Let’s Go to the Movies with these Iconic Casino Scenes

The earliest evidence of gambling dates back to 2300BC, in its most primitive form. Fast forward to 800AD and playing cards were beginning to emerge in China – marking the beginning of the majority of top casino games that we recognise today. 

With the casino becoming such a prominent part of society, we’ve also seen the games bleeding into pop culture and many forms of entertainment. One of the best examples of this is the film industry – where the casino is used as the top destination for tense and plot-influencing scenes.

Looking for a movie night that also explores your love for casino? Well, stick with us, as we take you to the cinema with some casino blockbusters.

Rain Man (1988)

Perhaps one of the most famous movies of all times, Rain Man is undeniably a cult classic amongst all film fanatics. What’s more, it includes a great example of how the casino setting can be used to further the plot, and illustrates one of the top classic games, Blackjack.

The film’s protagonist Charlie “Rain Man” Babbitt boasts a super computer-style brain, and when he enters the casino, alongside his brother, he chooses to use these talents at the Blackjack table. Babbitt begins to use card counting to influence his future decisions within the game. Although card counting isn’t technically illegal, the practice is widely frowned upon, and considered cheating if an external device is used. And, as you can imagine, this isn’t something you can really do if you choose to play online, as many of us now do.

Once Babbitt sees his brother go bust – drawing a Queen after already holding a hand of 18 – he can then deduce that there will be no more Queens left in the pack, and uses this information to plan out his next move. 

Another interesting fact about this film is that the cast and crew were the first group to ever be allowed to shoot these scenes at the iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The “Emperor’s Suite” is where the Babbitt brothers spend the night after their big win, and to this day, is now continuously referred to as the “Rain Man Suite”.

Casino Royale (2006)

No character loves the casino setting quite like James Bond. Where better to face off against your arch nemesis than at a gaming table, with your bankroll also hanging in the balance?

This time, Bond’s game of choice is Poker. 007 and his opponent demonstrate the use of bluffing as a playing technique. During this, the player acts as if they’re already holding the winning hand, regardless of what their cards are actually showing. The idea is that this will then coax other players into backing down, folding, or making needlessly risky decisions. This strategy can play a key part in any Poker game, and fits in perfectly with Bond’s suave persona. 

During the game, Bond sits down at the table with three other men, one of which being the film’s antagonist. All four players decide to go all in, feeling confident that they’re holding the winning hand – or at least acting like they were! 

The Hangover (2009)

Whilst the actions in this film definitely aren’t a how-to guide, or recommended in any way, we can’t deny that this R-rated comedy has become a cult classic. Join an unlikely group of middle-aged friends as they land in Las Vegas for a stag party and are met with a chaotic series of events. Before long, the comedy trio find themselves deep in debt to a dangerous criminal and soon lose the man of the hour – the groom! Throughout their quest, the group landed at one of the many grand casinos on The Strip and decided to try their hands at Blackjack.

No matter where you play, the aim of the game is to beat the dealer, either by having a hand that reaches a total of 21, or by watching the dealer go bust before you. As the game unfolds during the film, the main character Alan begins to demonstrate card counting – which uses previous outcomes to predict the next move – as we explained above. Using his super-powered brain, he figures out which cards are left in the deck and lands a win. 

Settle in for a night of fast-paced movies and eye-watering gameplay with some of our top cinematic picks. Get your own slice of the atmosphere down at your local casino, or even with the power of live casino games from the comfort of your home. Will you be the next star of the casino?