When you think of classic horror movie tropes, it's easy to think of the obvious ones, like the last girl and the creepy underwater grabbing of a foot or leg by a disembodied hand.

One trope that many horror fans overlook or forget about is casinos. Casinos and gambling are often used in horror films, particularly abandoned or old casinos, which convey a sense of decay and age that can be used to chilling effect.

Throughout the genre, whether it's creature features, classic murder fests or contemporary thrillers, there are many horror movies that feature gambling and casinos, and use them as a backdrop for deadly tales.

After all, a casino is a thrilling place where individuals can make or break their fortunes. At their best, casinos are places of celebration; at their worst, they are places where you can lose a lot of money and can fall play to tricksters. As such, they’re ideal settings for thrillers and horror movies.

If you're interested in casinos and gambling, or you want to find out more about this often-underrated horror movie trope, then here are some of the best classic horror films featuring casinos.

Leprechaun 3

If you love campy, creature-feature horror movies, then this direct-to-video instalment of the classic Leprechaun series could be the perfect watch for you. Hollywood legend Warwick Davis stars as the leprechaun who decides to take on Las Vegas after he is bought back to life by an unsuspecting pawn shop buyer of a grotesque statue. The leprechaun is bought to life by a magic coin, which shouldn't be removed from his statue. When it is, the creature begins working his way around Vegas in a desperate search for it, killing anyone who gets in his way. The story is creepy, and the movie is a classic example of the campy 1990s slasher films that were unintentionally hilarious as well as gory.

Runner Runner

It's not quite a horror movie and is instead a bit more of a thriller, but Runner Runner remains an intriguing part of the genre. Another so-bad-it's-almost-good movie, it tells the story of Richie Furst, played by singing sensation Justin Timberlake, a Wall Street hotshot who is also a notorious online gambler. He gets sucked into the world of cheating at online gambling in an attempt to win big and cover his master's degree tuition and ends up dealing with the mob. The movie focuses heavily on online poker and gaming, which is becoming increasingly popular in real life. If you’re eager to learn about online gambling and how you can make money from it- without cheating- then you can check out some popular casino reviews and insight on www.onlinecasinos.co.uk. The site offers a range of reviews and insights, so you can hone your skills and start having fun playing casino games online.

Spirits of the Dead

A classic Italian/ American film that features a star-studded cast, including Jane Fonda, Bridget Bardot and Terrance Stamp, Spirits Of The Dead is split into 3 unique segments. The second section of the movie, called William Wilson and is set in Italy under Austrian occupation. The main character, the titular Wilson, is a gambler who has led a murky existence before rushing to confession to inform a priest of a murder he committed after a mysterious doppelganger lies and claims he cheated. Wilson stabs him to death in a rage, and then runs to share his story with a man of God and seek forgiveness. The story is all about gambling and card games, and is set partially in a gaming house where Wilson is playing. The story is part of the series, and the entire film is a masterclass in classic horror, inspired by the stories of Edgar Allen Poe.

Steve Niles’ Remains

Based on a comic book, Steve Niles’ Remains is a zombie horror movie about a group of gamblers who hunker down in a Reno casino to survive a nuclear attack, only to find out that the outside world has been turned into zombies. The survivors trap the zombies in various parts of the casino and start to hatch a plan to escape their wrath. The movie wasn’t beloved by critics but it does have a small cult following thanks to its links to a comic book series of the same name, and it’s a fun watch for anyone who loves zombie flicks.

Vegas Vampires

If you love campy, corny horror movies that got a bad rap from reviewers but are so bad they’ll make you laugh, then you should definitely watch Vegas Vampires. The name really tells you everything you need to know: a gang of vampires descend on Las Vegas to find brides to help them breed the next generation of bloodsuckers. On the way, they encounter police officers and gamblers and cause mayhem and destruction. The movie was panned by critics who thought it was predictable and a poorly written, but it is a comic turn that’s great for anyone who enjoys vampire movies and wants to enjoy something that’s so bad it’ll make you chuckle.

Dead Man's Hand

Named after a classic poker hand, Dead Man's Hand is a gruesome and bloody movie directed by Charles Band. It tells the story of a young man who inherits a run-down casino from his late uncle. He and some friends visit the property to see what they can do with it, only to discover that it was the setting of a bloody massacre by the mob, and that there are two undead mobsters still living there and desperately seeking revenge. The film has strong reviews and features great writing and acting from its relatively unknown but creative cast. It’s entirely set in an abandoned casino, and it’s a gripping horror movie that will keep you entertained.

Casinos have long played a role in the horror and thriller film genres, and there are many classic films that feature casinos and gambling. These are some of the best ones we’ve come across that could be great for anyone who loves horror and gambling.