On this page
Gambling is a source of perennial fascination for Hollywood producers. No wonder: the casino mixes the dopamine rush of the game itself and the excitement of what happens when large quantities of cash and alcohol flow freely. With endless combinations of crime, sex, stories of winners who become losers and losers who become winners, gaming is endlessly attractive as a topic for the silver screen. Here is our top list, oldest to newest, of our favourite flicks and scenes with a gambling theme.
Casinos holding a balance in New Zealand dollars
These 12 sites take New Zealand registrations. Bonus sums, minimum deposits and wagering come straight from the operator terms, last read on . How every brand is checked.
- 01Godz CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package300% up to NZ$15,000+ 300 free spinsMin depositNZ$25Wagering35xOnline since2026Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 300%
- Up to: NZ$15,000
- Free spins: 300
- Minimum deposit: NZ$25
- Wagering: 35x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2026
- Deposit options include Bank Wire Transfer, Bitcoin, Ethereum
- Balance held in NZD
- 02SlotLounge CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package350% up to NZ$22,500+ 350 free spinsMin depositNZ$30Wagering40xOnline since2025Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 350%
- Up to: NZ$22,500
- Free spins: 350
- Minimum deposit: NZ$30
- Wagering: 40x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2025
- Deposit options include Bank Wire Transfer, Jeton, Paysafecard
- Balance held in NZD
- 03SlotsMafia CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package350% up to NZ$37,500+ 350 free spinsMin depositNZ$20Wagering50xOnline since2024Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 350%
- Up to: NZ$37,500
- Free spins: 350
- Minimum deposit: NZ$20
- Wagering: 50x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2024
- Deposit options include Bank Transfer, Paysafecard
- Balance held in NZD
- 04DragonSlotsChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package460% up to NZ$8,000+ 700 free spinsMin depositNZ$20Wagering40xOnline since2024Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 460%
- Up to: NZ$8,000
- Free spins: 700
- Minimum deposit: NZ$20
- Wagering: 40x
Why it is on the list
- Listed by 1 independent review sites we track
- Trading since 2024
- Deposit options include Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Binance
- Balance held in NZD
- 05N1Bet CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$10,000+ 200 free spinsMin depositNZ$30Wagering50xOnline since2021Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$10,000
- Free spins: 200
- Minimum deposit: NZ$30
- Wagering: 50x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2021
- Full game catalogue on the NZ account
- Deposit options include AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Binance Pay
- Balance held in NZD
- 06Bizzo CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package125% up to NZ$2,500+ 125 free spinsMin depositNZ$25Wagering40xOnline since2021Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 125%
- Up to: NZ$2,500
- Free spins: 125
- Minimum deposit: NZ$25
- Wagering: 40x
Why it is on the list
- Listed by 1 independent review sites we track
- Trading since 2021
- 10 game categories on the NZ account
- Deposit options include AstroPay Card, Bitcoin, CashtoCode
- Balance held in NZD
- 07Zotabet CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$2,000+ 300 free spinsOnline since2022Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$2,000
- Free spins: 300
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2022
- Full game catalogue on the NZ account
- Deposit options include BLIK, Bank Transfer, Bank Wire Transfer
- Balance held in NZD
- 08GranawinChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$200+ 120 free spinsMin depositNZ$30Wagering40xOnline since2024Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$200
- Free spins: 120
- Minimum deposit: NZ$30
- Wagering: 40x
Why it is on the list
- Listed by 1 independent review sites we track
- Trading since 2024
- Deposit options include Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Bank Wire Transfer
- Balance held in NZD
- 09All Slots CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$1,500Read our All Slots Casino reviewMin depositNZ$5Wagering35xOnline since1999Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$1,500
- Minimum deposit: NZ$5
- Wagering: 35x
Why it is on the list
- Listed by 1 independent review sites we track
- Trading since 1999
- 29 game categories on the NZ account
- Deposit options include Abaqoos, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer
- Balance held in NZD
- 10TonyBet CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$1,500+ 150 free spinsMin depositNZ$35Wagering30xOnline since2009Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$1,500
- Free spins: 150
- Minimum deposit: NZ$35
- Wagering: 30x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2009
- Full game catalogue on the NZ account
- Deposit options include AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Bitcoin
- Balance held in NZD
- 11BitStarz CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$2,000+ 180 free spinsMin depositNZ$20Wagering40xOnline since2014Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$2,000
- Free spins: 180
- Minimum deposit: NZ$20
- Wagering: 40x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2014
- 26 game categories on the NZ account
- Deposit options include AstroPay, AstroPay Direct, Bank Transfer
- Balance held in NZD
- 12Betway CasinoChecked
Visit site20+ · T&Cs applyWelcome package100% up to NZ$2,000Read our Betway Casino reviewMin depositNZ$20Wagering50xOnline since2006Offer terms
- Offer: Welcome
- Match: 100%
- Up to: NZ$2,000
- Minimum deposit: NZ$20
- Wagering: 50x
Why it is on the list
- Trading since 2006
- Full game catalogue on the NZ account
- Deposit options include AstroPay, BLIK, Bank Transfer
- Balance held in NZD
Order is ours and the operators listed pay us a commission when you open an account; that does not change the figures above, which come from the operator pages and are re-checked on the date shown. Gambling is entertainment, not income: play with money you can lose, 20+ only. Free, confidential help in New Zealand — Gambling Helpline 0800 654 655.
