Pop culture is made up of a few consistent themes that play key roles within it. Movies are certainly one such theme, and there is no doubt how popular catching the latest films still is as a pastime all around the planet. Casino gaming is also a major part of pop culture and often crosses over with film at times. This can most obviously be seen when movies decide to include betting scenes within them.
This crossover is not a surprise, especially when you consider how popular playing casino games is globally right now. While physical casino gaming has long been well-loved, the rise of online casinos in recent years has helped the industry attract a new audience. This is largely down to the choice of iGaming sites to play at, plus the bonuses that top brands like BetMGM offer. To find out more about this, check out the latest betmgm bonus code at The Game Day today.
Due to the popularity of both movies and casino gaming, seeing the two regularly combine is not a shock. But what are the top five betting scenes in film history?
- Bond takes on Le Chiffre: Casino Royale
Just as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a must-watch for horror fans, this scene from Bond romp Casino Royale is worth checking out. It sees Bond traveling to take on villain Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at an opulent casino complex.
You can really feel the tension as the two faces off and initially, Le Chiffre has the upper hand. Bond uses CIA money to stay in the game though, and eventually beats his nemesis to a $120 million jackpot. This is not before the bad guys try to poison Bond mid-game and he has to revive himself to stay alive!
- Cruise and Hoffman hit Vegas: Rain Man
Released in 1988, Rain Man is a touching movie that was a huge hit and starred Tom Cruise. In the film, Cruise’s character has to pick up his long-lost brother before the two set off on a cross-country adventure. Along the way, we see that Cruise’s character has a failing business and that his brother (played by Dustin Hoffman) has a knack for genius-level counting skills.
To give his failing business a much-need injection of funds, Cruise takes Hoffman’s character to Vegas to play blackjack! Their entrance into the real-life Caesar’s Palace is iconic, and the betting scenes filmed at the blackjack table there are truly memorable.
- Living dangerously¾Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
While many of the top betting scenes in film history are dramatic, some are more comedy-based. The scene where Mike Myers’ character is at the blackjack table in this movie is a great example and very funny.
In this awesome part of the film, Powers is playing blackjack against a villain who is using X-Ray vision to win. After the villain tells Austin he likes to play dangerously, our hero sticks on a 5 when the dealer has a king¾thus losing. The comedy comes from Powers quoting the villain’s line back at him instantly, saying that he too likes to play dangerously.
- Clooney and Pitt play a friendly game: Ocean’s Eleven
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven was a major hit and spawned a successful franchise of films. For this list though, its main attraction is a gambling scene that happens right at the start.
Although this is a friendly card game between the outlaws who make up Danny Ocean’s crew, it has lots of swag and plenty of charm. It is not set in a casino either, which makes it a little different from many other top betting scenes in the film industry. With Brad Pitt and George Clooney both in great form, the audience gets to know more about the main characters.
- Don’t forget Tommy’s drink: Goodfellas
1990’s Goodfellas was arguably the movie that reignited our interest in the Mafia and gangsters. Featuring some seriously good acting and plenty of action, Joe Pesci’s character of Tommy DeVito particularly stood out.
It is this character who plays a part in a terrifying and memorable gambling scene from the film. During a tense card game, DeVito asks barman Spider for a drink and gets very upset when one does not arrive. As is par for the course with Pesci’s character in the film, his response is totally over-the-top and sees Spider getting shot in the foot.
Iconic betting scenes in movie history
The above are some of the most intense, exciting, and iconic betting scenes ever put down on film. The fact that most are pretty old and we are still talking about them is a testament to their impact. As casino gaming continues to play a key role in pop culture, along with movies themselves, we can expect to see more of these kinds of scenes in the future.
Frankie Wilde – is a content writer at various gambling sites. Also, he is a passionate traveler and a great cook. Frankie shares informative articles with the world.
