MGM’s history includes 50 films a year, casinos, a bankruptcy and those ruby slippers Here’s how it survived 100 years

gambling movies

The “Ocean’s” franchise, starting with “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001), is a prime example of this category. While the films aren’t about gambling per se, the entire plot revolves around elaborate heists targeting casinos. The utilization here is far different from the examples like Iron Man, as here casino is more so a plot device, serving its role as the obstacle, as well as a point of interest for the main cast.

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A prime example is the opening of “Iron Man” (2008), where we first meet Tony Stark at a craps table in Las Vegas. Instead of receiving a prestigious award for incredible scientific achievements, Stark is seen in a major establishment, enjoying being the center of attention while gambling away large sums. Out of all the intersections the casino world has had with various other industries, one of the more famous ones has been in the storytelling world.

Gambling, the Brownlow and Hinkley’s outburst: League chief on the AFL’s biggest talking points

The concept of betting on the outcome of games dates back to early civilizations, and the growth of organized gambling can be traced back to ancient Rome where ludi (public games) were held for entertainment and betting purposes. Lanh (Tuan Tran), the son of a funeral director (Hoai Linh), finds himself trapped in a downward spiral due to his gambling addiction. On the verge of losing everything, fate leads him to encounter a mysterious female ghost (Diep Bao Ngoc). United by their mutual desperation, they strike an unconventional deal, using each other to fulfill their hidden desires.Lanh’s journey to “get rich” is portrayed in a humorous and lighthearted way, filled with comical misadventures. Along the way, the film also delivers meaningful and emotional lessons about family bonds. As such, we thought it’d be worthwhile to share a list of poker films you may want to watch.

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Vegas is probably not the right place to go for your honeymoon, a subtle fact Jack Singer (played by Nicolas Cage) learns the hard way. After burning through his life-savings of $65,000 at the poker table, Jack who’s about to get married to Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) is forced to lend his fiancée to the winning opponent and con artist, Tommy Korman (James Caan). Casino Royale remains one of the most loved and watched movies in the Bond franchise.

  • The world of gambling, with its inherent risks and rewards, has always made for compelling cinema.
  • Online gambling is currently bigger than ever, with enthusiasts across the world going online to play exciting offerings.
  • Driven by the prospect of fortune, Charlie takes Raymond on a journey to Las Vegas, where he uses his brother’s incredible intellectual abilities to count cards at the blackjack tables.
  • When older and more experienced Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) comes to town, it is only to be expected that Stoner would want a go against the master, to show he is better than Howard.
  • The film has earned the thumbs up from many of those who work with problem gamblers.

Broke: Australian film hailed for uncompromising representation of gambling addiction and sport

However, the PokerNews crew got together, along with input from social media, to determine the top five must-watch poker movies of all time. For those who are inspired to try their luck in real life, the excitement of gambling doesn’t have to stay on the screen. With options like the Stay Casino, players can experience the thrill of casino games without the initial financial risk, bringing a taste of cinematic high-stakes action to their own gaming experiences. The allure of gambling has always captivated the human imagination, and nowhere is this more evident than in the world of cinema.

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On Thursday 9 November 1961, a man named Brian descended the stairs to a cellar in Liverpool and changed the world forever with The Beatles. The compelling story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with a charming neurosurgeon sparks an intense connection. Documentary filmmaking is a powerful medium to give those who are often sidelined in society a voice and to give audiences a different perspective of the world.

Casino

As you might expect, there’s a ringleader, Danny Ocean (played by George Clooney), and a team of high risk-takers who want to execute one of the most elaborate casino heists in history. Ocean’s 11 target three of Vegas largest casinos – the MGM Grand, the Mirage and Bellagio. In this film, the three casinos are owned and operated by scum-bag tycoon Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). If you love casino heist films, the chances are very good that you have watched Steven Soderbergh’s crown jewel Ocean’s Eleven. Lootz is all ready to leave Shelly’s employ in a week when his son and pregnant daughter-in-law come into his life, looking for money for the baby and ready to go long ways to get it. In addition, Lootz starts to fall in love with Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello), who believes in stars and fate and knows that their relationship could succeed only if they stayed in Vegas.

Poker

The Cincinnati Kid has everything you can wish for in a dramatic classic poker film – the underhand moves, the betrayal, women, guns, actions … the whole shebang to keep your adrenaline pumping. It is a fast-paced thriller that unravels the world of gambling piece by piece. Another movie portraying poker, The Cincinnati Kid is the story of Eric Stoner (Steve McQueen), an up and coming gambler who is a prodigy in the game of poker, especially backroom games of stud poker. When older and more experienced Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) comes to town, it is only to be expected that Stoner would want a go against the master, to show he is better than Howard.

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gambling movies

The experience of the gamblers, the relationship of government and gambling, the advertising and marketing, and the expansion of lotteries in your state are all great topics for a group to discuss. It’s considered one of the best poker films of all time and is credited with helping to popularize Texas Hold’em during the early 2000s poker boom. Several films have famous poker scenes, but one of the most famous is the James Bond film Casino Royale (2006), starring Daniel Craig in his first outing as 007. The film features a high-stakes Texas Hold’em poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro, where Bond faces off against the villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen. He finds himself in over his head and his wife has to step in, though all may not be as it seems. Another gambling-based movie filmed in Australia which is worth mentioning is Dirty Deeds directed by David Caesar.

