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Top 5 Bollywood Casino Movies

Bollywood casino movies

Bollywood has had an affinity towards casino themed movies for decades now. You may have watched some of these critically acclaimed films before and enjoyed them thoroughly. However, these are the top Bollywood casino movies that you need to watch if you prefer this genre.

The casino is a vibrant and exciting theme when it comes to Bollywood movies. You do not need to like “gambling” in any way or form to enjoy a gambling movie. The mere theatrics will steal your heart away and leave you speechless.

Growing up in England, raised by an Indian mother and an English father, Bollywood films, in general, and movies on gambling, in particular, helped me explore my roots. I learned fast to understand and love Bollywood, a relationship that I’ve chastised to this very day.

Enough about me, continue reading to learn more about the top 5 Bollywood casino movies from this era – hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I do!

Table of contents Table Of Content

Teen Patti (2010)

Teen Patti Casino movie
Teen Patti from 2010

Starring Ben Kingsley, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shraddha Kapoor, this movie is a blend of mathematics with the art of gambling. Amitabh Bachchan plays the role of a renowned mathematician, Venkat, in the movie and learns how to gamble to win the big jackpot. Imagine if this would be applicable on Online casinos in India!

Once Venkat gets invited by Perci, who is the greatest mathematician in the world to join him at a grand casino in London, both their lives change forever. Venkat tells Perci about his theory, that can change mathematics as we know it. Once back in India, he invites three of his students to a game of Teen Patti to prove his theory in practice.

Once again the theory seemed to work, so he decides to take on big gamblers in games of Teen Patti with real money. This is where the real journey begins. It’s never about the money for Venkat – but it becomes risky business once more people gets to know that his theory works and get bring them big, if not huge bucks.

This thriller is sure to get you hooked in the first few minutes itself!

Striker (2010)

Striker casino Bollywood movie
Striker from 2010

The Striker movie (from the same year as our number 1) is about a young boy, Surya who struggles through his life in the suburbs in India.

The movie showcases this very struggle and his efforts that make him a Carrom champion at the age of 12. The boy starts to explore the significant opportunities that his skills can bring him – though they are not entirely risk-free.

The talent puts him under Jalil’s radar, who happens to run a betting consortium. As the film continues, Surya is starting to lose control and ends up in lousy company thanks to his skills and hunger.

Gambler (1971)

Gambler Bollywood movie
Gambler from 1971

The story features a lazy policeman, inspector Dayashankar Pandey. Pandey was abounded by his mother at a young age and ended up being raised by a criminal Don.

He is known for his laid-back attitude and spinning up tall tales. His world ends up shaken when he is assigned a task where he uncovers an intricate drug smuggling and gambling racket.

This puts him in the spotlight of underworld gangsters who are ready to make his life difficult for uncovering their business.

He ends up quitting his job to become a gambler which leads him to great success and plenty of money – but to what price?

Jannat (2008)

Jannat casino movie
Jannat from 2008

Jannat, also called “Heaven” is a bit different from the rest of the best Bollywood casino movies listed as it is, in fact, a romantic drama. The movie revolves around a young and street smart gambler, Arjun Dixit, played by Emraan Hashmi.

He is proud of his gambling instincts and channels this talent into cricket booking. The boy who previously did anything to make a quick buck ended up making a fortune.

Once he delves into this business, he finds himself spiralling down and losing control of his life and his love interest, Zoya (played by Sonal Chauhan) uncontrollably.

Jannat ended up as an international success, especially among younger public and critics. A strong recommendation!

The Great Gambler (1979)

Great gambler Bollywood movie
Great gambler from 1979


The Great gambler is a movie about a professional gambler, Jai. He never loses a bet and has always been on a winning streak. These skills catch the eye of underworld Gangsters who wish to recruit him. A classic gambler story that many people out in the real world can recognise themselves in.

They want Jai to work for their plan, where they want to trick rich people of their money. Jai willingly agrees and finds himself in a sticky situation further down the plotline.

International Gambling Movies You Need to Watch!

India has seen a few of the most excellent casinos and gambling movies in the last few decades. These films are indeed eye-catching and will have you at the edge of your seat.

However, if you wish to dive deeper into this genre, then try these critically acclaimed international movies too! Actors such as Matt Damon, Joe Pesci, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Clive Owen have all been starring in fantastic casino movies. Martin Scorsese has been the director of several ones.

Gambling themed movies have always caught the crowd’s attention. It may be because of the thrill you feel watching someone risk it all on their luck. If you wish to contact that adrenaline rushing through your veins, then you need to watch a casino movie.

A title many people enjoyed is Rounders with Matt Damon as the poker player Mike McDermott and John Malkovich as the iconic Teddy KGB. The young law student played by Matt Damon is going to Atlantic City to win big on Texas Hold Em. The movie goes deep into the American dream and the casino lifestyle.

Here are a few great international movies that will help you expand your horizons and utterly entertain yourself. I’ve watched them all plenty of times, and it leaves me thrilled every time.

Before reading more about them we want to give you a few more worth mentioning to complete a top 10 list:

  • The Gambler
  • Le Chiffre
  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
  • The Hustler
  • The Hangover

Casino Royale

If you are one for James Bond movies, then Casino Royale is one of the best casino themed movies you can watch. The story revolves around James Bond and his successful attempt at taking down an evil figure through gambling at casinos.

The gambling techniques that go into this movie will have you re-watching it numerous times. There are two versions of this movie, and viewers highly appreciate both.

You can try either one out and appreciate the extraordinary direction, cinematography, and storyline with Casino Royale, one of the most classic films with James Bond.

Casino

“Casino” It is one of the most popular casino movies in the world. This movie is about the gambling that goes on between the mobs in Las Vegas. Starring Robert De Niro, Casino is one of the best gambling movies you can watch.

It is one of the first casino movies that showcased the real nitty-gritty of the mob works in Las Vegas. When one of the gang leaders in this movie starts depicting erratic and uncontrollable behaviour, both his and his partner’s lives are at stake.

Give this movie a try, and entertain yourself completely.

The Sting

The Sting is a rather contemporary gambling movie way ahead of its time. It features the ultimate duo of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. This is a gambling duo comprising of a professional who is training a beginner.

They take on a task where they try to con a rich man of his money. This movie will have you biting your nails in anticipation because of the number of twists and turns in the plotline.

The Sting will have you wanting more by the end of it!

21

My absolute favourite casino movie

21 is the gambling movie set in modern times and maybe my personal favourite. It revolves around a mathematics professor played by Kevin Spacey who trains his students in gambling and counting cards.

Watch these young card counters applying their strategies in this thrilling rendition of a modern casino movie.

The perfect combination of betrayal, treachery, and thrill will have you at the edge of your seat! Card counting in the gambling world is something that has been interesting for everyone who has ever sat at a poker table.

Summary

You can watch Bollywood casino movies and international ones from this genre to get entertained. Moreover, the gambling theme is timeless and never fails to transport you back to the golden era of gambling. Watch the titles mentioned above at your next movie night!

If you feel like taking a lite gamble yourself, get inspired by one of the movie inspired online casinos!

Last updated January 15th, 2021