Casino-themed movies are thrilling any day. The same can be said about its lead characters. From showing up with so much charisma to taking insane risks and moves, casino movie characters usually make things happen. And having seen enough, we’ve witnessed a couple of casino film stars who played their roles to perfection.
Going forward, we will highlight some of these characters while capturing how much of a good role they’ve played in casino-themed films.
How Do We Judge?
Usually, with ratings like these, there are many questions about how unbiased and authentic we are. However, our basis for ranking the best 5 casino movie characters is pretty simple. An excellent casino character must have successfully captured the thrill and excitement of casino gambling and the risk, rewards, and aftermath of winning and losing.
In essence, the best casino characters may not have necessarily featured in the highest-grossing films but were able to create a complete experience. That being said, let’s get right into the best of the best.
Robert De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, Casino
How convenient that our number one character was played by one of the most intense actors ever, Robert De Niro. In the 1995 cinema classic, De Niro delivers one of the best casino acting in a movie named “Casino,” coincidentally. The film, produced by Barbara De Fina, is still considered one of the best casino gambling storylines to grace the cinemas.
Here, De Niro plays Sam “Ace,” a real-life figure from the Las Vegas gambling scene. However, Sam doesn’t stop at the tables like the average casino character; he goes on to take over running a massive Las Vegas casino in the 1960s. Sam subsequently turned the casino into a huge success, during which he demonstrated incredible management skills and risk-taking.
The 1995 movie is only in touch with the retro Las Vegas casino theme and needs to capture popular modern themes like Canadian casinos. This especially goes for the absence of online casino scenes or bonus features like no deposit bonuses in Canada.
Daniel Craig as James Bond, Casino Royale
Bond needs no introduction. However, his casino character in “Casino Royale” needs some highlighting. The movie, which combined reckless action with state-of-the-art casino gambling, saw Bond manifest some of his signature fearless and properly calculated persona, even at the tables.
Bond comes up against heavy adversaries both on and off the casino tables, during which he demonstrates his full spy persona. Before the casino face-offs, Bond goes the extra mile to learn the style and rules of Baccarat, Poker, and other prominent casino games he’d expected to encounter. And what makes Bond’s character one of the best in casino movies is his uncanny ability to figure out his opponents fast.
Ultimately, Daniel Craig as James Bond produces a unique casino character packed with his trademark fierce action performance, making complex bets and beating even the best. This earns Bond a solid spot on our best 5 casino characters.
Edward Norton and Matt Damon as Mike and Lester, The Rounders
The Rounders’ 1998 film produced two of the most realistic casino characters in gambling movies. And since the duo portrayed their parts so well, we can only speak of one with the other.
Here, Matt Damon plays Mike McDermot, a law student initially bent on winning the World Series Of Poker organized by Russian Mobster Teddy KGB. However, Mike loses his $30,000 bankroll due to overconfidence. A situation that captures the downsides of high-rolling in casino gambling.
Mike then resigns to his fate and vows to quit gambling with the support of his girlfriend until his childhood friend, Lester “Worm,” gets released from prison. Worm is played by Edward Norton, a misfit who cheats and scams at the gambling tables. Apparently, Worm gets Mike involved in gambling again as he looks to pay off his debt to another KGB agent.
Together, Matt Damon and Edward Norton can portray the life of high rollers at poker houses. The duo embodied insane risks, regret, huge debts, addiction, and adrenaline. As such, the performance puts them on our list of top five casino movie characters.
Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell, 21
21 is one of the best casino movies ever made. This is more so because it is loosely based on a real story adapted from Ben Mezrich’s book, “Bringing Down The House.” This makes its major character, Ben Campbell, one of the best casino movie characters.
Jim Sturgess plays Ben, a mathematics major who gets into Harvard’s medical school but needs help to afford the high tuition fees. However, in his current institution, MIT, Ben always impresses his teacher, Professor Micky Rosa. After weighing Ben’s intelligence and test scores, Rosa invites Ben to join the MIT Blackjack team of fellow students.
The team specializes in card counting and using covert signals to call bets, and Ben immediately becomes a big part of it. Together, with Ben as a major player, the team competes and wins at major tournaments, with Ben being the most controversial part. Also, Ben’s character is particularly special because he embodies some high-end and intelligent gambling skills, some of which include the following:
- Rapid card counting;
- Calm and collected demeanour;
- Subtle signalling;
- Anticipation prowess, etc.
George Clooney as Danny Ocean, Ocean’s Eleven
Clooney sums up our list with his criminal persona in the 2001 movie Ocean’s Eleven. George’s casino character contradicts widespread expectations, as he is more inclined to rob the casinos rather than win money. Clooney, who had just been released from prison, immediately gets to plotting a casino heist with hell from his criminal cohorts.
However, what made Clooney’s character so epic was his ability to select the perfect criminal gang to complement each other. This included casino dealers, magicians, and even pickpockets. The gang, led by Clooney, forges ahead with their plan of robbing three of the biggest casinos in the city, including the prominent MGM Grand.
Conclusion
The world of casino movies has been enriched by captivating characters whose charisma, cunning, and complexity have left an indelible mark on cinema. From the suave and strategic Danny Ocean in “Ocean’s Eleven” to the volatile and unpredictable Ace Rothstein in “Casino,” each character brings a unique flavour to the genre. Whether navigating high-stakes heists or the tumultuous world of organized crime, these characters have become iconic symbols of the allure and danger associated with the casino lifestyle.
As viewers, we are drawn into their stories, mesmerized by the glitz and glamour, as well as the darker undercurrents that define the high-stakes world of gambling. Ultimately, the top 5 casino movie characters serve as compelling reminders of the thin line between fortune and peril in the realm of casinos, making them timeless figures in the cinematic landscape.
