If you put someone in front of a camera and a dealer behind a table, there's an instant atmosphere of risk and an influx of adrenaline. Beyond what happens in real-life casinos, many films have managed to keep people interested in the gambling bug – some with slow-building, nail-biting scenes, others with dramatic, shocking acts that are just short of insane.

Over the years, a handful of films have inspired interest in attending or returning to casinos, and have served to capture the imagination of many. Keep reading to discover our favorite casino-inspired films that are a sure-fire way to recapture the excitement.

Casinos on the big screen

Casino scenes always make for good movies. The tension in the air, the shifts in light and shadow, the hint of danger and the shots where you just have to hold your breath while you're on the edge of your seat are what cinema excels at depicting.

The cameras are frequently fast-paced, sweeping over tables and games, zooming in and out, making sure everyone can experience the thrill and the pulse-pounding tension. And of course, the emotions that players display are all easily caught on camera and allow everyone watching to fully immerse themselves in the game.

Casinos: Why the movies keep bringing us back for more

There are three simple reasons. First, we all like a bet, whether it's on actual money, a game or a friendly competition. Second, there's something about being in a casino and the energy that just thrills people and makes it hard to walk away when there's the chance to gamble.

And third, casinos are a tried and true concept. Gambling has always been around, and that goes without mentioning the newfound popularity of gambling, thanks to iGaming and online casinos. There are thousands of online casinos out there that people enjoy, and many people play every day. Why? Because they are great in many ways. Just take a look at any of the top-rated casinos reviewed on reputable sites such as askgamblers.com – they are often jam-packed with incredible features.

The classic era

For many people, casinos first appeared in film in the early years of cinema, when they were often portrayed as slightly mysterious places where men in sharp suits would spend hours sitting around poker tables, going head to head in cutthroat games. Since then, it has been such movies that have really cemented that allure. Directors will frequently go back to this idea of the cool, often suave player sitting at the table, one eye on the game, another on the people around them.

And who can forget the rise of the casino gentleman? Many actors in the cinema of these years have come to represent everything that's trendy and charismatic about playing in casinos. Whether it was the older, classic stars of that time or even the slightly more maverick leads in other films, these performers managed to bring a new level of allure to casino games on the big screen.

James Bond

A discussion on casino films wouldn't be complete without at least a nod in the direction of James Bond. In some of the earliest Bond films, scenes were peppered with elements of casino action, and this has continued to this day. Baccarat. Poker. Even a spot of blackjack. From Bond's early adventures through to the more modern films, there's a game to be played, risks to be taken, and of course, the chance to see some seriously brilliant and iconic scenes at the movies.

Gambling games have always been a part of Bond's make-up as a character, and more often than not, as a setting for some of the cooler moments. Even if Bond's time spent in casinos and at tables has become a little less flashy in the modern age of his films, the unique drama that comes with casino scenes is exactly what the franchise continues to pull off so successfully.

Recent releases

Fast-forward a few more years and you have a resurgence of both big-budget casino gambling scenes and a new slew of more independent films about people who gamble for a living. Films have also experimented with how they include a casino in their storylines.

Some might focus on the atmosphere of casinos and the lifestyle of those who make gambling their business. Others have included casino elements in other crime, heist or caper films to allow audiences to see some of the action and gambling-focused scenes as part of a bigger narrative.

A timeless stage for cinematic drama

From the early films and cinematic depictions of casinos to now, these scenes have kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Gambling films and casino classics have entrenched the action in films and given rise to a whole generation of casino players who are still going strong. The James Bond franchise and iconic '90s films have continued to push casinos into the cinematic spotlight and remind audiences everywhere that a casino is a great setting in just about any type of film.

Film is all about evoking emotions and being taken somewhere else for a little while. Casinos and casino games do precisely that for an audience.

Prince Harry has told friends he feels "totally lost and without purpose" after stepping down from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded nearly 20 years ago, Wonderwall.com can reveal.

The under-fire duke was forced out following an explosive power struggle that has engulfed the organization in a racism and mismanagement row.

Harry, 40, cut ties with Sentebale earlier this year amid a bitter fallout with chairwoman Sophie Chandauka, 45, which prompted a formal investigation by the U.K. Charity Commission. 

