For decades, movies about gambling and the betting industry have captivated audiences. Why wouldn’t they? These movies are often gritty, interesting, and filled with colorful characters while also offering the audience helpful life lessons. Believe it or not, some of the best movies ever made about gambling were filmed or based in Canada. With that in mind, we had to share some of our favourite Canadian gambling movies that we consider must-see films.
Owning Mahowny
Directed by Richard Kwietniowski, Owning Mahowny is perhaps the best known Canadian film about gambling. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, and Maury Chaykin, among others, and is set against the backdrop of Toronto’s financial district. It’s based on the story of Brian Molony, a branch manager at a bank who embezzled over $10 million amidst a gambling addiction. Hoffman’s portrayal of Molony – named Dan Mahowny in the movie – earned him an Oscar nomination, as the movie shows the dark side of greed and addiction.
The Last Casino
As a French-language movie, The Last Casino is often overlooked by mainstream audiences. Similar to Owning Mahowny, it’s loosely based on a true story, as it was inspired by a group of MIT students who traveled to Las Vegas in their spare time to count cards and win big at casinos. The story comes about because a card-counting professor was banned from casinos, forcing him to teach his skills to students so they can gamble on his behalf. It’s a story that’s been told in books and movies, but (released in 2004), The Last Casino was the first to bring this story to a large audience, entertaining movie-lovers while also asking questions about the ethics of trying to cheat casinos.
Of course, rather than trying to cheat casinos by counting cards, it’s much easier to simply take advantage of casino promotions and bonus opportunities. For example, many of today’s online casinos offer free spins on slots as bonuses for new users, helping to give them extra opportunities to win money.
Lucky Girl
Even though Lucky Girl sometimes has the production and feel of a made-for-TV movie, which it was, Elisha Cuthbert offers a wonderful performance in portraying a teenager who gets far too deep into the world of gambling. It starts with some poker games and sports bets, but Cuthbert’s character becomes obsessed and goes overboard with her gambling habits. She gets into debt and becomes desperate enough to take money from a loan shark, which just leads to more trouble. It’s certainly a cautionary tale about underaged gambling while also showing audiences the story of a teenager who loses control of her life.