6 Best Gambling Den and Underground Casino Movies

By Vlad Zakh · April 6, 2026

Drama intensethought provoking

The smoky backroom of an illegal gambling den has powered some of cinema’s most tense studies of risk, obsession and self-destruction. Molly’s Game builds a high-stakes underground poker empire, Rounders drags a reformed gambler back for a friend, Owning Mahowny embezzles millions for a bank manager’s secret habit, and The Gambler sinks a professor deeper into debt. California Split and The Cincinnati Kid round out the list.

Molly's Game (2017) 01

Molly's Game (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 82% Metacritic 71

A former Olympic skier runs the world's most exclusive underground poker game.

Directed by Aaron Sorkin · 2h 21m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar8 wins & 51 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Owning Mahowny (2003) 02

Owning Mahowny (2003)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A mild-mannered bank employee embezzles millions to fuel an insatiable, secret gambling addiction.

Directed by Richard Kwietniowski · 1h 44m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Rounders (1998) 03

Rounders (1998)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A reformed gambler returns to underground poker to help pay off his friend's dangerous debt to loan sharks.

Directed by John Dahl · 2h 01m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Gambler (1974) 04

The Gambler (1974)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A literature professor's crushing gambling debts push him toward increasingly self-destructive risks.

Directed by Karel Reisz · 1h 52m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
California Split (1974) 05

California Split (1974)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Two compulsive gamblers form a reckless friendship as their winning streaks and losses spiral out of control.

Directed by Robert Altman · 1h 48m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) 06

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

TMDB ★ 7.3

An ambitious young poker player challenges the reigning champion in a legendary high-stakes match.

Directed by Norman Jewison · 1h 42m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

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Vlad Zakh

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.