While the regulator found no evidence of bullying or harassment, it delivered a damning verdict on the governance of the charity and said failures by all parties had severely damaged its reputation.

According to a source close to the prince, Harry was left reeling after what he sees as a "hostile takeover" of the charity he set up in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, 58. 

The insider told us, "Harry is devastated. He feels totally lost and without purpose now that Sentebale has been taken from him. He believed in the work, and to walk away was crushing. He always wanted to copy his mother Princess Diana's charity work, and to have this taken from him is a huge blow. He is also marooned in showbiz-land in [Los Angeles] thanks to his wife Meghan [Markle]'s desperate quest to be seen as a celebrity. Basically, he just wants to quit the States and move back to Britain where he can be part of the royals again, charity work – and have a few beers with his old rugby pals. His life is, for want of a better phrase, now in the toilet."

The Commission's report into Harry's charity, released in April, revealed the scale of the breakdown at the good cause, which was once seen as a cornerstone of the duke's post-royal philanthropic identity. 

It cited "significant governance weaknesses" and criticized trustees for failing to manage internal disputes, which had spilled out into the public domain.

"The regulator has criticized all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly," the report stated. "The then trustees' failure to resolve disputes internally severely impacted the charity's reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally."

While the report cleared Harry of personal wrongdoing, it made no secret of the dysfunction shrouding the charity's leadership, ultimately prompting the resignation of not only the prince, but also all other trustees, including co-founder Prince Seeiso.

Privately, the duke is said to be angry with the Commission's neutral tone. 

"He feels they've sat on the fence," a source said. "He wanted accountability. Instead, the person he believes created the chaos remains in place."

Sentebale, which means "forget me not" in Sesotho, was founded in memory of both princes' mothers and aimed to support children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa. 

The departure of both founders marks a dramatic fall from grace for the once-admired initiative.

In a statement issued by Harry in the wake of him quitting the group, he said, "From the inception of Sentebale nearly 20 years ago, Prince Seeiso and I have had a clear goal: to support the children and young people in Southern Africa in memory of our mothers. 

"What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself."

Chandauka, a Zimbabwean-born lawyer and corporate executive, has not responded publicly to Harry's claims. 

Her allies argue she sought to professionalize and modernize the charity, which they say had grown too dependent on a single high-profile figure.

But to Harry, the damage appears personal and profound. 

As one longtime friend said, "This charity was a link to his mother, to his military service, and to Africa, where he's always found meaning. Losing it has left a real void."

The Duchess of York was the "Duchess of Greed" – who gorged on slabs of meat every day, had a butler put her watercress on ice and racked up millions in debts, a new book sensationally claims.

Wonderwall.com can reveal the tome, based on four years of research and hundreds of interviews, depicts Sarah Ferguson's life as a swirl of extravagance, unpaid bills, questionable charity deals and roast dinners fit for a Tudor monarch. 

The royal family has tried to stop the publication of renowned historian Andrew Lownie's Entitled, about the rise and fall of Fergie and her shamed husband Prince Andrew, now a royal exile and recluse thanks to his scandalous relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

But Wonderwall.com has seen advanced extracts from the book, on shelves later this month, and can reveal Lownie claims Ferguson routinely demanded whole sides of beef, legs of lamb and roast chickens for her nightly dinners – food that often went untouched and was discarded the next day. 

A source backed up his claims, telling us she devoured feasts that would make Henry VIII proud. 

But her excesses went way beyond food.

Lownie's book says her royal butler was forced to begin his day at 4:30 a.m. to chill watercress on ice for the duchess, now 65, while personal trainers and hairdressers were paid hundreds of pounds an hour to wait until she emerged – sometimes not until the late afternoon.

Ferguson's lavish lifestyle continued even as her debts spiraled out of control. At one point in the mid-1990s, she owed as much $5.3 million to around 200 creditors, according to Lownie. 

His book said an internal audit found her annual spending exceeded $1.1million, including $400,000 on staff, $200,000 on gifts and $67,000 on parties and flowers.

In just one week, she spent $33,000 in Bloomingdale's and $4,000 on a champagne tea party for 150 removal men. 

