Bad Gambling Movies – How Hollywood Gets It Wrong

Posted: December 14, 2023

Updated: December 14, 2023

Though audiences might be on the edge of their seats as they watch a movie set in the casino, for many real gamblers, the feeling is one of unease. That's because these films always get the actual gambling scenes completely wrong.

Movies often glamourize gambling, portraying high-stakes tension and glitzy casinos. However, they frequently miss the mark on the reality of gambling. One reason for this discrepancy is the need for dramatic storytelling. Films tend to exaggerate the excitement and intensity to captivate audiences, deviating from the more mundane and calculated nature of actual gambling. Moreover, bad gambling movies prioritise entertainment over accuracy. They condense timelines, portraying instant wins or losses rather than the long, gradual process of gambling. The complexity of odds, strategies, and probabilities involved in real gambling often gets oversimplified or overlooked for the sake of a compelling storyline. According to online gambling news in the US, another factor might be legal and ethical considerations. Bad gambling movies may avoid depicting responsible gambling practices or the negative consequences of addiction to avoid glorifying or promoting harmful behaviour. Additionally, filmmakers might lack firsthand experience or in-depth knowledge of the gambling world, leading to inaccuracies in depicting the environment, rules, or psychology behind it. Today at Gamingzion.com let's have a look at some of the major suspects in the movies that show an unrealistic portrayal of gambling at the casino.

Rain Man

In 1988, MGM brought forth the feature film "Rain Man", centering on an autistic character portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. The movie, directed by Barry Levinson, primarily unfolds at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where Hoffman's character employs card counting to swiftly amass substantial winnings from the casino. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk7eA4gVDno&pp=ygUQcmFpbiBtYW4gdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D Tom Cruise's character concludes that Hoffman's ability lies in memorising played and remaining cards. However, this is one of the most famous bad gambling movies that misguidedly suggests that effective card counting necessitates memorising every single card.

Counting Cards In Bad Gambling Movies

It's widely understood that memorising every card isn't necessary. What matters is tracking the ratio of high to low cards, typically using the high-low system. When there's an abundance of high cards left, it favours the player for three key reasons. First, double downs become more advantageous, usually requiring a high card. Second, more natural combinations occur, and given the asymmetric payout (3-2 for a player's natural, and only the original bet lost if the dealer gets a blackjack), it's advantageous for the player. Lastly, the player can adjust their strategy, while the dealer must adhere to the game rules, offering the player a significant edge when an excess of high cards remains.

The Hangover

The 2009 Todd Phillip's comedy, "The Hangover," is another one of those bad gambling movies that misrepresents card counting. Toward the movie's conclusion, the three main characters count cards to secure a substantial sum for their friend's ransom. After withdrawing funds from a bank account, they begin playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxTngPDNqk8&t=16s&pp=ygUTVGhlIEhhbmdvdmVyIGNhc2lubw%3D%3D However, in the montage of their gameplay, they make obvious moves that professionals would never execute. Examples include splitting 5s and splitting tens. In a card counting scenario, there's never a situation requiring the splitting of 5s; the correct move is to double. While there are situations where splitting tens is viable, professionals avoid it due to the attention it attracts.

21

The final movie that completely misrepresents the reality is "21," based on the MIT blackjack teams' adventures. Like many Hollywood depictions, this 2008 movie was excessively and inaccurately dramatised. In the Robert Luketic movie, the team players consistently win without any losses until they deviate from their system. Any experienced player would attest that this scenario never occurs in reality. Actual results don't hold mathematical significance until the number of hands played approaches around 10,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlCYBrLOP3A&pp=ygUJMjEgY2FzaW5v Results before reaching this count are merely fluctuations, and players should anticipate various fluctuations before such a volume of play is achieved. This is simply the inherent nature of the game. It doesn't matter whether you're playing in a brick-and-mortar casino or online at one of the top online casino sites in the US like Everygame Casino, all casino games come with a high percentage of volatility.

Casinos Playing It Safe In Bad Gambling Movies

These three instances of bad gambling movie inaccuracies raise the question: What drives this recurring theme in Hollywood films? One probable explanation is its entertainment appeal for the audience. Another potential reason could stem from casinos granting permission to use their locations contingent upon the inclusion of such erroneous plays in the storyline. This may lead viewers to imitate what they witness on screen, resulting in more losses. This theory gains credibility, particularly with studios like MGM, owning numerous casino properties globally, potentially offsetting their investment through the misguided plays promoted in the movie.

Card Counting In Real Life Is Boring

The actual explanation likely comprises a blend of these two scenarios along with some unexplored factors. The reality is that the life of a professional advantage player is incredibly controlled and strategic. Most of the time, these players are dedicated to playing while seamlessly blending into the casino ambiance. The primary goal is to avoid attracting undue attention, especially from pit bosses and surveillance. Achieving this requires a complex balancing act: the player must convincingly act while maintaining unwavering focus and, most crucially, possessing acute awareness of how they're being assessed by casino staff.

There Are Just Bad Gambling Movies

Despite these differences, even bad gambling movies provide an escape by presenting an exaggerated and fantastical depiction of gambling, which can be entertaining. However, it's crucial you're able to discern between cinematic fiction and the actuality of responsible gambling. Understanding that the excitement shown on screen significantly diverges from reality is essential. Prospective advantage players need to recognize that what they witness in movies bears little resemblance to real gameplay. It'll be interesting to see how the movie industry starts to portray casino players who are sitting at home playing online games at a casino like Everygame Casino. Or maybe this scenario is considered too boring for the average cinema-goer.