Must See Movies Like Casino
What is your favorite gambling movie? There is a good chance that Casino, starring Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, is near or at the top of your list. The 1995 mob drama is based on the real-life experience of the Stardust casino’s executive and manager, Frank “Lefty’ Rosenthal.
Rosenthal, portrayed by De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, was an associate of the mob. He was involved directly with the Chicago Outfit and ran multiple casinos in Las Vegas for them through the 1970s. He is regarded as the first casino boss to introduce a sportsbook in a casino and female blackjack dealers.
If you are a gambler and haven’t seen the movie Casino, we suggest you take a few hours to watch the classic mob flick. Most likely, though, you probably have and are searching for movies like Casino.
Similar movies as Casino fall into one of two categories: mob thrillers and or gambling movies. The mob and gambling go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s the perfect plot for a drama. When it’s based on a true story, the storytelling is even more gripping.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of movies like Casino based on true stories. Let’s get into our favorite movies similar to Casino. entertainment betting sites page for more information.
Goodfellas
Goodfellas (1990) is often referred to as a soft prequel to Martin Scorsese’s Casino. While the films are not directly related, the mastery of Scorsese is embedded in both mob flicks. Rather than being a prequel, Goodfellas and Casino are companion movies.
He liked De Niro and Pesci’s performances in Goodfellas enough to bring them back for Casino five years later. The movies are gripping tales about how brutal the mob can be to people that try to get in their way.
Did you like De Niro and Pesci in Casino? Then you are going to like or maybe even love them in Goodfellas. There has been an ongoing debate since Casino was released about which is the better movie. They are both terrific, but you might prefer one over the other.
Goodfellas is based around the life of New York mobster Henry Hill. Portrayed by Ray Liotta, Hill befriends established mafia members Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino), Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), and James Conway (Robert DeNiro) early on in the film.
As Hill moves up the ranks and enjoys the perks that come with the glamorous gangster lifestyle, he slowly drifts deeper into that world and finds it ever more difficult to escape. We will let you discover the rest, but Goodfellas is a must-watch for any Casino fan.
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The Irishman
Do you want more modern work from Scorsese? Can’t get enough of Casino and Goodfellas? The Irishman (2019) brings De Niro and Pesci back together for what is likely one last mafia get-together on the silver screen.
Additionally, Al Pacino, made famous for his role in Scarface, plays Jimmy Hoffa in the movie. The Irishman focuses on Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a retired truck driver who gets involved in organized crime.
In the 1950s, he was a mafia recruiter who crossed paths with mob boss Russell Bufalino (Pesci). His career in organized crime would flourish from there.
Sheeran’s success as a hitman leads him to work for Teamsters’ leader, Jimmy Hoffa. Sheehan ultimately turns into one of Hoffa’s leading right-hand men and confidant. He would turn his success into a local president of the Teamsters Union.
However, their relationship would break down over time. As you may know, Hoffa is one of the most well-known murdered mobsters who has yet to be found. With no leads or a body, no one knows what happened to Hoffa.
Sheeran has claimed that he was responsible for the murder. According to Sheeran, he drove to Detroit with two associates and shot Hoffa in the back of the head. No evidence of this happening has been uncovered, though.
Bugsy
The film Bugsy (1991) is not as well-known and regarded as Goodfellas. Cinema does not view Bugsy as a masterpiece like Goodfellas and Casino.
However, the parallels between Casino and Bugsy are apparent. Frank “Lefty’ Rosenthal and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel are two of the most influential figures in Las Vegas history.
Bugsy and his Jewish mob associate’s fingerprints are all over Las Vegas. The film takes a deep dive into his personal life and the criminal enterprise of Bugsy. He is credited with being the owner of the first luxury hotel in Las Vegas, the El Cortez.
On November 7, 1941, the El Cortez opened and has been operating ever since. Next, Bugsy and his criminal associates would set their sights on an empty parcel of land now known as the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.
Bugsy is the visionary behind the Flamingo Las Vegas, which has been a mainstay on The Strip since 1946. The casino would lead to several more resorts being developed on the same street. In fact, Siegel’s vision and efforts fueled a massive boom in Las Vegas which led to the city becoming the top gambling destination in the United States.