The Gambler (1974)
This was the first film of James Toback, currently in the headlines for his alleged ill-treatment of ladies in his life. The movie stars Axel Freed (James Caan) as a lit professor with a gambling problem. He wins big and then proceeds to lose it all, time after time. He gets in the hole, owing tens of thousands to the mob. In the end, he plays one last game and emerges victorious, freeing himself of his addiction and running ecstatic through the night. Trivia: Freed teaches Dostoyevsky in his college class, and the Russian author’s story The Gambler is believed to be the literary inspiration for the film. A remake (2014) featuring Mark Wahlberg was set in LA rather than NYC, and performed modestly well, grossing $34 million.
California Split (1974)
By Robert Altman and co-written by an up-and-coming screenwriter named Steven Spielberg, features the odd couple of Charlie (Elliott Gould) and Bill (George Segal), who bond after being wrongly accused of collusion at a poker game. The two are ever in search of the ever-elusive big payday, and finally Bill gets one, going on to beat poker world champion Amarillo Slim (playing himself) and winning a cool $82,000 in one sweet streak. But then, suddenly, he loses his taste for gambling, decides to split his winning with his partner and go home. Trivia: the film was originally MGMs to make but they demanded it be made at MGM-owned Circus Circus, with Steve McQueen and Dean Martin in the leading roles. That caused Spielberg and co-writer to bolt to Universal and film in Reno, Nevada.
Rain Man
The 1988 Oscar-winning film starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise is a comic road trip of two brothers separated from childhood. When sportscar dealer Charlie (played by Cruise) learns of his dad’s demise, he is shocked to find out that he has an elder sibling with autism permanently under care at an institution Raymond. The self-centered Charlie discovers that Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) has an amazing memory for cards and plans to profit from this unique gift at the blackjack tables in Vegas. The casino scenes are equally gripping and comic, rivaled only by Raymond’s bewilderment in the luxury hotel suite. understated film packs an emotional punch as the callous hot shot finds a soft spot for his long-lost bro. The movie pulled in an astonishing $354 million worldwide. For producer Barry Levinson, who picked up a script serially rejected by a half-dozen Hollywood moguls, that turned out to be a great bet.
Rounders (1998)
is another buddy movie about underground high-stakes poker, featuring Ed Norton and Matt Damon as two pals who play poker from town to town in hopes of paying off a huge debt. The film chronicles the way in which Texas Hold‘em took hold in the US as a cultural phenomenon. Today, despite disappointing returns at the box office, the flick is a cult classic.
High Roller (2003)
Tells the tragic tale of Stu Ungar (Michael Imperioli), who went from teen genius in cards to a high stakes poker winner. Success comes at the price of health and happiness. The film is gripping and realistic, with life lessons for every gambling whale. But it’s not without its goofs: When Stuey enters what is supposed to be a circa 1973 Vegas casino, we see pokies which would only be invented some 20 years later.
21
In this 2008 film, MIT professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) enlists a band of brilliant students to go Blackjack card-counting in Las Vegas, each weekend. Math whiz Ben Campbell is enticed by a sexy teammate (Kate Bosworth) and the draw of all expense paid Vegas getaways, living it up and pulling in the big bucks. The casino scenes are realistic, and the methods used to signal “hot” tables are interesting. Problems begin when the team opts to go it alone, without Mickey. They soon tangle with casino security boss Cole (played by Laurence Fishburne) and things quickly go to hell in a handbasket.