The gambling industry might have grown exponentially in recent years, thanks in part to the advent of online casinos, but gambling has been one of our favourite pastimes for thousands of years. It’s no surprise, then, that it often crops up in films and TV shows in some form or another. They often feature games we know and love, or games that are completely new inventions. Here are five films and shows that feature casinos that you’d love to visit – or at least watch from a safe distance.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

When The Last Jedi was released, it provoked a strong backlash. A lot of people were unhappy with the film, particularly with the section where the characters visit an alien casino. Some people claimed it didn’t add much to the film’s plot, but one thing that can’t be denied is that the casino looks like a great place to visit. It’s full of colourful aliens in elaborate costumes and is definitely classier than some other places on this list.

The ‘space casino’ theme is certainly one that’s proved popular, perhaps more so than Star Wars: The Last Jedi even was. At online casino sites like Paddy Power, for instance, the space theme is combined with slots gameplay in titles such as Galactic Streak and Stars Awakening to keep players coming back for more.

Batman Forever

Batman Forever is the sixth Batman film, and the only one to star Val Kilmer as the masked superhero. One scene sees the two villains, The Riddler and Two-Face, robbing Gotham’s glittering Excelsior Casino. That’s not the film’s only link to gambling, though. Two-Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones makes all his decisions based on the toss of a coin, which is the hallmark of this classic villain.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is also full of elaborate costumes, but no one would describe it as classy. These days, people can bet on all kinds of sports, from horse racing to boxing. In The Hunger Games, which is set in a dystopian future, things are taken one step further. In the trilogy of films, the richest citizens place bets on the titular Hunger Games. It’s a dystopian series for a reason…

Battlestar Galactica

In the remake of Battlestar Galactica, which aired between 2004 and 2009, the characters were often seen playing a card game called Triad. Fans latched on to it, and you can now buy your own set of Triad cards online to play with friends. The game is played with a set of hexagonal cards, and although the rules of the game were never actually explained in the show, the fans didn’t care and were happy to make up their own rules.

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

The third film in the Mad Max series is best known for starring Tina Turner – she also sang the film’s theme song. The Thunderdome of the title is a domed arena full of weapons, in which two gladiators battle it out, while onlookers can watch and place bets on which one of the fighters will survive and get to leave the dome. In the film, Max, played by Mel Gibson, ends up fighting for his life in the Thunderdome. You’ll have to watch to find out if he wins.

It’s no surprise that gambling and betting plays an important role in films and shows like these. It adds more excitement, and the element of chance means you’re never sure what will happen next. And with the rise of the online casino industry, there’s bound to be more and more films incorporating games like these.