Gambling Movies on Netflix: Bring Vegas to Your Home

1. Ocean’s 11 – One of the Best Casino Movies on Netflix

The blockbuster Ocean’s Eleven (2001) is without a doubt one of the finest casino movies you could find on Netflix. The film is a remake of the 1960s classic of the same name. It boasts a stellar cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Andi Garcia, Bernie Mac and Don Cheadle. Directed by Stephen Soderbergh, the movie quickly proved to be one of his masterpieces by becoming the fifth-highest grossing film of 2001 with $450 million. The heist movie has a rather serious plot with comic underpinnings, which makes it specifically enjoyable to the audience.

The plot of the film is also rather simple – Danny Ocean is released from prison and quickly violates his parole by reassembling his band of crime specialists and planning to rob three Las Vegas casinos, owned by his rival Terry Benedict. Ted Griffith’s detailed script is carefully written and makes every character special and a genius in some sort of criminal activity. However, you should not expect Ocean’s 11 to be your typical crime movie. On the contrary, you will encounter the typical Soderbergh style – Hollywood glamour, elegance and entertainment.

Thus, if you wish to dive into a world of never-ending Las Vegas casino glamour, Ocean’s 11 is undoubtedly the right movie for you. Check out its trailer above and enjoy it at its best quality on Netflix. And while we cannot offer you the ‘amusement’ of robbing a casino, we can at least help you find a casino that fits your neeeds. After all, everybody can feel a bit stirred after the performances of Brad Pitt and Geoge Clooney and there is nothing wrong in trying your luck, even if the Belaggio is too far away.

2. 21 – Among the Finest Blackjack Movies on Netflix

The 2008 American heist drama film, 21 was not only a box office success but also one of the most controversial movies at its time. The film was inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, described in the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. The plot revolves around a group of brilliant students, which form a blackjack team, specialised at winning by counting cards and using covert signalising. The team eventually head to Las Vegas where they are faced with the opportunity to win thousands of dollars or to lose it all.

Directed by Robert Luketic, well-known for movies such as Legally Blonde and The Ugly Truth, 21, combines a variety of directing styles and is inspired by the work of Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and others. Luketic’s stylistic mixture, however, could be described as successful as the film was generally well-received by the audience. If you are a casino fan, you can see whether this blackjack movie suits you by watching the trailer above. You can also find the full movie available on Netflix at its best quality.

3. Casino – One of the Classic Vegas Movies on Netflix

The Casino 1995 film is based on a real story and is undoubtedly one of Scorsese’s masterpieces. The 1995 epic crime film revolves around the life of Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a gambling handicapper who is asked by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. The movie counts with the stellar performances of Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone.

If you like the vintage casino elegance and glitter, Casino is definitely your film! Even though the movie is based on reportorial work by Nicholas Pileggi, Scorsese has turned the film’s setting into a surreal, utopian mirage. Casino luxuriously explores the life of high-rollers and in one of America’s most popular casinos. The almost three-hours long movie Casino explores the messy lives of the characters through the perspective of the cinematic dramatic arcs.

The film portraits a variety of human emotions through Scorsese’s special touch of visual extravagance. Casino is, in fact, the eight collaboration of Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese, and thus, the film’s commercial and artistic success comes as no surprise. Both art and casino fans would love the movie and watch it over and over again. Have you seen its trailer yet? If not, you can find it right above. When you feel ready to watch Casino, you can easily find it on Netflix.

4. Croupier – One of the Most Stylish Gambling Movies

The 1998 Croupier is without a doubt, one of the most unconventional casino movies. Yet, we cannot deny that the movie is a real masterpiece. True to the British genre neo-noir, the film presents the audience with a darker, yet compelling image of the casino world. The events in the movie are told from the perspective of the main character Jack Manfred – an aspiring writer and a casino croupier. Manfred, who is not a gambler himself, slowly becomes infected by his London casino job and starts to see life as a game of chance.