She lived in a series of grand homes – including an eight-bedroom estate with a chauffeur's flat, tennis court and a gipsy caravan for her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

According to the book, her American charity, Chances for Children, operated more like her private office. 

Less than half of its income went to beneficiaries, with the rest used for personal staff, perfume sourcing and booking diet doctors.

She was regularly bailed out by others. 

Lownie reports Queen Elizabeth II personally paid off several of Ferguson's debts – including a demand from her bank Coutts for $665,000 in 1994. But even royal patience wore thin. 

A Palace statement in 1996 said the Duchess's finances were no longer Her Majesty's concern.

Friends and staff also grew weary. 

One aide described the toxic environment by saying, "Car journeys were the worst. She'd sit on the phone screaming at employees. Then she'd wonder why we were unhappy."

By the late 1990s, Ferguson had become the first royal to appear in a television commercial – promoting Ocean Spray cranberry juice for $500,000. 

She also endorsed hair straighteners on QVC, reportedly earning six figures for her appearances.

Yet, Lownie writes, Ferguson remained in denial about her financial strife. 

One friend recounted her explosive reaction to seeing a bank letter, saying, "She just doesn't want to know."

As late as 2010, she had amassed new debts – including a $9,000 unpaid bill for a pastel portrait of her daughters. 

She lived with up to 22 staff and continued spending thousands on travel, luxury goods and spa treatments, even while her companies collapsed and creditors circled.

Lownie said, "The story of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is, like Prince Andrew, marked by ambition and financial recklessness. The bubbly young redhead was initially seen as a breath of fresh air when she married him in 1986, but her exploitation of her royal status to make money has seen her join her ex-husband as a hugely diminished figure. She partied, she took lovers, she was indiscreet, causing Princess Margaret to tell the duchess, 'You have done more to bring shame on the Royal Family than could ever have been imagined. Clearly you have never considered the damage you are doing us all. How dare you discredit us?'"

"But what was every bit as astonishing was her extravagant lifestyle, her excess. She spent money on an epic and often mindless scale, money that more often than not she did not have," he continued. "This particularly came to light after her separation from Andrew in 1992. In the summer of 1994, she rented Domaine La Fontaine near Cannes for $26,600. Though it was dubbed self-catering, she was accompanied by a butler, two housekeepers, a dresser, a general assistant and a nanny. Two other assistants flew in and out; two Scotland Yard protection officers were there to protect the royal daughters."

One holidaymaker who met Ferguson on a break told Lownie, "It was just non-stop partying. She kept wanting to throw parties, stay up all night. She organized one bash and spent hours telling dirty jokes. It was most uncomfortable."

According to Lownie, "By November 1995, by her own admission, Sarah's debts exceeded $4.9 million and she needed bank approval to pay even modest cheques. But even then, according to a member of her staff, she always believed there would be 'a deal around the corner' that would solve all her problems."

A sacked staff member said about her greed, "Every night she demands a whole side of beef, a leg of lamb and a chicken, which are laid out on the dining room table like a medieval banquet. It's a feast that would make Henry VIII proud. But often there is just her and her girls, Bea and Eugenie, and most of it is wasted. There is no attempt to keep it to have cold the next day. It just sits there all night, and the next day it's thrown away."

Could we be getting a John Tucker Must Die sequel?

While speaking exclusively with Wonderwall.com at Jill Zarin's Luxury Luncheon in the Hamptons, Jesse Metcalfe said fans should get ready for the beloved teen comedy to make a return.

"I would obviously love to do a sequel to John Tucker Must Die," the Hollywood hunk said. "There's a script out there, which I think is pretty good. It's over at Twentieth Century Fox. But I think it could be done really well. I loved it."

"I think that there's an appetite for it," Metcalfe continued of a potential followup to the 2006 hit. "So I don't know why it hasn't gotten done yet, but maybe it will."

In the meantime, the 46-year-old is focused on his skincare line, Nutrl Skin. "I spent two years formulating the product and developing the brand that we launched in April," he said.

"We've already done two appearances on Good Morning America's 'Deals and Steals.' We're going to be on The View in September, and we're here at the Jill Zarin's celebrity brand event. So things are going pretty well," he continued.

