Believe it or not, there’s a gambler living in every single person on planet Earth. And while most of us choose not to listen to him/her and carry on with our lives, others embrace their inner risk-takers and try to steal the show (or the bank).
Today we’ll talk about the TOP 10 best Sports Gambling movies for all time. Hands down, if you’ve never bet even a dollar or anything, you’ll still like these films, because they’re equally stylish, fancy, and thrilling. On the other hand, if you’re a player by nature, then you’ll probably learn a thing or two from the masters :).
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The Gambler
Mark Wahlberg has been acting for his entire life, but he’s never had a bad role and/or a bad movie. This man picks his films with care and precision and always delivers a solid release. This is the official remake of a ’74 classic cut. The story is based on a regular professor with good looks and an irregular hobby.
He’s living by the motto – get rich or die trying. That’s why he’s not afraid to go all in at the casinos and bet on everything including sports. However, his careless actions result in big debts to an infamous “loan shark” and a scary man who runs an underground gambling house. He’s got one week to bring the cash. Otherwise, they’ll take his life.
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Casino Royale
Her Majesty’s royal servant, the legendary agent 007, has been through a lot. He fought maniacs, lunatics, big-time villains and everything else in between. But in this 2006 movie, we get to see him on his very first mission.
Bond is to confront a weapons dealer and prevent him from starting WW3 and getting away with it. The stakes are higher than ever, and Daniel Craig sure does look great on the big screen. So, what kind of a role does the Casino play? Find out for yourself! Of all the TOP 10 best Sports Gambling movies for families, this will most definitely be suited for your teenage kiddos.
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Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
As far as the iconic movies about taking risks and placing high sports bets go, this one is definitely on top of the list. Ritchie created a true classic! A cocky and haughty playa, a man with no fear, recruits three of his most trusted buddies to help him steal something precious.
He owes half-a-million-dollars to a notorious mob boss; and, unless he pays back in time, they’ll cut his head off and put it on a stick. It’s not going to be easy to pull the heist off, but frankly, he doesn’t have a choice. Adrenaline-packed and fast-paced, this is a film you simply have to see!
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Owning Mahowny
Alright, let’s continue with the list of best Sports Gambling movies. An ordinary man with a passion for gambling and betting over his head gets access to an account with millions of dollars on it. So, what does he do with that kind of money? Let it be?
Of course not! He bets every single penny on a “lucky” bet. He thinks that it will be an easy walk in the park. Or, at least, that he will be able to win it all back. However, everything goes to sh*t, and his name becomes one with the biggest fraud stories in the cold and gloomy Canada.
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Two for the Money
Whenever you see Al Pacino’s name on a movie cover, just know that it’s going to be epic. A promising football player gets injured on the field and loses his ability to ever play again. But he doesn’t break down and cry. Instead, the man gets back into it from a different side – consulting folks on sports betting.
His unique approach to the clients and deep understanding of the game and the way people think make one of the strongest players in the industry raise his eyebrows and invite the protege into his house. He ends up turning the striving lad into his right hand, and together they try to create a betting empire. Of the TOP 10 best Sports Gambling movies to watch, this masterpiece is a no-brainer.
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21
An MIT professor, along with his gifted students, creates a sophisticated system based on the casino algorithms that allows the team to rob every single casino in the vicinity. The kids and the professor have a goal – to pay for the school and to enjoy that luxurious life.
But, eventually, the casino bosses learn about their clever plan, and that’s when things get really heated. Can a bunch of kids be able to outmaneuver the elite security teams and escape with the money? Or are their days of glory in the past now?
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Hard Eight
This is another classic movie – a 1996 release. Sydney is a pro when it comes to sports gambling and has been betting for as long as he can remember. He’s an old guy and doesn’t really have any excitement in his life. But when he comes across a young dude with no money in his pockets, the old chap decides to lend him a helping hand.
He wants the youngster to learn his tricks and keep the legacy alive. So, he starts to teach him everything he knows. Somewhere along the way, a dashing young woman comes into their lives and threatens to destroy everything. Definitely one of the TOP 10 best modern Sports Gambling films.
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The Hustler
Recently, this iconic movie celebrated its 55th “birthday”. Yes, it’s been around for that long! For Paul Newman, this was a dream role, as it turned him into a superstar. His hero had only one goal in mind – to be the greatest pool-player in history.
There are many rules to this game and numerous tricks that the pros use, and he was lucky enough to be taught by a legend who shared the ins and outs of being successful. The Hustler is a fine movie and will take you back to the bright and beautiful 60s.
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All In: The Poker Movie
The Yanks and the Brits have been using poker as a powerful tool for their ambitions for many years now. This is one of the most ancient games in the United States. Ever wondered how a “sport” that used to be illegal managed to find its way into the TV?
Big-time celebrities like George Clooney play poker and praise it on every step of the way. The politicians endorse it and want folks of all social classes to play. This movie is a documentary that will open up the real truth about pro gambling on a nation-wide scale.
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Ocean’s Eleven
Yes, this is that famous movie that skyrocketed the careers of the aforementioned Clooney along with Pitt, Damon and many others. Ocean, a gambler who used to be locked behind bars, is a free man now and dreams of punishing the owner of a grandiose casino who put him in prison.
He assembles a crew of top-notch professionals and tells them to clean out not one, but three casinos in one go. Is it really possible to pull off such a daring stunt? It is if you’ve got the best team in the world and are ready to sacrifice everything just to have your revenge.
This is probably the most entertaining and crowd-pleasing movie about gambling and robbing banks. Yes, the focus is more on the robbing part, but we simply had to include it into our list. It most certainly was a very popular film that started a whole franchise (it included chapters two and three).
Summing Up
So, now you know what is the best Sports Gambling movies, ladies, and gentlemen. There’s enough fish in the sea and, as mentioned above, you don’t have to be a fan of gambling to appreciate these action-packed films. We picked the most “mainstream” movies that are centered on gambling but are made for the regular audience (except maybe for All In).
One final thing before we finish: don’t ever gamble dear readers – it can ruin your life! If you still want that thrill and the adrenaline, check out one of the fine releases from our collection. We guarantee you’ll feel your heart beating faster and your eyes turning red.