An inevitable consequence, considering the fact that he spends half of the movie, observing with a cold and cynical expression how gamblers are throwing away thousands of pounds playing card games. However, while brilliant, the inside portrait of the casino life is not necessarily realistic. It is rather seen through the bitter perspective of Jack Manfred, to whom the movie plays a subtle joke at the end.

All casino fans can find this challenging gambling movie on Netflix. Even if you do not find the genre noir particularly intriguing, you will most likely enjoy the film’s compelling plot and elegant setting. If you are still wondering whether Croupier is the right movie for you, you watch its trailer above.

5. Guns, Girls and Gambling – Strangest Vegas Movies on Netflix

Unlike our previous suggestions, the 2012 casino movie Guns, Girls and Gambling is no masterpiece. However, if you liked the classic film Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, you will definitely appreciate the resemblance that this Las Vegas movie has with it. The plot is rather simple and yet, full of twists. It revolves around the main character John Smith (portrayed by Christian Slater), whose wallet is stolen at an Indian Reservation Casino.

However, it turns out he had a security wallet, so not all his money is lost. He eventually enters an Elvis Impersonation contest and loses. Nevertheless, he proceeds to play cards with four other Elvis impersonators and eventually loses. After a series of events, he is woken up by the casino security guards and is accused of stealing a priceless ancient Native American mask. The film then follows a series of characters, among which is Gary Oldman, trying to find the mask.

It is inevitable to notice that many scenes of the movie are inspired by some classic Tarantino masterpieces. Nevertheless, while Guns, Girls and Gambling is not impressively original, it is entertaining and easy to watch. Wonder how everything turns out? You can watch the full Vegas movie on Netflix. Meanwhile, feel free to check out the trailer we have provided above.

6. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – Best Poker One

As we mentioned above Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is clearly one of the best cult crime comedies. The plot revolves around Eddie, who is staked to a poker game by his friends Bacon, Tom and Soap. Against all the odds, however, Eddie ends up losing and the friends end up indebted to Harry for £500,000. Eddie’s plan to pay his debt in the one-week deadline involves the theft of two antique guns.

However, when Big Chris, Harry’s debt collect intervenes, the four friends’ plan seems rather disrupted. As you have probably gathered, the film is not a typical crime movie and does not take itself seriously. It rather shows the consequences of a poker game gone bad in a very twisted, yet sarcastic way. Even the directing style of the film is rather mixed, as it seems to be constructed scene to scene and not by an already established cinematographic image.

The rather chaotic directing style, however, seems to have worked perfectly as it reflects Guy Ritchie’s sarcastically written script. If you are in a mood for a non-engaging, entertaining poker movie, we strongly recommend you watch Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. If you are not familiar with the 1998 classic, you can watch the trailer above. In all honesty, that’s one of the best poker movies on Netflix that we can think of…

7. The Gambler – Among the Finest Gambling Movies

The 2014 crime drama The Gambler is a remake of the 1974 movie of the same title. Alike Croupier, The Gambler shows a rather darker side of the luxurious gambling life that many imagine. The film’s character Jim Bennett is a university literature professor with a severe gambling addiction who spends his free time at high-stakes underground gambling ring.

Inevitably, after a game went wrong, he ends up owing $240,000 to Lee, the proprietor of the gambling venture. The rest of the movie revolves around Bennett’s attempts to pay back his debts. A big part of The Gambler, however, is meant to be seen metaphorically, as there are certain references to books and works of art and almost nothing in the film is what it initially seems to be.

The scriptwriter William Monahan has certainly done his best writing the film adaptation, which should come as no surprise considering that he is behind successes such as Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. If we have got your attention, you can get a better idea of what this gambling movie is about by watching the trailer above. Shall you wish to watch the full film, you can find it available on Netflix.

8. Mississippi Grind – One of the Newest Poker Movies

Here is another amazing piece from the collection of poker movies on Netflix. The 2015 Mississippi Grind is considered one of the best gambling movies made in recent years. Unlike many other films, however, Mississippi Grind does not introduce us to the everyday luxurious casino world. Instead, it is a road gambling film, which follows the lives of Gerry and Curtis, who meet while playing Texas Hold’Em in Iowa.