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Actor Steve Le Marquand plays the role of the fallen hero, trying and repeatedly failing to piece his life back together. The screenings are being hosted by gambling counselling services and other support groups. The movie Broke is yet to attract a mainstream theatrical release but it has already won a string of international awards and commendations, touring the country at small invitation-only screenings.

Some well-received poker films include the western comedy Maverick (1994), Survivor host Jeff Probst’s debut film Finder’s Fee (2001), the improv-inspired The Grand (2007) and indie comedy darling Hitting the Nuts (2010). The movie dives deep into how betting has affected rugby league in Australia and how big money wagers and odds have also led to accusations that many of the league’s games are fixed. The movie even follows some former rugby players that may be off the field now, but have gotten obsessed with betting on league games and winning money – which seldom goes as per plan.

In summary, these films capture the essence of gambling, portraying it as both a thrilling adventure and a potentially destructive force. They remind us of the high stakes involved, where the ultimate gamble may be not just money, but life itself. Through their engaging narratives and complex characters, these films offer a fascinating glimpse into the seductive yet perilous world of gambling.

Netflix has an extensive library of feature films, documentaries, TV shows, anime, award-winning Netflix originals, and more. Even these classic films are available on DVD and online, Dravet says it has become obvious there is still an audience for them on the big screen. With bookmakers so enmeshed in sponsorship of sporting teams and prominent in television broadcasts, gambling addiction is a social problem that has had some high-profile casualties.

Steve Bingen, a film historian and author of multiple books about MGM, says the studio largely created the idea of movie franchises, which would become majorly important to modern cinema. Studios not only owned the cinemas their films were shown in, they also owned the actors, who were bound by rigid contracts and told which films they would be appearing in, he said. The studios – namely the big five of MGM, RKO, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros and Paramount Pictures – controlled every aspect of https://allspinswin.org/login/ the movies from who the actors were to where they would be shown. To give it some spark he purchased Goldwyn Pictures — along with its mascot, a  real-life roaring lion called Leo — in 1924. He had purchased Metro Pictures Corporation five years before to provide a supply of films for his theatre chain. Among other things, visitors will find a daily dose of articles with the latest poker news, live reporting from tournaments, exclusive videos, podcasts, reviews and bonuses and so much more.

  • And with Dead Money set for release September 2024, there’s yet another poker flick that could eventually make it to the list.
  • Gambling has been popular since time immemorial, with evidence of dice games in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and China.
  • He finds out he has an autistic older brother named Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) and that his father left $3 million at the mental institution where Raymond resides.
  • The world’s top gambling movies are as diverse and cool as they are well known.
  • Nothing brings together crime, mystery and comic relief quite like a good gambling film, and Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a classic example.
  • We thank them for their storytelling, music and dance, and appreciate their impact on the performing arts industry.
  • One of these videos was a New Zealand anti-drink driving campaign that did a beautiful job of presenting the message in a fun yet memorable way.

BECOME A MEMBER OF SYDNEY’S NEWEST CASINO EXPERIENCE

Based on the best-selling videogame, this all-star action -adventure follows a ragtag team of misfits on a mission to save a missing girl who holds the key to unimaginable power. Bus Stop’s mission is to ensure that our diverse and marginalised communities are heard and represented within the Australian and international cinematic landscape. Gambling with Minds is a short film project which produces an authentic voice on the subject of mental health through the stories it tells. Lanh , finds himself trapped in a downward spiral due to his gambling addiction. On the verge of losing everything, fate leads him to encounter a mysterious female ghost.

Once your venue is set and a date is chosen, it’s time to let people know! Contact your friends and family as well as local churches, recovery/addiction professionals and groups, your local politicians – both for your town and your state legislative district, and your local newspaper. Make sure to reach out via social media and link to the film @outofluckmovie.

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We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of the land. We thank them for their storytelling, music and dance, and appreciate their impact on the performing arts industry. If you are looking for a casino movie jam-packed with murder, power, money, deception, and greed, Casino will simply knock your socks off. William Jefferson Slade (Rip Torn), a wealthy con man with a chip on his shoulder for Lancey Howard, tries to blackmail Shooter into rigging the game in Stoner’s favour, just to get back at Howard. Problems start because of this attempted blackmail and the lead up to the game is in no way pleasant, regardless of whether Shooter accepts the offer or not. Borrowing from the songwriter Tim Freedman, the pokies should all be exploded.

Brandon was once a successful football player, but got injured and now has to find other ways to earn money. He recalls the bookie Walter, who once offered Brandon scams promising a big payday. It’s time to say goodbye to his pride and enter a dangerous game where winning will bring riches and losing will bring death. On television, “Molly’s Game” (2017) tells the true story of Molly Bloom, who ran high-stakes poker games for celebrities and business tycoons.

There seems to be something captivating about gambling, perhaps the nature of the activity and the risk-reward system that is tied to it, that gives writers promising vehicles for delivering effective storytelling ideas. Fortunately our main location, the apartment, was relatively spacious and had lots of different areas to shoot in. The client loved the reference and wanted us to follow a similar structure; a young guy sees his friend is gambling and thinks of all the worst-case scenarios that could happen. Problem gambling counsellor Rhonda Woodford added “it is one of the few movies that actually tells the truth about gambling.”

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