So, you just placed your last bet for the night and you are sitting in the bed or on the couch with nothing to waiting for the next day’s game. You have probably flipped through the TV aimlessly for 15 minutes or so. Well, what if you could live vicariously through some of the best actors and actresses until you get your next fix? Well, with services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, you can do just that. Below, you will learn about some of the best gambling films that are available right now for streaming on either Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Mississippi Grind
When it comes to casting the directors and producers really nailed it in Mississippi Grind. There is no denying that Ben Mendelsohn knocks it out of the park in this film. What’s so good about this movie is that Ben plays a guy that everyone know or heck, you might even be him if you are a down on your luck gambler. Ben is just like every other down on his luck gambler who thinks his next big break is just right around the corner. Well, it just so happens that his big break is right around the corner and it comes in the form of the charismatic Ryan Reynolds who does a pretty good job of nailing his role as well. The duo teams up and gambles their entire way down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. With this film, you get the best of both a road film and a gambling film.
The Best Of It
The Best Of It isn’t just your buddy gambling movie or your comedy gambling film. No, this film is a documentary that really takes a hard look at the life of the professional gambler. It explores the joy of winning a close bet, the agony of chasing a losing streak, and it does an excellent job of capturing the overall ups and downs of the professional gambler. This film really is based around several well-known gamblers like Alan Boston, Dink, The Shrink, and Lem Banker. The eccentric personalities of these professional gamblers really are the thing that makes this film stand out. Throughout the entirety of the film, there are a number of topics covered. The cast and crew cover everything from what makes a wise guy to money management, the overall grind of gambling, and the darker side of being a professional gambler. There is a lot of personal stuff included as well about the gamblers home life, which makes for some intriguing TV time.
Casino
This is an oldie but an immediate classic. Even if you’ve already seen it, it is at least worth checking out again while you are waiting on agen poker. This movie was first released on the market way back in 1995, but it is still a popular one today. With Robert De Niro as Ace Rothstein, you simply cannot go wrong. De Niro plays Rothstein who is an expert handicapper with the Chicago mob that was sent to Vegas to manage the Tangiers. The movie is actually set around the ‘70s and based on a true story. Rothstein working closely with his enforcer, Joe Pesci, navigate the murky inner workings of casino life. With all the skimming off the top and avoid FBI agents, you will be right on the edge of your seat right up until the very end. The best part about this film is that it gives viewers a real and intimate look at what Vegas casinos were like in their heyday. This was a much simpler time before the major corporations took over and turned them into the Disneyworld resorts that they are today.
21
This is another film that is based on a true story, which makes it all that much better. The main character, Ben Campbell, is a Harvard Medical Student that can’t afford to pay his tuition. However, he possesses some uncanny mathematical skills and he is eventually recruited by one of his professors to partake in the ever elusive skill of card counting. Along with a handful of other MIT students Ben spends his time flying back and forth to Vegas between semesters taking the casinos for everything they are worth. Right up until they get caught that is.