How Actors Prepare for Roles in Casino-Themed Movie

In most cases, these movies depict the traditional world of brick-and-mortar casinos, with roulette and blackjack tables as well as slot machines. Today, gambling often looks different — you choose a reliable online platform from a ranking of casinos with no deposit bonuses on legalcasino.uk or other similar services, pick up your bonus and start playing digital versions of casino games from anywhere and at any time. Yet the atmosphere of a real, land-based casino is still something special, which is why it is often reflected in top-tier movies.

Some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors have starred in these movies, including Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, John Goodman, Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Adam Sandler, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Newman, and many others.

And it comes as no surprise that preparing for these roles requires time, resources, and quite often collaboration with and consultation from people who are active in the gambling world.

While some actors are unfamiliar with the gambling industry, others — like Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire, George Clooney, Aaron Paul, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Charlie Sheen and Ray Romano — are known for their involvement in gambling. So, what does preparing for a role in a gambling-themed film entail?

Preparing for a Role in a Casino Movie: What Does It Require?

The way an actor embodies their character contributes significantly to a film’s success. When it comes to capturing the essence of gambling, a well-written script or a top director, such as Martin Scorsese in Casino (alongside co-writer Nicholas Pileggi), are not enough on their own.

Understanding the rules of casino games and being acquainted with the casino atmosphere means much in this case. For example, Nicole Kidman, one of Hollywood’s well-known actresses, is familiar with the casino atmosphere and is ready in case she ever needs to play such a role.  She has visited Las Vegas casinos, and her husband Keith Urban mentioned once that Kidman is more skilled at gambling than he is. This probably indicates that she does engage with the casino scene.

In some cases, like in Casino, the actors met and talked to individuals who had known personally the real-life figures who inspired the film’s characters. Among them were Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal (manager of the Hacienda, Fremont, and Stardust casinos in Las Vegas in the 1970s-80s), Geri McGee (portrayed by Sharon Stone as Rosenthal’s partner), and Anthony Spilotro (who inspired Joe Pesci’s character, Nicky Santoro).

And some actors even played characters based on their real life experiences. For example, Oscar Goodman, who was a real lawyer and represented both Frank Rosenthal and Anthony Spilotro,  appeared as himself in Casino, defending Frank Rosenthal (Robert De Niro) and Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci).

In the film Lucky You, featuring Eric Bana, Robert Duvall, and Drew Barrymore, Canadian professional poker player Daniel Negreanu played a small role. Beyond being one of the most well-known poker players, he also helped the lead actors better understand poker, enabling them to portray their roles more convincingly.

To deliver a true-to-life performance in such films, actors often need help from consultants specializing in gambling. For example, to master the rules and strategies of casino games, they may need to talk to and learn from players, dealers, and croupiers. Clive Owen, for instance, prepared for his role in Croupier by taking lessons from actual dealers and croupiers.

How Far Can Actors Go in Mastering Their Roles in Casino Movies?

Tom Cruise is known as a perfectionist.  In order to accurately portray his character in The Color of Money, he even bought a pool table and spent countless hours practicing the shots he performs in the film.  He estimated that his skills improved “200 percent” in just a few weeks of practice. Cruise worked with Mike Sigel, the world straight pool champion, who served as his coach to hone his billiards skills.

And Dustin Hoffman, who plays Raymond, the autistic brother with remarkable card-counting abilities in blackjack in Rain Man, studied all the game’s rules to deliver the most convincing performance possible. These are just two examples of actors who have appeared in gambling and casino films and have made a significant contribution to the success of these movies.