You might be surprised to know just how many movies have been made that are either set in Las Vegas, in a casino, or revolve around casino gambling activities. We won't go so far to give you an exact number of studio produced casino movies, but we can say that we know of approximately one-hundred plus great flicks - old and new.

Keep in mind, we are talking about casino movies for entertainment - Not instructional videos on how to win money inside the casinos. If you are fan of gambling and have spent any length of time inside a Las Vegas casino, you will understand the allure and excitement that is perfect for drama and entertainment on the big screen.

All of the casino movies we feature here are available online or at a video rental store, and might even be attainable in your local library. We just want to share with you our own passion for casino movies, and hope to introduce you to some that you've never heard of or seen before! Our top picks are featured below:

"21" (2008) has enjoyed a huge success at the box offices. Raking in nearly $24 million on opening weekend in the U.S., there's no doubt that blackjack can bring in the crowds. Or perhaps it's Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey and Jim Sturgess, who star in this true-story flick about the MIT math team who devised the card-counting technique as we know it today and took their amazing skills on the road to rack up unprecedented winnings at the casino blackjack tables. This movie won't teach you how to count cards, which casinos have mitigated the effects of anyways, but it gives a fascinating and exciting insight into blackjack...err...21.

Lucky You (2007) was hyped up before its release as being the first movie that really explores the life of a professional poker player (Eric Bana). Although it got mixed reviews, some pointing to a lack of story between Bana's and Drew Barrymore's characters, it does indeed shed light on the professional poker circuit. There are several cameos by poker pros, including Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth and Jack Binion.

Casino Royale (2006) stars Daniel Craig as James Bond and is directed by Martin Campbell. Much of the hype that came from the fact that Craig was the first blonde James Bond. Not only did Craig pull off being blonde and sexy, he pulled off some great poker playing to oust an evil banker trying to use the poker tournament to fund terrorism. A great Bond and casino movie. The stakes don't get higher at the Baccarat table in Casino Royale.

Oceans Eleven (2001) is a remake of the original 1960 flick, but with some more star power. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Oceans Eleven stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and a host of other recognizable actors. A hit at the box offices, Oceans Eleven unfolds as a team of robbers pull a hit on the vault shared by the Mirage, MGM and Bellagio Casino's.

Rounders (1998) is a great flick about the underground poker circuit. Although it had modest success at the the box offices, when the popularity of online poker took off, Rounders became a cult hit with poker players. It's directed by John Dahl and stars Edward Norton and Matt Damon. If you've every wondered what it was like in the underground, illegal poker rooms, where yes, you could get killed by the Russian mafia, this offers a great view.

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