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Best High Stakes Casino Shows And Films Available on Netflix
There’s no need to physically visit a brick-and-mortar casino to experience the bright lights, thrilling atmosphere, and gambling action the casino floor provides. Why? Because a smart TV and your Netflix account can deliver a similar experience directly to your living room.
With that said, we’ve compiled a short list of the most compelling high-stakes casino-influenced shows on Netflix right now!
21
While the storyline can sometimes feel far-fetched because how many MIT students refer to themselves as a cerebral stud? Most fans of gambling culture will position 21 as one of their top 10 greatest casino movies of all time.
Released in 2008, the film is fifteen years old but notably holds up to today’s cinema standard. And if a blackjack card counting team that pulls off the most significant heist in Las Vegas doesn’t spark your casino-film interest, I don’t know what will.
A team of MIT intellects guided by Kevin Spacey’s character defy the house edge and gain a significant advantage over the casinos with their sophisticated card counting methods. But what makes this movie so compelling is that it was based on true events inspired by Bringing Down the House, a best-selling book by Ben Mezrich.
Year of release: 2008
Genre: Heist Drama
Box office: $159.8 million
Director: Robert Luketic
Leading stars: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey
Kakegurui
The only anime on the list, Kakegurui is a popular series that follows Yumeko Jabami, a transfer student at Hyakkaou Private Academy, a school where students are ranked by their gambling abilities. The show revolves around the intense world of high stakes gambling and the various power struggles that take place between the students.
With its unique storyline and dark themes, Kakegurui has captured the attention of viewers worldwide. Its characters are well-developed, and the animation quality is top-notch. The series is known for its psychological elements, fan service, and thrilling and violent tournament arcs. For audiences who like to be kept on the edge of their seats, check out the series which is available subbed or dubbed on Netflix.
Year of release: 2017
Genre: Gambling Psychological Thriller Anime
Box office: $59.3 million
Director: Yuichiro Hayashi
Molly’s Game
With a one-person show responsible for such incredible screenplays, including The West Wing, The Social Network, Moneyball, and The Newsroom, the announcement that Aaron Sorkin was set to direct a crime/drama involving high-stakes poker wasn’t just a gift to gambling enthusiasts, but cinema as a whole.
Based on the autobiography of a stigmatized “poker princess” Molly Bloom, the true story of a stunning, young, Olympic-level skier who operated the planet’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for ten years is beautifully performed and depicted on the big screen with significant performances by Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.
The film won’t teach you how to play online slots or direct you to the newest UK slot games available online, but casino aficionados will be hooked on a storyline that involves high-stakes poker players stemming from Hollywood royalty, famous athletes, business moguls, to the Russian mob.
Year of release: 2017
Genre: Crime/Drama
Box office: $59.3 million
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Leading stars: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong
Win It All
The movie title ‘Win It All’ sums up how we all feel when entering a casino, but even the best online slots can’t provide consistent winners. Joe Swanberg’s storytelling is a hard reminder of why having a budget is important when participating in any form of gambling entertainment.
Eddie Garrett – a gambling addict – didn’t follow the aforementioned budget advice and suffered the consequences in this American comedy. It’s important to avoid spoilers, but let’s just say you shouldn’t leave a duffle bag full of cash in the hands of a gambling addict.
Year of release: 2017
Genre: Comedy
Box office: N/A
Director: Joe Swanberg
Leading stars: Jake Johnson, Joe Lo Truglio, Keegan-Michael Key
Uncut Gems
You won’t receive the usual satire and comedic approach often performed by Adam Sandler, but Uncut Gems undoubtedly portrays Howard Ratner – played by Sandler – as a comical character. One that struggles with his gambling addiction as a Jewish-American jeweller in the Big Apples Diamond District.
Sandler received incredible praise for his performance; some critics believe it’s the greatest of his career. It entered the top ten films of 2019 by the National Board of Review, and rightfully so because Uncut Gems is a diamond in the rough.
Despite having a short theatrical run, it managed to bank $50 million at the box office, thus becoming the highest-grossing film for the independent entertainment company A24. It wasn’t until 2022 that A24 topped the box office numbers surpassed by Everything Everywhere All at Once, but Uncut Gems will forever stand the test of time as one of the greatest gambling-themed movies ever.
Year of release: 2019
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Box office: $50 million
Director: Josh Safdie
Leading stars: Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield
Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul
Unlike the other entries on our list, Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul is a Netflix original documentary film. This doesn’t, however, deter from the impeccable storytelling mapped out by lead director David Terry Fine, who tells the story of a 2007 betting scandal involving NBA referee Tim Donaghy.
Years following a prison sentence for wagering on games he officiated, Tim Donaghy revisits this scandalous moment in NBA history and provides viewers with the intricate details around the deceitful gambling he spearheaded.
The inner fixings discussed in this documentary are grotesque. Still, it’s presented with such an expert cinematic touch as Fine and company leave no stone unturned and thoroughly inform the audience in a dramatic fashion that offers an organic feel due to the nature of the subject.
Year of release: 2022
Genre: Documentary
Box office: N/A
Director: David Terry Fine