After a series of events, the duo eventually decides to head to a trip down the Mississippi River and gamble at several major cities. According to their plans, their ultimate destination would be a high-stakes poker game in New Orleans. The movie’s dramatic script with occasional hints of comedy was generally well-received by the critics and the audience. Furthermore, the movie plays with the gamblers’ psychology by portraying their constant thinking that they would magically win.

Even though the main characters’ luck does eventually turn in the film, their risky behaviour still leaves the audience with certain unanswered but hinted questions. However, the Mississippi Grind is not just about gambling. All cinema fans will recognise that it makes a partial homage to the 1970s character-driven, landscape-besotted films. If you are still wondering whether Mississippi Grind is the right movie for you, check out the trailer above. You can also watch the full film if you browse the casino movies on Netflix.

9. Casino Royale – One of the Most Popular Casino Movies

If you are a fan of the Bond franchise, you will certainly like the 2006 Casino Royale. Unlike other Bond movies, Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale features an exclusive high-stakes poker game, which without a doubt would be appealing to all casino fans. Other than that, the plot of the popular spy film is rather typical – Daniel Craig portrays the rookie agent James Bond, who has not yet been granted his label “007”.

The character has some different traits than the previous Bonds, which has been positively acknowledged by both the audience and the critics. The movie furthermore involves Bond chasing Le Chiffre “the private banker of the world’s terrorists” and attempting to leave him without his money during a high-stakes poker game. An interesting fact is that the film is also a reboot of the 1967 Casino Royale starring David Niven, Peter Sellers and Orson Welles.

While we cannot say that the 1967 movie was the best one of the Bond franchise, it featured an interesting baccarat game that undoubtedly all casino fans would appreciate. If you want to take a look at the 2006 Casino Royale that we have recommended you, please watch the trailer above. Otherwise, you can find both movie versions available to stream among the casino movies on Netflix.

10. Rounders – Among the Most Popular Poker Movies

The 1998 drama movie Rounders reveals the unimagined underground world of high-stakes poker. The story follows two friends, played by Matt Damon and Edward Norton who need to win a high-stakes poker game in order to pay off their huge debt. The film is considered a cult hit due to the poker boom in the early 2000s. The plot does not only show the poker world at its finest and darkest moments but also touches the subject of gambling.

The main character’s gambling problem leads him to lose practically everything at the beginning of the movie. Yet, he believes that his poker skills can only save him. At the end of the movie, he proves to be right by winning a huge high-stakes poker game. Thus, while we cannot say that the film could be classified as educational by demonstrating the consequences of compulsive gambling, it is still rather entertaining.

The scriptwriters David Levien and Brian Koppelman have also clearly done their homework and have done their best to portray the poker games as realistic as possible. Yet, Rounders is extremely easy to watch as it is written and directed with a special humoristic approach to the rather serious subject of gambling. Want to take a glimpse? You can do so by watching the trailer above. Whenever you feel ready to watch the full poker movie, you can find it at its best quality on Netflix.

Find All Gambling Movies on Netflix

We hope you liked our list of casino movies on Netflix that you can enjoy. We must clarify, however, that at a certain point not all of our recommended movies might be available to watch on streaming service. This is due to the fact that Netflix acquires licences for films and TV shows from studio and content providers. However, the licences are not indefinite and are only valid for a certain period of time. Whether or not a licence would be renewed depends on certain factors.

You can read more about them here. If your favourite casino movie is not currently available on Netflix, you can also watch it on Amazon Prime. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and tell whether you liked our selection of top 10 gambling movies on Netflix and what films you would like to be included in our list.

FAQ About Casino Movies on Netflix

Take a quick look at the last part of this blog post where we tackle the questions about casino and poker movies on Netflix that people have asked the most. We hope that the questions we provide are going to prove both interesting and useful to you.