TV Specials and Documentaries That Explore Gambling Culture
Last updated: September 22, 2025
Players in the UK are spoiled for choice when it comes to where to play their favorite casino games. New platforms are constantly emerging, and the bonuses for new players just keep getting better and better. If you’re looking for one, you can check out expert reviews of UK nonGamstop casinos and find a site that meets your needs the best.
However, that’s not the only aspect of gambling culture that offers abundance. If you need a break between your sessions but you don’t want to feel too detached from the activity, then watching a TV special or a documentary about it may be exactly what you’re looking for. With gambling being such a widespread phenomenon, it inspired a lot of filmmakers to bring true stories to the TV screen.
That brings us to the top five TV specials and documentaries that explore gambling culture.
Gambling for a Living
People often assume that a little bit of luck is all it takes to win big at a casino. While there have been instances of people casually walking into an establishment and hitting a jackpot, turning gambling into a sustainable source of income is by far more complex.
That is exactly what this 48 Hours Extra piece focuses on. The documentary shines a spotlight on the lives of people who have decided to make gambling their full-time career. It shows the dedication, skills, and strategies required to succeed as a professional gambler.
Appearing in Gambling for a Living are pro gamblers, each with their unique playstyle and a game of choice. You get to hear more coming from poker players, blackjack players, and sports bettors, as well as how they’ve turned these activities into their full-time jobs.
The documentary also features other people working in the industry and even psychologists who discuss the mindset needed to make a living through gambling.
All In: The Poker Movie
For many, poker is the first thing they imagine when thinking about casinos. This is no surprise, given that the game offers a perfect blend of luck, skill, and social interaction that very few others can match.
What All In: The Poker Movie focuses on is the explosive growth of the game in the early 2000s. It was in this period that poker took the world by storm and evolved from a hobby into a global phenomenon.
The documentary by Douglas Tirola features numerous professional players and poker experts who explore each step of the poker boom in this period. Some of the biggest names making an appearance are Chris Moneymaker, Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, and many more.
Also featured in the documentary is Matt Damon, who shared his experience in the movie Rounders, which focuses on underground and high-stakes poker.
You can find All In: The Poker Movie on Prime Video, and it’ll take you about 1 hour and 45 minutes to watch it in full.
Inside the Edge: A Professional Blackjack Adventure
Blackjack is a casino game that requires both skill and luck, since it’s the player who makes key decisions that influence the outcome of every round. Some players have mastered the art of counting cards and calculating their chances of winning every time the cards are dealt.
Inside the Edge: A Professional Blackjack Adventure deals with generalities and follows a player named KC who is the perfect embodiment of this type of player. The documentary takes the viewer inside his world as he travels from one casino to another, relying on skill and quick thinking to stay one step ahead of the house.
KC wanted the trip to be the last chapter of his career as a blackjack player and the director Christopher Buddy saw it as the perfect opportunity to document the reality behind the myths often associated with professional gambling and the lifestyle that comes with it.
The 2019 documentary is available on Prime Video and Apple TV+, and runs for around 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Now Place Your Bets: The History of Sports Betting
This six-part documentary depicts exactly what the title suggests — the entire history of sports betting in Las Vegas and how it went on to become a billion-dollar industry. Written and directed by Dennis Tobler, Now Place Your Bets: The History of Sports Betting explores everything from the early days of horse tracks to modern casino options players have at their disposal.
The film features interviews with some of the biggest names in the world of sports betting, personal footage, and photographs that represent the industry’s journey all the way from its beginnings.
Also appearing in the documentary are various other professionals who work in the sports betting sector. Oddsmakers, journalists, and many more give their own takes on what it is that propelled the industry to the status it has today.
Now Place Your Bets: The History of Sports Betting is narrated by Trip Mitchell and will take slightly less than two hours of your time. The documentary is available on Prime Video.
30 for 30: The Legend of Jimmy the Greek
30 for 30 is an ESPN series of stories focusing on many events and people in sports history. Episode no. 6 of Volume 1 focuses on legendary Jimmy Snyder a.k.a. Jimmy the Greek, who made a fortune by betting on sports and eventually made it to The NFL Today as a commentator.
The 51-minute episode directed by Fritz Mitchell tells the story of Jimmy’s life, from a personal tragedy in his childhood to how he went on to become one of the most famous sports bettors of all time. It depicts how he transformed making predictions into a form of art and a science.
What makes 30 for 30: The Legend of Jimmy the Greek special is how it shows Jimmy as more than just a gambler. He was a pioneer who brought betting culture to the national spotlight and showed the audiences what’s really going on behind the numbers behind their favorite sports competitions.
ESPN also doesn’t shy away from talking about Jimmy’s sacking from CBS and his controversial comments that preceded it.
Conclusion
Watching one of these TV specials or documentaries is a perfect way to learn more about the history of gambling culture and look into the lives of pro players. It can serve as a way of taking a break from actually playing and deepening your appreciation for the popular hobby.
