Most Iconic Casino Movies Settings – Our Guide

Over the course of cinema history, filmmakers have continued to use casinos as a backdrop to tell an array of stories. Whether crime films, dramas, or comedies, the spectacle of gambling has been a reliable way to dazzle audiences. In this guide to the most iconic casino movies settings, we’ll revisit some of the most memorable gambling destinations.

To get this guide started, we’ve looked at why gambling and movies set in casinos continue to capture the imagination of filmgoers. We’ve then looked a the top casinos with iconic casino settings. You’ll likely find some of your favorite movies here, and you’ll notice that they span all types of genres. If you’d like to go one step further, explore our guide to legal online casinos and start playing today.

• Gambling in Movies
• Oceans Franchise
• Casino Royale
• Swingers
• The Sting
• Rounders
• Casino
• Rain Man
• The Hangover

Why We Love Casino Film Settings

Whether filmmakers are trying to show the underbelly of organized crime or capture the thrill of a debaucherous weekend, gambling and casinos have been frequent vehicles to tell all types of stories. There are many reasons for this. For example, modern casinos are almost cinematic in their grandness.

With flashing lights and beautiful designs, they translate beautifully to big-screen spectacles. The unpredictability of a dealt hand can cause a great deal of tension and up the stakes, keeping audiences at the edge of their seats, or providing twists that we’d never see coming. Many of our top casino movies employ these elements to great effect.

Top Casino-Themed Films

In our list of the most iconic casino film settings, we’ve included both real and fictional casinos. In many cases, popular casinos were used as shooting locations for films, while others have built fake gambling houses on sound stages.

The Ocean’s Eleven Franchise

• Released: 2001, 2004, 2007
• Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
• Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts

Beginning with Ocean’s Eleven in 2001, Steven Soderbergh’s trilogy of heist films saw an all-star cast pull off thrilling robberies in Las Vegas and Italy. While the first film was set in the Bellagio and the second unrelated to gambling, the third film, Ocean’s 13, returned to a fictional casino on the Vegas Strip.

In all three films, George Clooney led an ensemble of Hollywood A-listers, with Soderbergh’s direction utilizing flashy and swirling visuals that were clearly inspired by casino imagery. The iconic final shot of Ocean’s Eleven captured the beauty of the then-newly-built Bellagio’s fountain show and showcased everything from the grand casino floors to the luxurious hotel suites.

Casino Royale

• Released: 2006
• Directed by: Martin Campbell
• Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen

As the first film in the reboot of the James Bond franchise starring Daniel Craig, filmmakers brought the iconic Casino Royale to life in the most thrilling fashion. While the casino portion of the film was set in Montenegro, the exterior of the fictional casino was shot in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.

The casino sequence contains one of the most memorable poker games ever put to screen. With $115 million in the pot, Daniel Craig’s James Bond goes head to head against villain Le Chiffre, played chillingly by Mads Mikkelsen. Over the 30-minute sequence, director Martin Campbell captures the suspense of poker in a way that even non-players could enjoy.

Swingers

• Released: 1996
• Directed by: Doug Liman
• Starring: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughan, Heather Graham

Written and starring Jon Favreau in a role that would launch his illustrious career, Swingers tells the story of a group of 20-somethings in Los Angeles navigating the dating world and searching for a good time. Shot in LA and Las Vegas, one of the most memorable sequences in the film happens inside a casino.

The exterior of the casino was shot at the former Stardust Resort and Casino, with the interior shots filmed at the Fremont Hotel and Casino. The Las Vegas scenes in the film have an especially old-school feel, with many of the film’s elements clearly inspired by the Rat Pack.

The Sting

• Released: 1973
• Directed by: George Roy Hill
• Starring: Robert Redford, Paul Newman

The Sting is one of the most celebrated movies that contain casinos on this list, having won seven Oscars when it was released including Best Film. The film stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman as two con men who concoct a plan to scam a mob boss using a fake sports betting parlor scheme.

While it is not technically a casino, the setting of the film’s iconic final act contains a gambling-related sequence that will leave audiences surprised with a deft sleight-of-hand like that seen in Oceans Eleven. The film is both hilarious and dramatic and remains a must-see classic 50 years later.

Rounders

• Released: 1998
• Directed by: John Dahl
• Starring: Matt Damon, Edward Norton

Released in 1998, Rounders is single-handedly credited with reviving the poker craze in the late 90s and 2000s. Matt Damon and Edward Norton star in this film about two friends who find themselves drawn to high-stakes poker in an effort to pay off a huge debt. As they travel from game to game, we’re introduced to many casinos and card rooms.

Interestingly, all of the casinos in the film were actually shot on sound stages or other locations dressed to look like casinos. Nevertheless, the filmmakers managed to portray this world realistically, and the film has been lauded for its attention to detail. This is the quintessential road movie for gamblers.

Casino

• Released: 1995
• Directed by: Martin Scorsese
• Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci

Casino is undoubtedly one of Martin Scorsese’s best films, and also one of the best films in casinos. The film, which was inspired by a true story, tells the story of the Stardust Hotel and Casino — renamed here as the Tangiers — and the criminal group that ran it in the 1970s.

Robert De Niro plays mobster Ace Rothstein and is supported by the excellent Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. Like Oceans Eleven, Casino’s flashy visuals beautifully translate the glamor of gambling in Las Vegas. Shot at the Riviera Casino, other iconic settings to feature in the film include the Bally’s Las Vegas and the Landmark Hotel.

Rain Man

• Released: 1988
• Directed by: Barry Levinson
• Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise

Although the casino scene in Rain Man makes up only a small portion of the film, it is undoubtedly its most memorable sequence. The film was one of the first to shoot in a real-life Vegas casino, with the climactic scene in question shot and located in the Caesars Palace.

The film captures the glitz of 1980s Vegas Strip casinos beautifully. In the scene, Dustin Hoffman’s Raymond, who is considered to be an autistic savant, is recruited by his brother, Tom Cruise’s Charlie, to count cards in blackjack. Although the pair are caught, Raymond is successful, and the moment proves pivotal to the reconciliation of the brothers.

The Hangover

• Released: 2009
• Directed by: Todd Phillips
• Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis

One of the best Las Vegas movies of all time, The Hangover tells the story of a bachelor party gone awry, when a band of groomsmen loses the groom after a forgotten night. As the group tries to retrace their steps, they travel across town and visit some of the city’s most iconic attractions.

One of the top films in casinos, this features shots of the Bellagio and the Paris Las Vegas, with the men staying at the Caesar’s Palace Hotel. In a moment inspired by Rain Man, the cast heads to the Riviera Hotel and Casino in an effort to count cards and win big. The Strip is featured prominently, as is the Vegas skyline.

Other Great Casino Movies

If you’ve completed our list of the most iconic casino film settings, then we’ve got a few more films that center around gambling or casinos to check out. As with our above recommendation, these films span genres, contain both US and British films and were released at varying times. Our top alternative casino and gambling movies are:

• Uncut Gems
• Croupier
• 21
• The Hustler
• The Card Counter
• 21
• The Gambler
• California Split
• Hard Eight