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Coming up with the best sports betting movies is a subjective exercise. What I think are the best movies might not make it to your list of movies to watch. That said, I’ve found a collection of movies that include big risks, high stakes, and stories of how everything can change on a single play.
The best sports betting movies below include different levels of humor, intensity, heartbreak, and all the wild energy that comes with risking it all.
15 Best Sports Betting Movies You Need to See Next
Looking for something new to watch? Check out these movie titles for inspiration.
1. Uncut Gems (2019) — Starring Adam Sandler
In a step away from his usual comedic roles, Adam Sandler delivers one of his best performances. In Uncut Gems, he plays Howard Ratner, a loud, fast-talking New York jeweler who lives for gambling and chaos.
Howard’s entire life is a bet. He’s drowning in debt, dodging loan sharks, wrecking his marriage, and chasing one massive sports bet he’s convinced will fix everything.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
Uncut Gems completely captures the high-stress world of professional bettors and gambling addiction.
Where To Watch
Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
Directed by
Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie
2. Two for the Money (2005) — Starring Al Pacino & Matthew McConaughey
One of the best sports betting movies out there is Two for the Money. Imagine a couple of average sports bettors meeting Wall Street bravado. Let’s just say it involves fast-talking, big risks, and even bigger egos.
Matthew McConaughey plays Brandon Lang, a former college football star who tragically has a career-ending injury. Lured by high-stakes money and a chance to make something more out of himself, Lang develops a skill predicting winners for high-rolling bettors. He ends up catching the eye of Al Pacino’s character, Walter Abrams.
The result involves millionaire clients, insider tips, and nonstop pressure to pick winners. What starts as a dream job quickly turns into a dangerous game of manipulation, obsession, and chasing losses.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
This one takes you behind the scenes of the high-stakes world of sports handicappers and gambling addiction.
Where To Watch
Directed by
D.J. Caruso
3. Lay the Favorite (2012) — Starring Rebecca Hall & Bruce Willis
Lay the Favorite is based on the true story of Beth Raymer, a former cocktail waitress and stripper. Played by Rebecca Hall in the movie, Beth moves to Las Vegas hoping for a fresh start. Naturally, she finds trouble in the form of a character named Dink (played by Bruce Willis).
The next thing you know, Beth is involved in the high-stakes world of placing bets and running numbers. Her natural charm, sharp memory, and quick math skills make her a perfect fit for the high-pressure world.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a good movie if there weren’t complications in the form of egos, money, and romance.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
It’s a lighthearted look at sports betting and betting syndicates, with great performances and quirky charm.
Where To Watch
Hulu.
Directed By
Stephen Frears
4. The Gambler (2014) — Starring Mark Wahlberg
The Gambler is less about sports and more about gambling addiction. Mark Wahlberg gives an excellent performance as Jim Bennett, a college professor with a serious gambling problem. Jim bets on anything he can, not for the money, but for the rush.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
This one dives deep into the mindset of a true gambling addict. Wahlberg’s character risks everything in a cautionary tale about addiction and self-destruction. It’s a remake of the 1974 classic starring James Caan.
Where To Watch
Paramount+ or rent online.
Directed By
Rupert Wyatt
5. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) — Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence & Robert De Niro
Silver Linings Playbook isn’t your typical sports betting movie.
Bradley Cooper plays Pat, a man trying to rebuild his life and win back his ex-wife. Instead of betting money, he bets on hope and second chances. Along the way, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), and together they form a love story built on risk. Meanwhile, Pat’s dad (Robert De Niro) is deep into sports betting, obsessed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Why It’s Great
It captures that high-stakes gambling energy, just with emotions instead of cash. The excellent performances from the main characters bring this messy, hopeful story to life.
Where To Watch
Netflix or rent online.
Directed By
David O. Russell
6. Owning Mahowny (2003) — Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
Owning Mahowny is one of the most brutally honest gambling addiction movies out there. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Dan Mahowny, a Canadian bank manager who embezzles over $10 million to fuel his obsession with sports betting, blackjack, and casinos.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
It’s a slow, painful look at gambling addiction with one of Hoffman’s best performances. This cautionary tale shows that addiction isn’t always about glamour; sometimes it’s just bleak and lonely.
Where To Watch
Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.
