2024’s Top Gambling TV Shows - High-Stakes Drama and Casino Thrills

Author: Sam Davies

The world of gambling has always been fertile ground for storytelling, with its high stakes, rich characters and unpredictable outcomes. As the popularity of TV series continues to soar, this year has already delivered an exciting lineup of shows that explore the darker, riskier, and often glamorous side of the gambling world — and it’s not done yet. Whether it’s a high-stakes heist, the psychology of hustlers, or the raw tension of life-or-death games, there’s a smorgasbord of gambling excitement coming to our TV sets soon.

There’s no ignoring the feeling that gambling and casino-related TV shows are enjoying immense popularity right now, reflecting the broader trend that many consider this to be a golden age of television. Today's TV series are not only more sophisticated and cinematic than ever before, but they also hold a cultural significance that rivals silver-screen classics like Ocean’s 11, Casino Royale, and Martin Scorsese’s Casino. The allure of these casino TV shows lies in their ability to blend the glamour and high stakes of gambling with complex storytelling, compelling characters, and breathtaking visuals.

In this era, television has become a medium where creators can explore intricate narratives over multiple episodes, allowing for a deeper dive into the psychology, strategy, and drama that define the gambling world. This serialized format provides viewers with the thrill of the game, coupled with the emotional and intellectual engagement of character-driven stories.

As a result, these shows capture the imagination of audiences in a way that feels both thrilling and immersive, mirroring the excitement of classic casino films. The success of such series underscores the growing appreciation for television as an art form, with many shows achieving the same level of reverence and cultural impact as iconic movies from previous decades.

So, here’s our pick of the best TV shows for gambling fans in 2024. For those who enjoy the thrill of gambling, whether in real life or on-screen, these shows are bound to provide an entertaining escape, full of suspense, strategy, and the pursuit of the ultimate jackpot.

Hustlers Gamblers Crooks – Out Now!

Do you know the story of the world’s greatest card cheat? What about the blind man who never loses? Or the guy who robs casinos using his shoes? For fans who are fascinated by the real-life stories behind the glitz and glamor of the gambling world, Hustlers Gamblers Crooks is an unmissable documentary series.

This TV show focuses on professional gamblers, con artists, and the various characters who inhabit the murky world of high-stakes betting. Through a series of in-depth interviews, reenactments, and archival footage, the documentary paints a vivid picture of the risks, rewards, and often devastating consequences faced by those who make their living from gambling.

Among those featured in the series, now available on Discovery, is legendary gambler Mikki Mase, who tells the cameras how he became one of Las Vegas’s most successful bettors ever by the age of 29. In his episode, Mase details the story of how he won $4.5 million in Vegas, a veritable thrill-ride yarn featuring the secret money cages of Vegas casinos, Mase and his friend’s three-hour in-and-out strategy, and a high-speed chase with a blacked-out SUV. It’s not something you want to miss.

What makes Hustlers Gamblers Crooks particularly compelling is its focus on the psychological aspects of gambling—how individuals are drawn into the thrill of the game and the lengths they go to in order to beat the odds. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the addiction, the rush, and the lifestyle that comes with living on the edge. This series provides an unflinching look at the darker side of the casino world, making it a fascinating watch for anyone interested in the human stories behind the bets.

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist – September 2024

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist is sure to be a must-watch for gambling fans, especially those who appreciate a good heist drama. Starring Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson and Dexter Darden, this series brings together a powerhouse cast to tell the true story of a daring robbery that took place during one of the most famous boxing matches in history — Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback against Jerry Quarry in Atlanta, Georgia. The show promises to blend the adrenaline of a high-stakes fight with the tension of a meticulously planned heist, offering a perfect mix of action, drama, and suspense.

The heist took place at an afterparty following the fight and was immediately blamed on a shifty character known as Chicken Man (Hart), who must work to prove his innocence while many onlookers blame him. The story is often credited with turning Atlanta in America’s “black Mecca”, providing a premise which on its own should be enough to intrigue any fan of gambling: a million dollars on the line, with lives changed in an instant by a single, audacious act.

For those who love the thrill of big bets and the allure of the casino underworld, Fight Night delivers a narrative where the risks are sky-high and the outcomes are uncertain until the final bell rings. Whether you're drawn in by the true crime aspect or the allure of seeing major stars in gripping roles, this series will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, much like a tense game of poker. How will Darden fare portraying arguably the greatest boxer of all time? Can Kevin Hart carry a series in a serious role? Will the casino outfits match up to the gold standard set by Robert De Niro in Casino? Tune in when the show premieres next month to find out.

