The 5 Best Fictional Gamblers are as Follows:
Nothing beats the buzz of the casino – and don’t today’s Hollywood film directors know it. Whether you’re a fan of action flicks or a sucker for comedies, no doubt you’ve noticed the overwhelming number of movies starring gamblers in the casino. There are so many, in fact, that we’ve had to call on the help of the guys from bgo.com to shortlist the 5 best fictional gamblers in cinema history. Read on to see who made the cut.
# 1: James Bond
When he’s not hunting down villains or sipping martinis – shaken, not stirred, of course – Agent 007 can often be found trying his luck in the casino. Though he’s no stranger to Texas hold ‘em, gin rummy and backgammon, baccarat is Bond’s go-to casino game. In fact, it’s at the baccarat table we first meet the suave secret agent in the opening scene of Dr No.
# 2: Raymond Babbit
Charlie Babbitt’s autistic brother Raymond isn’t just an excellent driver. He’s also a maths whizz. So, when Charlie finds himself in a $80,000 jam in the Oscar-winning Rain Man, he’s quick to send Raymond to the blackjack table. What ensues is one of the most famous card-counting scenes in Hollywood history, which earned Dustin Hoffman an Academy Award.
# 3: Alan Garner
Granted, he’s not the sharpest tool in the box. But when the Wolfpack find themselves in desperate need of cash to save their friend Doug, it’s oddball Alan Garner that steps up to the blackjack table. In a perfect parody of the classic Rain Man scene, the unlikely hero manages to rake in over $80,000 counting cards. It’s one of our favourite moments from The Hangover.
# 4: Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein
Inspired by real-life Mafia associate Frank Rosenthal, Ace from Martin Scorsese’s epic crime drama Casino is one of the pro fitional gamblers and bad-ass casino boss. When a cheeky cowboy refuses to keep his feet off the blackjack table, Ace has no trouble sending him head-first out the doors in one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
# 5: Michael McDermott
You know what it’s like at university. You try to knuckle down and focus on your studies but there are so many distractions. There are friends, parties and – if you’re Michael McDermott from John Dahl’s cult hit Rounders – the World Series of Poker to think about. Indeed, law student Mike shows true dedication to the game in this film’s dramatic final Texas hold ‘em showdown.