Card-counting, outrageous heists, and poker with the highest stakes imaginable – these are just a few of the exciting elements that feature in this countdown of memorable movie moments. At Betway, our online casino offers over 400 games, with casinos and gambling always having enjoyed a special place in Hollywood history.
Here, we relive some of the greatest high-stakes action scenes to ever grace the silver screen.
10. "Perhaps you'd be more comfortable at one of our lower-stakes tables."
Film: Swingers (1996)
Who: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn
The mix of old Vegas and new is shown in stark contrast as wannabe actors Trent (Vaughn) and Mike (Favreau) don their best suits and head out to Sin City, looking for some Rat Pack-style action. What they find is a bunch of old age pensioners and a free drink. If only they had realised it was a six-hour car journey from LA.
Bigging it up as high rollers, they sit down at the wrong blackjack table and swiftly lose their $300 bankroll in one hand.
9. "Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhh!"
Film: Run Lola Run (1998)
Who: Franka Potente
After a money delivery goes south, Lola (Potente) has 20 minutes to find 100,000 Deutschmarks for local hoods or her boyfriend checks out – permanently. Spending most of her time in a mad dash, Lola finds time to stop at a Berlin casino to try her luck at spinning up a meagre 100-mark bankroll.
The champagne glass-shattering screech coming from Lola's mouth as the roulette wheel comes to a stop is a lovely touch.
8. "Rain Man, let's play some cards."
Film: Rain Man (1988)
Who: Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman
Hoffman won an Oscar for Rain Man, which was also named Best Picture in 1988, as an autistic savant taken on a road trip by his brother, Charlie (Cruise).
Charlie is in desperate need of a bailout for his failing car dealership, so the pair drop in to a Nevada casino to play a little blackjack.
The scene was beautifully referenced in The Hangover, with Zach Galifianakis using his "inspirational" card-counting skills to win big at the tables.
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4. "Bond. James Bond."
Film: Dr No (1962)
Who: Sean Connery
It's fitting that the first movie introduction to Ian Fleming's 007 is at a casino table.
As was the case in most Bond novels, 007 is playing – and crushing – baccarat.
3. "Let's go make a killing."
Film: 21 (2008)
Who: Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Jim Sturgess
21 is based on Ben Mezrich's excellent book, Bringing Down The House.
It focuses on a real-life group of MIT students who became the most effective blackjack card-counting team in the world.
While the casino's retaliation tactics are rather romanticised in the film version, it still makes for some tense scenes as the students try to get away with their millions.
2. "Let's go make a killing."
Film: Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Who: Matt Damon, George Clooney
What is arguably Hollywood's best casino scene doesn't actually take place on the casino floor.
A star-studded remake of the 1960s Rat Pack vehicle, Steven Soderbergh's slick thriller stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney as two hustlers planning to relieve three Vegas casinos from $160m of their own cash.
As the heroes are about to blow the vault that links the MGM Grand, Bellagio, and The Mirage, the tension is lightened by Clooney forgetting to change the batteries on his detonator.
1. "You can lose $80m secretly, or you can lose $160m publicly. It's your decision."
Film: Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Who: Matt Damon, George Clooney
What is arguably Hollywood's best casino scene doesn't actually take place on the casino floor.
A star-studded remake of the 1960s Rat Pack vehicle, Steven Soderbergh's slick thriller stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney as two hustlers planning to relieve three Vegas casinos from $160m of their own cash.
As the heroes are about to blow the vault that links the MGM Grand, Bellagio, and The Mirage, the tension is lightened by Clooney forgetting to change the batteries on his detonator.