Directed By
Richard Kwietniowski
7. Casino (1995) — Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci & Sharon Stone
Casino is a must-watch for sports betting movie fans. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it takes us inside 1970s Las Vegas, where the mob runs the show. Robert De Niro plays Ace Rothstein, a brilliant sports handicapper managing a mafia-backed casino.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
It’s one of the best movies about the rise and fall of gambling empires. The main characters, played by De Niro, Pesci, and Stone, give great performances in this story of power, greed, and chaos.
Where To Watch
Netflix.
Directed By
Martin Scorsese
8. Rounders (1998) — Starring Matt Damon & Edward Norton
Rounders is the poker movie everyone talks about. Matt Damon plays Mike, a talented poker player trying to leave behind the underground gambling scene. But his friend Worm (Edward Norton) drags him back into a world of high-stakes poker games and risky decisions.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
It’s a love story between a man and the game of poker. The excellent performances, smart dialogue, and authentic poker scenes make it one of the best movies about gambling culture.
Where To Watch
Max (formerly HBO Max).
Directed By
John Dahl
9. Lucky Girl (2001) — Starring Elisha Cuthbert
Lucky Girl is one of the few gambling movies focused on teen addiction. Elisha Cuthbert plays Kaitlyn, a high school student whose casual betting spirals out of control.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
This cautionary tale shows how easy it is for gambling addiction to sneak up, especially on young people. Cuthbert delivers a great early performance that makes this story feel real and grounded.
Where To Watch
Sometimes available on Canadian streaming platforms or YouTube.
Directed By
John Fawcett
10. Bookies (2003)
Bookies follows three college friends who start an illegal sports betting ring from their dorm. At first, it’s all fun and easy money until things get dangerous.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
Bookies mixes comedy and crime, showing how fast gambling greed can ruin friendships. It’s an underrated entry among the best sports betting movies.
Where To Watch
Tubi (free).
Directed By
Mark Illsley
11. Inside Game (2019)
Inside Game tells the true story of NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who fixed games for gambling wins. It explores how money, power, and loyalty can quickly spiral out of control.
Why It’s Great
It’s rare to get a sports betting movie from a referee’s perspective. The excellent performances and focus on personal relationships set this one apart.
Where To Watch
Amazon or Apple TV.
Directed By
Randall Batinkoff
12. Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul (2022)
Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul is a Netflix doc covering the Tim Donaghy scandal. It features interviews, FBI footage, and all the messy details.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
It’s one of the best sports betting documentaries, offering both sides of the story with a polished, true crime feel.
Where To Watch
Netflix.
Directed By
David Terry Fine
13. Test (2025)
Test is a new Netflix sports betting movie focused on cricket. It follows a disgraced player caught in a high-stakes betting scandal that threatens his career and identity.
Why It’s Great
Test brings a fresh angle to sports betting stories, blending personal drama, industry corruption, and an international setting.
Where To Watch
Netflix.
Directed By
S. Sashikanth
14. The Color of Money (1986) — Starring Tom Cruise & Paul Newman
I wouldn’t call the Color of Money a classic sports betting movie. It does, however, have a gambling vibe involving a high-stakes bet with cash and bragging rights on the line.
Tom Cruise plays Vincent, this young, cocky pool shark who gets taken under the wing of Paul Newman’s legendary Fast Eddie Felson.
Why It’s Great
It’s a masterclass in tension, trash talk, and the art of the hustle.
Where To Watch
Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
Directed by
Martin Scorsese
15. Eight Men Out (1988) — Starring John Cusack & Charlie Sheen
This movie tells the story of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. This drama dives into how eight Chicago White Sox players were bribed by gamblers to intentionally lose the World Series. Naturally, this sent shockwaves through the sports world.
The huge baseball controversy that followed included courtroom drama, banned players, and a forever-changed game. It’s the kind of story that proves sports betting scandals aren’t anything new, and that even the best team can get beat when the price is right.
Why It’s One of The Best Sports Betting Movies
This movie probes the mind, making us wonder how many other controversies are in the making but just haven’t made it to the public eye yet.
Where To Watch
Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
Directed by
John Sayles
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Summary: The Best Sports Betting Movies
At the end of the day, the best sports betting movies are about risk, obsession, and the thrill (or heartbreak) of going all-in.
From hustling pool halls to fixing the World Series, these movies show just how wild the world of sports betting can get. Win big or lose it all, one thing’s for sure — in gambling (and in the movies), you never really know what’s coming next.