Throughout movie and TV history, casinos have always had a special place in popular culture. The mysterious and extravagant settings of casinos have captured the imagination of audiences seeking the excitement, risks, and rewards from the casino world. The settings of casinos have always offered a perfect backdrop for storytelling, with the bright lights, the ring from the slot machines, and tense atmosphere from the high-stakes games.
The settings of the casino have often led to fascinating storytelling full of drama, suspense, and interesting characters on the screen. For both filmmakers and television producers, this world has offered countless sources of inspiration, leading to a vast plethora of movies and TV shows. But casinos are also taking on the screen in other ways: Online casinos offer people the chance to feel excitement, take the risks, and potentially gain the rewards of an actual casino, but through the screen.
Casino through a screen
What online casinos can bring people is an experience from a real-life casino, but through a screen instead of the in-person experience. This includes the sounds from the slot machines, the bustling feeling around the poker table, and the thrill of excitement from the roulette. The only difference: It is all online and virtual.
The casino and sports betting operator Betsson offers all of this, while keeping the live experience of a casino alive: With livecasino, it is possible to play casino against other players around the world live and in real-time. This is taking the casino through a screen experience to a new level, since it allows for the thrill of having live reactions and tensions through the screen.
Casino on the big screen
Just as casino can be experienced by anyone on the screen through online casino, so can the atmosphere and the thrilling world of casinos be experienced through the big screen. Some of the most iconic movies throughout history took place in a casino or portrayed the glitz and glamour of casino life. Most of these movies manage to both picture the exciting and glamorous side of casinos, as well as the darker and more complex aspects of gambling, and how it can influence people's lives.
Casino from 1995
The movie Casino from 1995 is known by many as the quintessential casino movie. The movie is directed by Martin Scorsese and has stars such as Rober De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci in it. Based on a true story, the movie depicts the rise and fall of the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 80s. De Niro's character is Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, who is a gambling expert placed in charge of the Tangiers casino by the mafia.
Throughout the movie, the viewer gets an insight into the inner workings of the casino industry, the interplay between power and greed, and the personal relationship of the character Ace and his wife played by Stone. The movie has received praise for its detailed depiction of casino operations and the look into corruption and violence that accompanies the gambling world.
Ocean's Eleven from 2001
The movie franchise Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen took the world by storm with its brilliant plots and star lineup. With stars such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, the movies have performances by the best in the industry. Ocean’s Eleven is the first movie in the franchise and follows a group of skilled criminals who plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos at the same time.
With clever plot twists, charismatic performances, and extravagant settings, all the movies of the franchise are good entertainment with an entertaining depiction of casino life. A new addition to the franchise was Oceans Eight, which follows an all-female group of criminals trying to pull off the heist of the century.
Casino Royale from 2006
The James Bond franchise has always had a close association with casinos, but the most iconic one of its types is Casino Royale. Not only does the movie focus solely on poker at a casino, bringing the tension and strategy of playing poker into the movie seats, but it is also the debut of Daniel Craig as 007. The movie depicts Craig taking on a terrorist financier in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro.
The movie is first and foremost a Bond movie, meaning the movie depicts the gritty realism, intense action sequences, and the charm of Bond and his babes. However, the movie also introduces the thrilling poker game, which serves as the movie's centerpiece. Both the tension and strategy from poker can be felt from the movie seats, making it a memorable cinematic experience.
Casino on the small screen
Casino dos not only become alive on the big screen. The small screen can also offer great insights into the world of gambling and casinos with riveting TV shows. What television can offer, which the big screen sometimes lacks, is the incorporation of the casino setting, the extended narratives, and the in-depth character development, which allows the viewer to delve deeper into the casino world.
Las Vegas from 2003-2008
One of the most well-known TV series which centers around a casino is Las Vegas starring James Caan and Josh Duhamel. The TV show takes place in the fictional Montecito Resort and Casino, where the viewer follows the staff and their day-to-day experiences working at a casino. The series both combines drama, romance, and comedy by taking place in a high-stake environment in the bustling Las Vegas casino stage.
Each episode of the show introduces new challenges and intrigues to the viewer. With storylines covering everything from security breaches to high-roller antics, the TV shows manage to capture the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of casino operations from the perspective of the workers at the casino.
Boardwalk Empire from 2010-2014
Even though this show is not exclusively about casinos, the TV show Boardwalk Empire does focus on gambling. The TV show portrays the early days of gambling in Atlantic City during the Prohibition era, in which the lavish casinos of the 1920s provide the backdrop for the show.
The star of the show is Steve Buscemi, portraying Nucky Thompson, a political figure who controls the city. The TV show explores the intertwining of politics, crime, and gambling, with the beauty of the 1920s casinos as the setting. It is especially an interesting show for people interested in history, as it showcases the historical roots of modern casino culture.
Concluding remarks
Experiencing casinos through the screen can look very different: From online casinos and live casino opportunities, to experiencing casinos through the big or small screen.
