Gambling is one of the favourite activities for many to relax, socialise, and book free time. This 1000-year old tradition deserves its place in cinema, because such films are distinguished by incredible brilliance and original plots. And there are so many that it’s hard to pick the best one.
American and European casino films are fundamentally different from each other. Hollywood presents casinos as the scene of the plot, while the EU movie industry has gambling as an integral part of the overall environment and the theme of gambling from all sides. In this article, we will not only describe the best European gambling-themed movies but also talk about their features and why they are so eye-catching.
Setting the Stage: European Cinematic Charm
Casino movies have an indescribable vibe that even the best Live Games online sites don’t convey. The pace of the narrative in European films is quite measured and similar to the game around which the main plot takes place, be it poker or blackjack. Just these two games are most often present in casino movies.
Directors like to use authentic casino establishments and very rarely use additional scenery, as this spoils the overall atmosphere. For example, the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco was the site of an intense baccarat duel between James Bond and a dangerous beauty. The refinement was even in minor details, which was relatively easy because this is Monaco’s most famous casino.
In casino films, European based online casinos are presented as a challenging, responsible and intense games, where it is not enough just to count cards, as in American movies like Hangover or Ocean’s film series. Many viewers learn about the casino rules straight from the movies, which indicates a high level of storytelling and a rich narrative.
Unforgettable Stories: Plot Summaries and Synopsis
From the entire assortment of casino movies, you can easily find movies of different genres with well-known or not-so-famous actors/actresses. However, there are several standards of this genre that everyone knows. We are discussing “Casino Royale” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”.
Casino Royale
While Bond does not visit gambling houses in every film, they are often associated with this secret agent and the phrase “Shaken, not stirred” about the martini. Of course, the top title is considered to be “Casino Royale”, with an 8/10 IMDb rating, and it is easy to guess that it contains the most scenes in the casino. Texas Hold ’em (the most popular version of poker) is not just a game but a battlefield involving good and evil. Director Martin Campbell perfectly conveyed the casino atmosphere and the game’s tension, where even the most inexperienced gamblers can feel the same emotions as the main character.
An interesting fact about this film is that it is the only movie with real players and professional gamblers in the card game. However, in keeping with the style of James Bond, although he suffers heavy losses, he remains the winner in the end.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Probably not a single list of films can do without the masterpieces of Guy Ritchie. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a film that brings together dashing English banter, confusingly intertwined stories, completely frostbitten characters and, of course, the rustle of banknotes and the ringing of chips in casino games. The crime casino movie about four risky guys gave the world 2 hours of a great time, Jason Statham and one of the most intriguing endings. Such a movie can rightfully be considered the standard of the 1990s and a kind of European “Pulp Fiction”.
The main essence and the whole highlight is not in the troubles the main characters meet on their way; the real “trick” is equanimity. Lost a lot of money in the casino? The main characters look at this as an opportunity to win back. But remember that this is a movie, and in real casino games, it is better not to act like Vincent and Jules, trust us.
These two films, different in atmosphere and plot, are united by the atmosphere of a casino and the fact that card games can decide many things. At Casino Royale, gambling is an elegant and elite pastime. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a movie about high risks, luck and impulsive decisions. Doesn’t it remind you of anything? This is what can be found in modern casinos, even online. So for many, such films can be an argument for a quiet game so as not to become addicted.
Masterful Direction: Celebrating European Filmmakers
To avoid running far from Guy Stuart Ritchie, let’s single him out right away as one of the best directors of crime and gambling-themed movies. Leaving aside Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels mentioned above, the director’s portfolio contains several other great films about casinos and gambling. Guy Ritchie’s skill is that he can create a unique and intricate plot around simple and familiar actions, whether it’s a robbery or a simple game of poker, like in the movie Revolver.
For example, to show all the greatness and wealth of the casino, the camera shows all the participants in the duel that even the croupier (or another bandit without a name), who is just an extra, is an important element of the plot.
How about a Karel Reisch classic? This British director is not included in the list of top filmmakers, but one of his works is very deep – The Gambler (1974), which is the story of a casino-addicted character. Although the story is not new, the protagonist’s emotions are what Karel Reisch emphasises, and due to this, it narrates as if the real story and the casino games become not the most important at some point.
Cinematic Impact: Influence and Reception
As mentioned earlier, European gambling themed movies are fundamentally different from American or any other. First of all, this is due to the location of the films – if Las Vegas is familiar to many and everyone already knows about it, then gambling establishments in Europe remain something new and unique. The Casino in Monte Carlo or the Casino at the Empire Hotel is a popular location for filming European casino films, looking at which the viewer is surprised at how different they are from others.
Gambling in films can be interpreted differently: in some, the director uses poker as just a favourite pastime of the main characters, somewhere it is an intellectual game like Chess (as it was in the movie Revolver), or casino games as a risky activity. In any case, the main task of directors, screenwriters and actors is to convey the film’s main idea, guard against possible consequences or reveal some kind of philosophy that no one knew about before.
Beyond the Reels: Exploring Real-Life Connections
Most of the European gambling themed movies as well as books are real representations of how casino games and casino atmospheres work. Fortunately, the rules of casino games and the general principles of the game do not change in any way, and many directors often consult professional gamblers to convey the tension and game situations in the film perfectly.
As a result, many viewers, even those who have never played in a casino, are inspired by this and, after watching, go on a trip to the European casinos. Even in various online casinos, viewers are interested in land-based establishments, which is the merit of film directors.
Previously, people from all over the world came to Las Vegas to feel the atmosphere and be the heroes of the movie casino. Now European casinos have earned this right because they have become more trendy and not mainstream.
Conclusion
The films and directors presented in the article ain’t, of course, the entire list. By searching on your own, you can find even more captivating movies and immerse yourself in the unique cinematic world of European gambling stories. But still, we recommend starting with Bond, James Bond.
If movies inspire you to play, do not rush to book tickets to Monaco or London. Although they offer popular casino games like blackjack or poker, you can try your hand online. After that, feel free to choose any movie, and after watching, visit the place where the gambling took place.
Casino Royale (2006) 
