Whether it’s a story of a full-time hustler with casinos on speed dial, or a character in some sort of sticky situation, the tension and excitement of putting something at stake is best portrayed through gambling.
While there’s a lot said about the best gambling movies of all time, you’ll hardly hear anything about the characters themselves. But great gambling films are made with great characters. Here’s our list of the most memorable gamblers in fiction.
Axel Freed (The Gambler)
No list about gambling movies or gambling characters can be complete without The Gambler movie. James Caan’s performance as Axel Freed, a literature professor who loves Dostoevsky as much as gambling, has stood the test of time.
Despite losing constantly and even extorting money from his own mother in an effort to win his losses back, Axel Freed has the kind of fatalistic confidence that makes him almost endearing to the viewer. Freed’s classic dialogue, “It’s only insane if I lose, and I’m not going to lose,” pretty much sums up what we love about him.
Mikey Rosa (21)
If you haven’t heard the story of the MIT Blackjack Team yet, hit your search engines up now. Alternatively, you could also watch 21, a gambling movie that was based on real-life events.
Kevin Spacey plays Mikey Rosa, an MIT professor who assembles a team of math students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to take on Las Vegas blackjack casinos. Kevin Spacey as the “evil-genius” hacks the game by using exceptional mathematical minds to count cards, removing the jeopardy and thrill of an otherwise unpredictable game.
There have been many iconic fictional characters who have been gamblers.
Raymond “Rain Man” Babbitt (Rain Man)
While Rain Man itself is not a movie about gambling, the gambling scenes are some of the most influential in movie-making history. Dustin Hoffman plays Raymond, a man on the autism spectrum with a perfect, photographic memory. Charlie, Raymond’s brother, takes him to Las Vegas to fleece the casino blackjack tables.
The scenes of Raymond calculating high numbers and odds on the fly, including the sequence of cards, and is credited for the trope of blackjack card counting in gambling movies. Raymond rivals the aforementioned Mikey Rosa in his mathematical skill and ability to impose his will on the cards, but is a significantly more likable character, with all his quirks and oddities.
Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Casino)
Our favorite Scorsese characters are always the quick-thinking, fast-talking hustlers. Based on Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, a Las Vegas mobster, sports bettor and casino executive, Sam “Ace” Rothstein played by the legendary Robert de Niro is an unforgettable movie gambler. Ace is described as having Las Vegas “clocked”.
Whenever he bet on anything, he held enough sway to single-handedly change the odds for every bookie across the country. However, unlike the other names on this list, Ace is not just an exceptional gambler, but also knows the ins-and-outs of gambling as an industry. Which is why the Mob hands him the largest casino in Las Vegas on a silver platter – and he doubles the profits.
The Golden Jew (as Ace is also called) gives us a pearl of wisdom regarding the gambling industry with the following lines: “In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.” Robert de Niro’s portrayal of Ace is a character that will stick with you for a long time.
Teddy KGB (Rounders)
What’s a list about gambling movies and characters without the best casino poker film of all time? Starring Matt Damon as a former rounder (a person who travels around from place to place seeking high-stakes cash games) who quits the game to go back to law school but gets sucked back in by his best friend. Rounders has the most famous fictional poker player in movie history.
But we’re not talking about Matt Damon’s character, Mike McDermott; Russian poker shark and the main antagonist, Teddy KGB played by John Malkovich, takes the cake as the most memorable gambler in this film. With a menacing Russian accent, the strange mannerisms, peculiar yet intimidating appearance and the adherence to his personal code, Teddy’s character outshines every other performance on screen.
He is also an expert baiter, knowing when and how to play the emotions of his opponent. Unlike the clean, precise, objective mathematical whizzes mentioned above, KGB is an old-school, textbook card player – he plays the man, not the cards. As per that textbook, he is also an exceptionally sore loser!
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether they’re card-counting geniuses that hack the game, or face reading masterminds that play people, gambling characters have always piqued the viewer’s interest. This may explain why casinos are often included even in movies where the main plotline doesn’t involve gambling. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the most famous fictional gamblers. For more informational content, check out our guide section.
What is the most well-known work of fiction about gamblers?
The 1974 movie, The Gambler is one of the most famous movies about gambling. James Caan plays Professor Axel Freed whose gambling vice leads him to debt and all kinds of dangerous situations. For a safer experience you might want to check out our list of live dealer casinos.
Who is the most popular fictional gambler?
Teddy KGB is easily one of the most popular fictional gamblers in popular culture. While he’s not the main character in the iconic poker film Rounders, Teddy, played by John Malkovich is the most popular. With an exaggerated Russian accent and strange mannerisms, this character is the amazing “villain with honor” that keeps his word and pays his debts especially when he loses at casino games.
What casino game is depicted the most in fiction?
From craps to roulette, all sorts of casino games are featured in movies. However, blackjack is the one game you’ll see time and again in gambling movies. Perhaps because it is a well-known game and thus more script writers are familiar with the basic rules. For an authentic film experience you can check out our live blackjack guide and feel like the star of the show.
