Some come to Sin City to roll the dice, while others go to Atlantic City to split aces playing blackjack. But besides stringing together an hour-long drama about crowds playing casino games, the television shows in this article manage to show the underpinnings of Vegas in particular and the psychology of why we can’t stay away. Discover things you might have already suspected about Vegas and things you didn’t know in this article about the best gambling television shows ever made.
Las Vegas (2003)
The gambling action is hot and furious at the Montecito Casino and Resort in Vegas. Not to be confused with the television show Vegas of the late 70s and early 80s, Las Vegas ran from 2003-2008 and features the late James Caan, who runs the Montecito and his team cracking down on cheaters. The behind-the-scenes stories about the motivations of why many cheaters come to Vegas are a hallmark of this series.
There’s no shortage of action at the Montecito, and there is beautiful photography of some of the largest casinos in America, as you get magnificent views of the Vegas Strip. Las Vegas also blends in the backstories of the main characters like Josh Drummel into the Vegas drama.
Breaking Vegas (2004)
Part drama and part documentary, Breaking Vegas takes you inside many of the real-life stories about some truly amazing schemes to rob Vegas. However, blackjack fans get a true thrill because most of the episodes are about card counting with blackjack. Of all the casino games, blackjack has been the main target for card counters to try to run the table, even inspiring epic and criminally underrated gambling movies like 21. The film 21 is the story of the real-life MIT team that was trained to rack up big-playing blackjack at Vegas casinos.
Billions (2016)
When you’re a billionaire hedge fund owner, you celebrate with some seriously high-stakes gambling. While not 100% totally about gambling, the iconic show Billions does show the fascinating relationship between Wall Street and gambling. Bobby “Axe” Axelrod has it all rolling with his company, Axe Capital.
Bobby can’t get enough of wealth and power, and he frequently flexes his muscles on the casino pit floor. Throughout Bobby’s quest for more money and power, the television audience is frequently visited with amazing views and scenes of online poker. Beneath the mind-boggling size of the frequent online poker wagers, the television audience can have a front-row seat to the strategy for money and power on Wall Street behind their online poker play.
Mr. Robot (2015)
A genuinely experimental television show, Mr. Robot expertly weaves in hacking, cyberpunk, and, if you believe it, online gambling under one umbrella. The star of the show is Elliot Anderson, an insanely talented computer engineer and a master hacker. However, unlike hacking some of the biggest corporations for personal gain, Elliot takes it upon himself to be a certain kind of Robin Hood who hacks corporations that he perceives as evil to help the poor.
Mr. Robot frequently showcases the complicated world of online casinos and the amazing details they have for cybersecurity. In addition to the fantastic online casino cybersecurity, moviegoers are also treated to some amazing online casino games and features.
Mind of a Gambler (2013)
With such a title, you don’t need us to tell you the overall storyline about Mind of a Gambler. A truly unique television series that puts you directly at the table from a professional gambler’s point of view. Part drama and part documentary get into the mindset of some of the most notable casino players as they break down their strategy to beat the house.
Casino Confidential (2012)
With so many television shows about those looking to beat or cheat the house, it’s only fitting that Casino Confidential breaks that mold about life in the casino itself. Get to know the casino pit bosses, trusted dealers, and the casino brass who work 24/7 to maintain the fantasy and allure of our beloved casinos. Of course, Casino Confidential, through shrewd camera work, also highlights some of the most colorful and unique gamblers that step into these casinos.
Give Us a Break (1983)
Talk about a blast from the past, Give Us a Break gives us a rare insight into British gambling. The centerpiece of Give Us a Break is the sharply dressed Robert Lindsey. We learn the inside scoop about some of his strategies to break the bank at high-profile British casinos. Robert also mentors his younger protegees to take over when he is ready to retire.
However, not everything is fun and games with Give Us a Break. A bold show for its time, Give Us a Break also takes the television viewer about the consequences of bad gambling decisions and greed.