A night at the casino has become synonymous with glitz, glamour and the utmost in sophistication, with films over the years making use of bricks-and mortar establishments to form the backdrop for some of their most dramatic and extravagant scenes. From James Bond movie Casino Royale to more modern flicks like Ocean’s Eleven, the role of the casino is all about setting the scene for indulgence and excess.
But while once, such establishments were playgrounds only for the rich and famous, and a place to rub shoulders with the stars, popular comedy movies such as The Hangover have shown a different side to them. While the most renowned and iconic casinos continue to attract high-rollers from around the world, they are now much more inclusive than they once were, with black tie dress codes largely relegated to the history books and a much more relaxed feel.
Nonetheless, the casino market remains one of the most lucrative in the world, with its value exceeding $227 billion by mid 2020. Since then, despite ongoing lockdowns around the world, it has continued to grow – but these days, a lot of gambling is done through online casinos, accessible through portals like online-casinos.com. With ongoing lockdowns forcing bricks-and-mortar establishments to close their doors, many providers have been forced to adapt quickly in a bid to retain their most valuable clients, with digital offerings making use of the latest technological innovations and ramping up their VIP initiatives to keep them engaged – and with unrivalled levels of convenience and accessibility, it is likely that this more modern way of playing is here to stay.
It has to be said that there is nothing quite like a night at a real life casino though, and as they finally begin to open their doors for business once again, we might not have much longer to wait. But while some of our favourite films love to glamourise the world of gambling and casinos, not every representation we are shown of them is accurate in today’s world. Security, helped by the latest technological innovations, is becoming increasingly tight in a bid to eliminate scams and heists – but incorporating this into films would likely take away some of the fun, so it’s something that we often conveniently see glossed over.
Here, we take a look at some of the most popular casino-themes films from the past few decades – and just how their representations measure up to the way we play today.
21 (2008)
It’s safe to say that the majority of casino-themed films involve some sort of heist, and 21 is no different. Following a group of university students who find a way to cheat the system in a bid to become millionaires, this Vegas movie is just as exciting as you’d expect – and as it’s based on a real life story, it bears many parallels with the truth about the casino experience.
Nonetheless, there are some inconsistencies, as the film largely overlooks some of the security measures in place today to prevent fraudulent activity. With such large amounts of money at stake, it is not something establishments take lightly, and in this day and age, the players would likely have been rumbled and removed by security staff.
Casino Royale
Set entirely in the kind of lavish casino we know and love, Casino Royale remains one of the most iconic films of its kind – and not just because it features James Bond. One of the most notable scenes are the poker games between 007 and Le Chiffre, who go head-to-head in a bid to claim an eye-watering $14 million jackpot, which are set at one of the private tables usually reserved for such high-rollers.
At one point in the game, both Bond and Le Chiffre – as well as two additional players – are revealed to be holding winning hands, but suffice it to say that the probability of this happening in real life are extremely slim.
The Hangover (2009)
One of the most iconic casino films of recent years, The Hangover depicts the raucous side to Vegas’ casino scene that many films choose to gloss over, and paints a more realistic picture of the experience today. To some degree, that is – as anyone who has seen the film will be aware of just how over-the-top it is at points!
Another film that depicts card counting as a means of cheating the system, this is something that would be unlikely to go unnoticed today, with rigid security measures in place to prevent such things happening. In reality, players would be removed from the casino floor before such a strategy could progress – but it certainly makes for a fun storyline that shapes this hilarious comedy film.
The bottom line
Casino scenes are one of the cornerstones of Hollywood films, with ritzy establishments in Las Vegas in particular providing the perfect backdrop against which to have a dramatic story unfold. While everything we see might not be entirely realistic, this is very much the nature of films in general, with many things embellished for our entertainment – something that most of us are perfectly OK with.
A simple, if a little obvious way to inject a little luxury, extravagance and excess into any storyline, we can expect to continue seeing casinos feature in our favourite films for years to come – because while online gambling has certainly taken off, it doesn’t have quite the same visual appeal when it comes to the big screen.
Even so, it could only be a matter of time before we start to see some of our favourite characters entering the modern world. Could the next casino movie see them logging onto a digital platform to play poker with a live dealer from home – or masterminding an elaborate heist from the comfort of their sofa? Watch this space.
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