Iconic Casino Films and Where to Stream Them

The casino is one of the ultimate movie settings. Casinos have built-in drama, coupled with exciting and engaging visuals of the casino floor. Gambling has a natural story arc that works well for cinema. On top of all that, the casino setting is perfect for oddball background characters.

The movies on our list are all iconic casino films and are all important in their own way. We know it’s annoying to navigate through all of the various streaming services, so we’ve also included where you can find each of these movies streaming.

Casino (1995)

Five years after his hit film Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese returned to the mafia underworld with Casino. Starring Robert De Niro as a sports betting expert recruited by the Mafia to run one of its casinos in Las Vegas, it charts his rise and ultimate fall as the world he’s involved in becomes increasingly unstable.

Casino captures the seedy, dangerous behind the scenes side of gambling. It almost makes going to a physical casino to play seem like a bad idea. The film uncovers the dark underbelly of the gambling world, making one reconsider the appeal of physical casinos. For those drawn to the thrill of the games but wary of the dangers, online platforms like Dailyspins Casino offer a safer yet exhilarating experience, especially when paired with a movie night featuring classics like Casino.

Casino is currently available on DirectTV, Fubo, Paramount+, and Peacock Premium.

Ocean’s 11 (2001)

If you want a casino heist movie, there is nothing better than Ocean’s 11. This film’s elaborate plot is brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, and Qin Shaobo. Ocean’s 11 creates a perfect fantasy of the casino as a glamorous and fashionable location enhanced by the presence of Clooney and Julia Roberts!

Online casinos might lack some of the glamour of the Vegas resort casinos but at least you have the peace of mind of knowing that Danny Ocean will never turn up with his crew to steal your winnings.

You can find Ocean’s 11 on HBOMax, DirectTV, TruTV, and TNT. You can find the sequels, Ocean’s 12 (2004) and Ocean’s 13 (2007), on these services as well.

The Gambler (1974)

James Caan stars as the titular gambler, a professor who just can’t seem to stop losing. His life spirals out of control as his debts to a Mafia bookmaker rise. Despite having a privileged position as a literature professor from a wealthy family, his gambling addiction and inner demons control his life.

It is an interesting look at the power of self-destructive impulses. The plot of the film is inspired by screenwriter James Toback’s own experiences and by Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel, The Gambler.

The Gambler (1974) is currently available to stream on Paramount+ and Apple TV.

The Gambler (2014)

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? This remake of the 1974 film stars Mark Wahlberg and John Goodman. While this version is less acclaimed than the original, it is still worth a watch to see how the story has been revamped for contemporary audiences. It shows all of the traditional gambling pitfalls but it would have been improved by showing the protective measures that are in place for online gambling and how it becomes an individual’s choice to circumvent them.

The Gambler (2014) is now streaming on Paramount+ and Apple TV.

Hard Eight (1996)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Hard Eight avoids the cliches of big wins and losses under the Vegas lights and instead tells the story of a small-time professional gambler working out of Reno, Nevada. The professional gambler, played by Philip Baker Hall, takes a young man (John C. Reilly) under his wing and teaches him the way of his trade.

The drama comes when Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson’s characters are introduced and the carefully constructed life that Hall’s character has built for himself is threatened. It is a classic story from the casino genre and helps us to see the smaller stories that play out on the casino floor.

This absolute classic can be found on Paramount+, Fubo, Amazon Prime, and MGM+.

Rounders (1998)

Rounders has been largely overlooked in recent years, despite being a very enjoyable casino film. This might be partly due to Matt Damon’s character seeming too similar to his Good Will Hunting character. Or perhaps it’s down to John Malkovich’s bizarro Russian accent (though that may be a selling point for some!).

The story follows a law student (Damon) who is a poker expert that took one too many big risks and had to give up playing. When his friend (Edward Norton) is in danger from some loan sharks, it’s time to come out of poker retirement and risk it all.

The film does a fantastic job of showing just how addictive the fun and thrill of playing poker can be and it would be intriguing to see an updated version that shows how online poker has the same power.

Rounders is currently streaming on DirectTV, Fubo, Paramount+, and Showtime.