of a group of young men from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Using scientific knowledge and a method of card-counting, they travel to Las Vegas to legally rob the city’s largest gambling establishments. They were hunted by all the Vegas security services, but for a long time the team managed to remain undetected thanks to an innovative system.
The gambling industry has experienced tremendous growth since its inception. The billion dollar industry attracts players who walk away with significant winnings every day.
And there are just a huge number of movies about gambling. These are both educational and entertaining movies.
People interested in gambling should watch a few documentaries to learn more about the industry and its most prominent representatives. Here are five gambling documentaries that everyone should watch.
The player: secrets of a vegas whale
The documentary presents the life of Don Johnson, who is arguably one of the most successful players in America. He has won over $15 million in his entire career.
Trish Regan, the film’s author, walks viewers through this player’s success story. He not only focuses on Johnson’s career, but also builds on the accusation that an outstanding player wins money by counting cards.
Now place your bets
This documentary sheds light on sports betting and its popularity in the city of Las Vegas. The film will show that the demand for sports betting is growing all over the world. The film features several in-depth interviews as well as footage and photographs of the players.
Gambling addiction and me
This exciting documentary opens up a whole new world of gambling. The film will show the life of Alexis Conran, who is the main character on BBC Three’s The Real Hustle.
One of a kind
This is a film depicting the rise and fall of Stu Ungar. The player is famous for becoming one of the most successful players in casino history. The documentary gives viewers a glimpse of what success and defeat are all about.
High stakes
This is a story based on Sam Trickett. Sam is one of the most prominent expert players. The documentary shows Sam’s life, and his ability to overcome challenges. The documentary also brings up the subject of gambling addiction.
Gambling movies are dramatic because they are by definition about risk. Often they are also very fast-paced and action-packed, so it’s a great way to distract yourself, dive into the story and get a little dose of adrenaline. We’ve collected the best pictures about poker and roulette, where the heroes take risks, drink champagne and throw chips beautifully. Well, if you want to try your luck yourself, you can play online live casino without leaving home.
21
This movie is based on the real (albeit embellished by author Ben Mezrich) story of the MIT Blackjack team that beat casinos for almost a decade. In the story, a math professor gathers genius students and teaches them the tricks of blackjack in order to rip off the best casinos in Las Vegas. The star cast (Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess), suspense, humor, and mathematical tricks make this movie simply peerless.
Cards, Money, Two Guns
The reason we know director Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham lies back in 1988 and the black comedy that came out then. After losing £500,000 in a rigged card game, friends Bacon (Jason Statham), Tom (Jason Fleming), Eddie (Nick Moran) and Sope (Dexter Fletcher) engage in a series of adventures to pay off debts, including stealing marijuana. An endless source of humor and quotes that have become classics.
Ocean’s Eleven Friends
It’s not just one of the greatest gambling movies ever made. It’s also the best heist movie, the best George Clooney movie, the best Las Vegas movie, and even the best movie that didn’t win an Oscar. It all starts with Rusty, Brad Pitt’s character, teaching the game to local celebrities in the back of a bar. Although, as Rusty tells them, the first rule of poker (not to be confused with the first rule of “fight club”) is to leave emotions at the door, it’s obvious by his own face. So Ocean shows up just in time to offer Rusty a really big score.
California Poker
A grzat buddy movie – and Robert Altman’s most underrated classic, starring Elliot Gould and George Segal. Both of them display incredible acting and the ability to keep a “poker face.” Part of the fun is trying to figure out if Seagal has made a big hit or lost thousands, because you really can’t tell anything from the look on his face.
Cheaters
Mike, played by Matt Damon, studies law by day and plays Texas Hold’em at night. His goal is to win the world poker championship. When his childhood friend nicknamed The Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of jail and makes powerful enemies, Mike has to do the impossible to help him.