Furthermore, Las Vegas grew to the point where there are now two distinct regions: The Strip and casinos not on the strip. I wonder what Siegel would say if he could see Las Vegas now. But, we digress. Let’s get back to the film!
As well as his business and criminal dealings, the film goes into his relationship with his girlfriend Virginia Hill, who was involved with the Chicago Outfit in the 1930s. Additionally, the movie features the murder scene at his home in Beverly Hills.
While sitting in his living room, an unknown suspect shot Bugsy through a window. The murder has not been solved to this day, but is believed to be committed by criminal partners involved in the Flamingo.
Croupier
Croupier (1998) might be the best gambling movie that you’ve probably never seen. The British crime drama thriller centers around Jack Manfred (Clive Owen), a fictional character who is struggling to make a living as a writer.
When given an opportunity to become a croupier, otherwise known as a casino dealer in the US, Manfred signed up to make some extra cash. Initially, the job seemed ordinary, with Manfred impressing bosses and gaining respect in the casino.
However, temptation and corruption would lead to Manfred making questionable decisions. First, Manfred had inappropriate relationships with employees and gamblers, but his rule-breaking ways would only accelerate into full-blown criminal activity.
Sucked into the temptation of defrauding the casino, Manfred and a female companion attempt to execute their plan. While Manfred is not based on a real person, there have been several real-life examples of dealers working with players to pull off daring casino heists.
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Molly’s Game
Molly’s Game is based on Molly Bloom’s 2014 memoir “Molly’s Game: From Hollywood’s Elite to Wall Street’s Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker”.
In 2017, Molly’s story landed on the big screen in movie theaters around the world. Portrayed by Jessica Chastain, the movie highlights the wild time she had as a high-stakes underground poker game host. The underground enterprise included Russian mobsters and art dealer Helly Nahmad.
In some of the most exclusive poker games in the world, Molly hosted celebrities, athletes, and billionaires to play in the mid-2000s. A world-class skier at the time, the ‘Poker Princess’ lived a double life catering to the likes of Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Alex Rodriguez.
As the buy-ins grew larger and larger, up to $250,000, so did her tips. It would all come crashing down on her when the FBI raided her operation. However, in 2014, she was sentenced to just one year of probation and 200 hours of community service for her role in the $100 million gambling ring.
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Rounders
Did Matt Damon play in Molly’s underground poker games? It’s a given that Affleck’s best bud attended the games with him. Molly confirmed in her book that, yes, Damon played poker in her private games.
Before Molly’s Game, Damon was Mike McDermott in Rounders (1998). The film was one of Damon’s earliest successes in his career. It didn’t initially debut to rave reviews, but is regarded as an iconic gambling movie today.
After losing all of his tuition money to Russian mobster and underground poker host, Teddy KGB (John Malkovich), McDermott quits gambling. However, later in the film, McDermott gets back into poker to help out his friend to pay a debt, Lester Murphy (Edward Norton).
Upon learning that the debt is owed to Teddy, McDermott is determined to beat his old nemesis and the film’s antagonist. Are you looking to be the protagonist of your own poker story? Check out what Ignition Casino is offering new players above.
Uncut Gems
Uncut Gems (2019) is one of the most recent gambling films that received attention from critics and the public. Starring Adam Sandler and a cameo from Kevin Garnett, the film centers around a successful Jewish-American jeweler in Manhattan’s Diamond District.
Howard Ratner (Sandler) is successful in the jewelry business, but his life spirals out of control after his sports betting addiction takes a strong grip on his life. With creditors and loan sharks chasing after him for their money, his life begins to unravel around him.
All the while this is happening while Ratner’s family life is collapsing. With nothing to lose, Ratner makes one last big bet on the 76ers vs. Celtics game. The game was from the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Conference Semifinals, a game in which Garnett played.
Ratner sold Garnett a rare $165,000 black opal before the game. Believing it is a symbol of good luck, Ratner puts the money on a parlay to win $1.2 million. Despite winning the bet, he doesn’t see any of the money after being shot in the head shortly thereafter.
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