There is no shortage of films dealing with poker and other gambling: action, thriller, dramas and even comedies. Such passion for gambling can lead to places such as the National Casino Deutschland.

Below is Mariano Garcia’s list of six dirty movies about gambling you’ve probably never heard of. The movies are listed in chronological order!

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1. The Cincinnati Kid (Norman Jewison, 1965):

Eric Stoner, better known as the Cincinnati Kid, is adept at Stud Poker. Lancey Howard, who is considered the best in this game, comes to town. Kid wants to beat Lancey in order to increase his credibility in the card industry. Shortly before the fight, the hero is faced with problems: a difficult romantic relationship, as well as a conspiracy between his rival and the dealer.

The film was shot by the famous Hollywood director Norman Jewison (The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968, Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, and Moonstruck in 1987). And the script was based on the novel by Richard Jessup about the card player.

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2. A Big Hand for the Little Lady (Fielder Cook, 1966):

A couple travels to California in order to buy a farm. On the way, the couple finds themselves in a small town where local wealthy people play poker. The gambling husband joins them and bets a large sum. In the process, he has a heart attack. In order not to lose the family fortune, the hiss wife decides to take up his place at the card table. The problem is that she does not know how to play poker at all.

The top-drawer cast includes Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, Paul Ford, and other stars.

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3. California Split (Robert Altman, 1974):

Seasoned poker player Charlie meets newcomer Bill. A new friendship blossoms, and they decide to go to a poker tournament together. This is where they fight the reigning champion.

The script was created by Joseph Walsh, who himself suffered from a gambling addiction. He managed to talk about the problems of gambling addicts who are never satisfied not matter how successful their endeavours.

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4. Shade (Damian Nieman, 2003):

Dean Stevens is a legendary poker player. Once he survived a shootout, and most people began to consider him invincible. But his status is not without danger. Sharpie Charlie, Vernon and Larry conspire to defeat the star of the card world.

Familiar faces such as Sylvester Stallone, Melanie Griffith, Jamie Foxx star in this crime drama. The plot of the film is captivating, with a very surprising denouement of the story is surprising. To booth, the picture is notable for scenes in which card tricks are shown.

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5. Lucky You (Curtis Hanson, 2007):

Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a skilled poker player and wants to take part in a major tournament. He needs a large sum, and end up borrowing some money. During the competition, our hero meets his father, who is also a strong player. He abandoned his wife and son long ago, leaving them without a livelihood. Huck has to juggle his debt and his dysfunctional family life.

The picture was directed by Curtis Hanson, best known for his works 8 Mile (2002) and Chasing Mavericks (2012). In addition to Eric Bana, Lucky You also features Drew Barrymore.

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6. The Gambler (Rupert Wyatt, 2014):

Jim leads a double life. During the day he is a teacher and a writer, and at night he turns into a gamer. Addiction leads our hero to problems: he runs into a huge debt with the owner of a casino. Creditors begin to put pressure on the man, threatening his mother and girlfriend. Jim needs to figure out how to get out of this dangerous situation without hurting his loved ones.

The film is a remake of the eponymous 1974 film. The main role was played by Mark Wahlberg (pictured at the top of this article). He convincingly portrays a man on the brink self-destruction. He gradually turn his life into hell.