The Penguin – September 2024

Have you seen 2022’s The Batman? Matt Reeves directing, Robert Pattinson in the black cape, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Alfred, John Turturro, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright and Colin Farrell looking utterly unrecognizable in a fat suit and a ton of makeup as Gotham City’s malevolent gangster the Penguin? Well, if you haven’t, you should. And that fat-suited Colin Farrell character is the basis of a spinoff series airing soon on Prime Video, promising to be just as stylish, dark and poignant as the film. So, you should watch that too.

Set in Gotham City’s gritty gangster underworld, The Penguin is a dark, crime-laden drama that will appeal to fans of both comic book adaptations and gambling. The show focuses on Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin, as he rises through the ranks to become one of Gotham’s most feared and powerful crime lords. Gambling plays a significant role in the show, with Cobblepot leveraging underground casinos, betting rings, and the illicit flow of money to solidify his power and influence.

While the Penguin’s Iceberg Casino has been a feature of Batman-related IP for many years (you’ll see it in Prime’s recent animated series Batman: Caped Crusader), in The Batman it was adapted into the Iceberg Lounge, a seedy, multi-story nightclub. It will be interesting to see what shape the villain’s evil lair takes in The Penguin, not to mention what role the city’s illicit gambling activity plays in the plot.

For gambling enthusiasts, The Penguin offers a glimpse into the intersection of organized crime and the gambling industry, showcasing the strategic and often brutal world of illegal betting. The show’s portrayal of the Penguin’s operations provides an intriguing look at how casinos and gambling dens can serve as both a lucrative business and a dangerous game of power and survival. With its dark tone, complex characters and gripping storyline, it’s a must-watch for anyone interested in seeing the sinister side of gambling.

Squid Game (Season 2) – December 2024

The first season of Squid Game became a global phenomenon, captivating audiences with its brutal take on survival and competition and becoming (by some metrics) Netflix’s most popular original series ever. The stakes are even higher in Squid Game 2, confirmed to air on Netflix on December 26, as the deadly games return with new twists and challenges. For gambling fans, the show’s premise is particularly intriguing: it’s a deadly gamble where the price of losing is life itself, and the rewards are unimaginable riches.

So far all we know about series two is from a cryptic teaser showing us little more than a series of numbers embossed into those now-iconic green tracksuits. There is, however, a glimpse of series one’s divorced protagonist Seong Gi-Hun, who looks to be returning for the new series. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be joined by any other familiar faces, or if he will beat all of the games again, but it’s clear that millions will be tuning in as soon as it premieres.

Whether you’re drawn to the suspenseful storyline, the psychological drama, or the show’s connection to real-world gambling, Squid Game 2 promises to be as gripping and intense as its predecessor, making it a must-watch for anyone who loves a good gamble.

Poker Face (Season 2) – Late 2024

Poker Face is a standout in this lineup, with its first season premiering in 2023. The highly anticipated second season is expected to debut in late 2024 or early 2025, with sources predicting this to be more towards January 2025, given that the previous season aired in January 2023. The show blends the cerebral appeal of a mystery with the thrill of high-stakes poker. Created by Rian Johnson (the director behind Knives Out) and starring the always entertaining Natasha Lyonne, the series follows a detective with an uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying—a skill that proves invaluable in the world of poker. Each episode is structured around a new mystery, with poker serving as the backdrop of the show, unraveling complex crimes and psychological duels.

It’s also worth tuning in to see the extent of Johnson’s address book, the sheer caliber of talent evidently impressed by his work on Knives Out and Glass Onion. Keep watching for long enough and you’ll see Adrien Brody, Chloë Sevigny, Ron Pearlman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jameela Jamil and David Catañeda. Exactly what tricks Johnson pulls to crowbar these people into his narrative is something you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Yet for poker fans, this is more than just a crime drama; it delves into the strategies, bluffs, and mind games that make poker such a compelling game. The show’s format, which mixes standalone mysteries with overarching storylines, keeps viewers engaged while also appealing to those who enjoy the intellectual challenge of poker. With its sharp writing, intriguing characters and suspenseful plot twists, Poker Face is sure to be a hit among both mystery lovers and poker enthusiasts.