When he decided to make the leap from Hollywood to the beauty industry, Metcalfe made sure he was doing it for the right reasons. "Everyone kept asking me what my skincare routine was on the carpet," the Desperate Housewives alum said.

"I really wanted to start a brand," he added. "I tried my hand at a couple other brands that didn't really work. I tried a Bronco restoration business. I tried a short-lived clothing line where I was making these really high-end cashmere sweaters that really didn't work. But I've always been passionate about skincare. Because I had acne as a teenager, it really did a number on my self-esteem."

With decades in Tinseltown under his belt, Metcalfe wanted to make a product to address his own needs. "I've been in front of the camera for 26 years. I've tried every product under the sun," he said.

"I wanted to create something that cuts through the noise of a really cluttered skincare market," the Fortress actor explained. "It's really all about marketing and creating a product that was super simple but effective. It's a lab-grade product, but it's incredibly gentle. It's great for all skin types."

"I put glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid in a lot of the products. I have peptide complexes — one's called Matrixyl 3000, which boosts collagen production by nearly 3,350 percent," he said. "There's an ascorbic acid vitamin c serum which is really great. All of the products are a gel, not a cream. They're very light and absorb into the skin incredibly well. I've been told by a lot of makeup influencers, my girlfriend [singer Helene Immel], some of my girlfriend's friends, that it's a great pre-makeup routine."

Prince Harry stepped down from his role as the patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded, when Dr. Sophie Chandauka refused to resign from her role as chair after accusing him of bullying her. He's now said to be "utterly devastated" by what he perceives to be a "hostile takeover of his life's work."

The Charity Commission for England and Wales found that there was no evidence of "widespread or systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny or misogynoir" at Sentebale despite Candauka accusations.

An insider told DailyMail.com that Harry believes Chandauka "cajoled her way to a position of power and influence" and that he dislikes her so much, he refuses to "even use her honorary title of doctor, such is the depth of their animosity."

Harry and his camp reportedly feel that Chandauka would rather see the non-profit "go down in flames" than abandon her role. "She shopped them all to the Charity Commission when the trustees raised their concerns about the charity's governance," an insider said.

Another source alleged Harry said there is "no way in hell" he would ever work with Sentebale again — "or at least not while Sophie Chandauka and her new stool pigeons [new trustees] were in place."

The duke has also changed his perspective on how to run a charity. If he starts a new one, he "would categorically not do it under the jurisdiction of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, which he has no faith in and would go as far to say that he believes isn't fit for purpose," the source said.

The Duke of Sussex's reps, however, shut down the claims about Harry's mindset and branded them "a distortion of the facts."

"While we don't recognize the source of these quotes, it would be accurate to say that the Duke is, of course, deeply upset by this entire ordeal; though he remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he began 19 years ago — that being to support the children of Lesotho and Botswana living with HIV/AIDS and struggling with mental health issues," Harry's rep said in a statement.

The probe found no "overreach" by either party but criticized both Harry and Chandauka for allowing their grievances with one another "to play out publicly." The duo's "failure to resolve disputes internally severely impacted the charity's reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally," the Commission said.

"Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale's co-founder and former patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex," Harry's rep pointed out in a statement to People.

Prince Andrew wasn't only pals with Jeffrey Epstein – Wonderwall.com can reveal he also brazenly invited the convicted predator into the most royal circle of all.

On June 22, 2000, the Duke of York, then 40, hosted Epstein and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, in the sacred space of the Royal Box at Ascot on Ladies' Day.

It was the same day Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother were in attendance at the event – one of the late monarch's most cherished fixtures of the year. 

We can now reveal a photo capturing the shocking moment of the trio appearing in the private enclosure was later given pride of place in Epstein's New York house of horrors, where underage girls were trafficked and abused.

The image, which sources say was displayed prominently in a hallway of Epstein's labyrinthine $80 million Manhattan townhouse, has become a symbol of the disgraced financier's access to the highest levels of power. 

"This was no accident," said a source with knowledge of the layout of the residence. "That picture was meant to be seen – it was a trophy for Jeffrey. "Being seen in the Royal Box with Andrew, the Queen and her mother there too sent a very loud message about his access to the highest corridors of power on the planet."

