Movie Night: Rounders
Click here for the H.Ed.G.E. Your Bets™ Movie Night Logic Model.

It is best to show the selected movie in a theater if possible. The classroom type chairs are not conducive to retention. Additionally, it is recommended that the person posing these questions and making comments watches the movie with the students so that the nuances of the film can be fresh in everyone's minds.

"Rounders": Synopsis of the film
Law student Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) loses his entire savings to Russian club owner Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). Mike then turns away from cards, devoting his attentions to his law studies and his live-in girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol), who's concerned when Mike's former gambling buddy Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison. She has good reason to worry, since it takes Worm only a matter of minutes to draw Mike back into poker action. When she learns Mike has returned to the poker clubs, she moves out, and Mike begins to lose interest in his studies. Worm has a pre-prison debt, and the threatening Grama (Michael Rispoli) wants the money. Mike not only indulges the irresponsible Worm, he gets involved in Worm's debts. When Grama demands $15,000 on a five-day deadline, the two buddies go into high gear with a non-stop, no-sleep gambling binge that spirals downward toward an ultimate confrontation with Teddy KGB.

Questions for students after viewing the movie "Rounders":

1. What warning signs of Problem Gambling did you see in the movie? (see handout of warning signs)
2. Does Mike gamble with anything other than money?
3. What turn of events was Mike's 'trigger' to start gambling again?
   a. Judge's game
   b. Worm's influence
   c. His first win
4. Was he just trying to help his friend?
5. Is he simply feeding an addiction and his roller coaster ride will continue to lead him to make more bad decisions? Or will he win big and live happily ever after?
6. What is the difference between his professor's decision to go against his family's tradition of becoming a rabbi, and Mike's decision to play poker as a profession?
7. Is it his "destiny" to play cards as a profession?
8. Does Mike fit the description of a pathological gambler? (see below)
9. Is Mike a professional gambler AND a pathological gambler?

Definitions:

The definition of Gambling is: The act of risking money, property, or something else of value on an activity with an uncertain outcome.

Problem Gambling occurs when gambling interferes with usual activities and responsibilities, and has other negative consequences.

Pathological Gambling is the most severe form of problem gambling. It is persistent, maladaptive gambling behavior that compromises, disrupts and damages personal, family or vocational pursuits leading to adverse consequences.

Professional Gamblers attempt to earn a living through disciplined use of their skills in gambling. Many would-be professional gamblers lose control and become problem gamblers. The bookie's occupation is illegal gambling operator, not professional gambler.