I wouldn't argue with your limited scope of examples, but you need to open up a bit and expand your cinematic knowledge. It's also hard to compare a narrative to a documentary. 1973 and 1974 gave film arguably it's two greatest gambling films and characters laying the odds. And 2015 gave us a real good indie gambling film. Robert Altman's class, "California Spit." Elliot Gould nailed his roles as Charlie Walters in humor and the mentality of a gambler. Trailer http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041Y3VRU/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_gbo-wb0XJR24C Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kr4cLdvtZ0 The original, "The Gambler" from 1973 Sweating a game in the bathtub scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FTkkqza7o And who doesn't like a road trip gambling film? Who doesn't like a broke guy making a large wager on Gonzaga using credit in a restroom? Mississippi Grind Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooca5idaNSk I also like Rounders, The Hustler, The Color of Money, and The Cooler. Hard Eight and The Sting may not be straight forward gambling films, but they are well made too.