Gambling films make for an exciting viewing experience, complete with high rollers, risky bets, crowded poker tables, and fast-paced storylines. Like online resources such as this one www.gambleonlineaustralia.com/, they are an excellent place to learn gambling strategies and see different casino plays in action. But gambling films are not limited to Hollywood. In fact, there seems to be a movie with some aspect of casino life in just about every country. Below, we review the top gambling films from the Asian continent.
God of Gamblers (1989)
God of Gamblers features some humor, which surprisingly works well with the gambling theme. The 1989 classic follows pro-gambler Ko Chun, who is so good at gambling he is considered the “god of gamblers.” Chun, like any man, has eccentricities, his being that he enjoys a piece of chocolate in every game he plays. He beats another master gambler, Tanaka, beginning a series of humorous and engaging events. Tanaka asks Chun to help him get revenge on some enemies for – you guessed it – a box of chocolate.
The Conman (1998)
Also called Knight of Gamblers, The Conman is a 1998 film directed by Wong Jing. It follows the main character King as he serves a five-year sentence for killing a man in self-defense during a card game gone wrong. During his prison stint, King picks up some horse racing skills that he takes to the street upon his release. You can look forward to seeing some big names like Alex Man, Kelly Lin, and Meggie Yu in this fast-paced movie.
Tazza: The High Rollers (2006)
The Korean drama Tazza: The High Rollers was released in 2006 and directed by Choi Dong-hoon. It follows Goni, the protagonist, as he struggles to deal with the fallout from his gambling problems. In an attempt to feed his addiction to hwatu, an old-school Korean card game, Goni burns through all his life savings, steals from his family, and loses that money too. He then realizes he has fallen victim to a group of professional players known for cheating. To restore his owner and get his money back, he must strain under a hwatu master and play the game of his life.
Poker King (2009)
Released in 2009 and directed by Janet Chun and Chan Hing-Ka, Poker King is a classic. The story revolves around a family with deep ties to the casino business and a son who has never really found that world interesting. Jack, the protagonist, maintains his disinterest until he plays an online version of Texas Hold’em. The only problem is that he cannot seem to replicate his success at physical tables. On the other side of things is criminal and rival casino manager, Uno. A series of events forces Jack to play a game of Hold’em against Uno at the Asian Poker King Championships in order to win back his casino.
From Vegas to Macau (2014)
From Vegas to Macau sees, a family of con artists who view themselves as heroes visit Macau for a friend’s birthday party. But despite the simple premise, their journey is about to be filled with endless twists and turns. This movie features everything from undercover agents building a money laundering case to a head-to-head card game with the ultimate stakes. Directed by the legendary Wong Jing, From Vegas to Macau delivers a high-paced viewing experience based in the gambling capital of Macau.
Conclusion
Most good movies find an audience regardless of genre because they provide something viewers want to see. When it comes to gambling films, the “it” that keeps drawing a massive following is the high-octane, high-risk world of casinos. These movies allow you to see your favorite characters go head to head with their rivals in familiar games like roulette and Texas Hold’em. Whether you want to enjoy classic casino scenes or sharpen your skills, you cannot go wrong with the films on this list.
