Top 20 casino scenes in movies - James Bond film Casino Royale takes top spot

28 August 2023 , 12:42

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Daniel Craig's debut James Bond film, Casino Royale, has been named as having the best on-screen casino scene, according to research.

The tense scene from the 2006 spy film shows Bond taking on terrorist Le Chiffre (portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen), in a high-stakes tournament of Texas Hold'em.

Meanwhile, other gripping gambling scenes from the silver screen include Paul Newman and Robert Shaw going head-to-head in Five Card Draw in 1973 heist movie, The Sting.

And Zach Galifianakis counting cards in Vegas, in 2009 comedy The Hangover, took third place – coming out ahead of the scene which inspired it, from 1988 film Rain Man, in which Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise do the same thing.

The top 20 casino film scenes were named as a poll of 2,000 Brits found that almost two-thirds (64%) wish they could shuffle cards like they do in movies – as just 4% would describe their shuffling skills as “very good”.

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But now, magician Henri White has starred in a video for Lottoland.co.uk – which commissioned the research – to teach aspiring gamblers how to be as impressive as the action they see on the big screen.

The expert shuffler demonstrates how to look like a professional when dealing before a game of blackjack or poker – or even just showing off to your friends.

James Bond film, Casino Royale (2006), has been named as having the best casino scene from the movies (Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images)

He guides you through pub-style beginners’ shuffles, all the way up to casino shuffles and magician’s tricks. The techniques look hard to master, but the key is in the slight pull of the cards, a flicking motion – and even a click of the fingers.

Henri, who has partnered with Lottoland.co.uk to create the video, said: “Magicians shuffle cards with flair and panache. It’s not all about the effectiveness of a shuffle, but the way it looks to an audience.”

And a spokesman for Lottoland.co.uk, which commissioned the research to mark its casino products, said: “There are so many iconic movie moments, but nothing beats a tense poker scene where someone could walk away with millions or nothing.

“Whether it’s Poker, Blackjack, or Roulette, casino games can be so entertaining – although it looks like a lot of people would rather watch the expert shuffling over the gambling.”

The study of 2,000 adults also found 37% of those who watch movies believe Poker scenes make a film more enjoyable – and they have inspired 26% to play the game themselves.

Poker, Roulette, and Blackjack were found to be the top casino games to watch in a film, accompanied by an unexpected twist, high stakes, and a comeback.

The research also saw Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas, voted the most popular casino to visit around the world – closely followed by its neighbouring hotel, the Bellagio, as well as Monaco’s Monte Carlo.

It also emerged half of those polled admire the skill of professional poker players, according to the survey, carried out via OnePoll. And 35% believe they have a good poker face – although only 21% consider themselves good at the game.

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Not understanding the rules, not being good at reading people, and an inability to hide emotions, are key reasons Brits can’t play the card game well.

The Lottoland spokesman added: “Poker is a tricky game, so it’s not hard to see so few people consider themselves good – it’s all about the bluff.

“But for those who want to hone their skills and get in on the action, our casino has everything you’ve seen in the movies, from Poker and Blackjack to slots and Roulette – who needs Vegas?”

TOP 20 CASINO SCENES IN MOVIES:

Casino Royale (2006) – James Bond (Daniel Craig) takes on terrorist, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), in a high-stakes Texas Hold’em tournament.
The Sting (1973) – The high-stakes Five Card Draw scene in a train, where Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) plays against Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), a mobster.
The Hangover (2009) – Alan (Zach Galifianakis) counting cards at a Blackjack table in Las Vegas to make ransom money.
Rain Man (1988) – Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) takes his brother, Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman), to a casino and they play Blackjack.
Ocean's Eleven (2001) – Rusty (Brad Pitt) teaching celebs to play Poker in the back room of an LA casino.
Cool Hand Luke (1967) – Luke (Paul Newman) plays Poker with his fellow inmates, and wins the game by showing his great bluffing skills.
Goodfellas (1990) – During a game of poker, Spider (Michael Imperioli) forgets to get Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) his drink, and Tommy overreacts.
Maverick (1994) – Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson) plays in a high-stakes Poker tournament and reaches the final table against Angel (Alfred Molina) and Commodore Duvall (James Coburn).
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – In this intense Poker scene, Eddy (Nick Moran) and Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty) go back and forth, raising the bets higher and higher each time.
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) – Young stud Poker player, “The Kid” Eric Stoner (Steve McQueen), challenges the best card player in the country, “The Man” Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) to a high-stakes Five Card Stud Poker game – but there’s an unexpected twist at the end of the movie which proves anything can happen in Poker.
Rounders (1998) – The climax of this movie features a no-limit Texas Hold’em heads-up game played between Mike (Matt Damon) and Teddy (John Malkovich).
A Big Hand For The Little Lady (1966) – Mary, played by Joanne Woodward, replaces her husband (Henry Fonda) when he collapses mid-game.
Casino (1995) – Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) asks “Cowboy” (Craig Vincent) to take his feet off the Poker table and put his shoes back on, but he doesn’t comply.
Casino (1995) – When playing Blackjack, drunken Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) wants a $50,000 marker, but they will only give him $10,000.
Molly's Game (2017) – Molly Bloom causes Harlan Eustice to fold to a far inferior player.
Tombstone (1993) – Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) gets “a peach of a hand”.
21 (2008) – The counting cards casino scene.
Honeymoon In Vegas (1992) – Jack Singer (Nicholas Cage) plays a five-card draw game a few hours before he plans on marrying his fiancée, Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker).
House Of Games (1987) – With the help of his psychiatrist, Dr Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse), Mike (Joe Mantegna) plays Poker against his rival, George (Ricky Jay).
Lucky You (2007) – L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall) asks his son, Huck Cheever (Eric Bana), to show him how he would have played a Poker hand.