Ascot's Royal Box is strictly invitation-only, typically reserved for close friends and senior guests of the monarch. 

The fact Epstein – a financier already with a questionable reputation at the time – was present has sparked renewed scrutiny of Andrew's judgment and the true depths of their friendship.

At the time, the Duke had already been photographed with Epstein at other royal locations. 

Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 aged 66 while awaiting trial for trafficking charges, was invited to Balmoral in 1999 and Windsor Castle in 2001. 

He also attended a shooting weekend at Sandringham that December. 

All are private royal residences, entry to which requires personal invitation from a senior royal.

Sources close to the Royal Household said the Queen, who died in 2022, would have been "horrified" had she known the extent of Epstein's crimes or his presence in her inner sanctum. 

"The Royal Box was always a sacred and safe space for her," one said. "That Andrew brought Epstein there, and on that day of all days, was a total betrayal of the Queen by her son."

While it remains unclear whether Epstein and the Queen were in the same room during the event, the symbolic weight of the setting has left observers appalled. "It was a clear attempt by Epstein to align himself with royalty – to suggest legitimacy, influence, protection," one Palace aide said.

The photograph has resurfaced amid growing pressure on U.S. authorities to release sealed records from Epstein's grand jury proceedings. 

This week, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas for documents relating to the investigation, including files involving Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and others.

Andrew has faced years of scandal over his association with Epstein, including allegations by one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre, that he also abused her when she was 17. 

He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and settled a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre in 2022 for a reported $16 million without admitting liability.

Andrew's military titles and patronages have been stripped from him and he has long ceased all official royal duties in the wake of his Epstein scandal.

A source told us, "Despite his denials, his close ties to Epstein remain one of the most damaging episodes in modern royal history."

Donald Trump and his administration continue to undermine the clean energy movement.

The Environmental Protection Agency has ended a $7 billion grant program intended to establish residential solar projects for more than 900,000 lower-income households across America.

Funding for the environmental effort was established during Joe Biden's presidency under his Solar for All program. Grants for rooftop solar and community solar gardens were given to 60 people, states, tribes and regions.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin confirmed the funds — $20 billion in "green bank" money for development projects to up renewable and clean energy, plus $7 billion for the solar program — were cut in Trump's One Big, Beautiful Bill, which passed last month.

"The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,″ Zeldin said in a statement shared to social media. "Today, the Trump EPA is announcing that we are ending Solar for All for good, saving U.S. taxpayers ANOTHER $7 BILLION!"

Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders slammed the move by right-wingers. "At a time when working families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy costs and the planet is literally burning, sabotaging this program isn't just wrong — it's absolutely insane. We will fight back to preserve this enormously important program," he said in a statement.

Zeldin previously called the "green bank" funds "a clear cut case of waste and abuse" and a "gold bar" scheme. The Trump EPA has argued that they have the authority to rescind the money that the agency already obligated.

A baby was brought to tears when King Charles III went to greet the infant while visiting the RAF (Royal Air Force) base Lossiemouth in Scotland. A photographer took a snap of the monarch cooing over the crying child while greeting military families.

Well, there was one person who wasn't pleased to see the King Visit RAF Lossiemouth!👀

King Charles visited the base to present a new Standard to 42 Torpedo Bomber Squadron.🙌👏

Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/yBrvsTu7yy pic.twitter.com/tINYcFWYdU

— BFBS Forces News (@ForcesNews) August 6, 2025

At one point, Charles could be seen leaning in toward the child and apparently cracking a joke, prompting the baby's parents to burst into laughter. The BFBS Forces News X account shared the moment on the social media platform.

"Well, there was one person who wasn't pleased to see the King Visit RAF Lossiemouth!" the British Forces Broadcasting Service X account captioned the clip.

Aside from the funny interaction, Charles was able to celebrate military families in the region.

"Today, we also recognize the vital role played by your families and friends, some of whom I am delighted to see can join us today," the king said in a speech at the gathering. "Their unwavering support is the foundation upon which this squadron's success is built."

"On behalf of the nation, I can only offer all the families my heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices you make and the strength you provide," he told the troops.