Hollywood has always had a massive fascination with the glitz, glamour, and inherent danger of the casino floor.

These movies have heavily shaped the public's perception of Las Vegas and the professional gambling lifestyle.

Casino (1995): The Gritty Reality of Vegas

Starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, 'Casino' offers a brutal, unflinching look at how the mafia ran the Vegas Strip.

The movie meticulously details the daily operations of a casino, showing exactly how the 'eye in the sky' and the pit bosses operated.

• Pesci's terrifying portrayal of mob enforcer Nicky Santoro remains one of the greatest cinematic villains of all time
• The famous 'head in a vise' scene demonstrated the brutal methods the mob used to deal with casino cheaters
• It is a historical document showcasing the exact moment the mafia lost their grip on the Nevada gaming industry

The Slick Heist and the Poker Underground

If you prefer slick, stylish entertainment over gritty realism, the 2001 remake of 'Ocean's Eleven' is absolute perfection.

The film accurately portrays the difficult life of a professional poker 'grinder,' struggling to build a bankroll and avoid loan sharks.

They serve as a permanent cultural record of how the gambling industry has evolved over the last fifty years.