Whether you’re financially invested or not, we’ve all felt the thrill as we watch Thoroughbreds thundering towards the finish line or the chequered flag falling on a Formula 1 race. There is a unique excitement in knowing the stakes are high; that fortunes can be made or lost with the roll of a dice or the results that flash up on a screen above our heads. 

Take this feeling, bottle it, and bring it to life on the big screen, and you could be on to a real winner, as plenty of Hollywood bigshots have proven. If you’re looking for a film you can really invest in, then here are four of the best betting movies of all time – we suggest you check them out STAT. 

#1: Owning Mahowny (2003)

What do you get when you combine Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, and a sterling cast of acting talent with a story about the biggest one-man bank fraud in Canadian history? The answer is a magnificently good movie, as Owning Mahowny proves. This crime drama thriller charts the story of a bank manager with a gambling problem and access to a multimillion dollar account, as he makes the biggest bet of his life. He might not hold the moral high ground in this tale, but you’ll be rooting for him nonetheless. This might be one not to try at home, though. 

#2: Casino (1995) 

Arguably the most famous gambling movie of all time, Casino is a sweeping classic that charts the story of mob-controlled, high stakes betting, set against the backdrop of Vegas. Starring a stellar cast that includes Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone, it follows a casino owner with reluctant mafia ties. Throwing seduction, sorrow, and some of the most harrowing scenes in cinematic history into the mix, it’s well worth a watch if you’re on the hunt for something truly epic to enjoy alongside your popcorn. Should it somehow inspire you to give gambling a go yourself, but you don’t fancy diving in at the deep end with the mafia, what about free spins on mobile? 

#3: Diggstown (1992)

Diggstown brings to life the story of Gabriel Cane, recently released from prison and struggling to get back on his feet. Protagonist Gabe makes a bet with a business bigshot, who happens to own the eponymous Diggstown – a boxing-mad locale in search of a new champion. Calling on past-his-prime ‘Honey’ Roy Palmer to fight in his corner, Gabe’s is a story of triumph over adversity, with an underdog you just can’t help rooting for.  Maybe it will help you in your own search for the next big boxing star. 

#4: Bookies (2003) 

 If you’re looking for something a little lighter to watch, we suggest you sit down in front of Bookies the next time you need some relief from reality. The film follows the fortunes of three college students who decide to try their hand at being bookies, and enjoy unimaginable success in their chosen career. Eventually deciding to end their illicit enterprise on a high note, the boys make a deal with the mob, but not before delivering plenty of laughs and some unforgettable lines. Just don’t make a deal with an organized crime set-up, though.

Which one of these brilliant betting blockbusters will you watch first?