In 2017, the crime film “Molly’s Game” made the name Molly Bloom known to a wider public. Directed by Aaron Sorkins, the Molly Bloom film, starring Jessica Chastain, is a fascinating glimpse into the world of high-stakes poker in secretive backrooms. The flick tells how Molly Bloom uses poker to become the companion of celebrities and the super-rich. Here’s the real story behind the film’s plot. For more information on all aspects of poker, as well as non GamStop casinos in general!
A Life Like in the Movies!
The life of Molly Bloom is ideal film material. Her athletic career as a member of the US national ski team came to an abrupt end after a nasty fall during a qualifying race for the Olympic Games. Molly started a new life in Los Angeles in 2003 where, as the right-hand man of a CEO, she connected with his passion for poker and organized private games for him.
Molly Bloom quickly recognized poker as a suitable way to break into the world of the super-rich. She hosted the most coveted poker rounds in the world. Hollywood greats, Wall Street magnates and captains of industry met at their gaming table. But the FBI was also interested in her, she became addicted to drugs and threatened by the Russian mafia: one of her emissaries even pushed the barrel of his revolver into Molly’s mouth. In 2014, she published her memoir entitled Molly’s Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the World’s Most Exclusive High-Risk Poker Hands. The book became the inspiration for the Molly Bloom film.
The Early Years
Molly initially made ends meet in Los Angeles with a series of jobs, including as a waitress. Eventually she became an executive assistant in a company. As her boss’ right-hand man, she also helped organize his private poker games. Access was only granted to those who brought at least $10,000 in entry fee to play at the Viper Room nightclub on Hollywood’s legendary Sunset Strip. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Toby Maguire turned up there. Since Molly Bloom hardly knew poker, she went to Google to familiarize herself with the game and its intricacies. Soon after, she was able to host her own poker parties and attract heavyweights of the high-risk game to her tables. She started her own business, Molly Bloom Inc, in 2007.
In her book, Molly Bloom recalls how Spiderman actor Toby Maguire made millions from her but rarely left tips. Once, she says, he offered her $1,000. However, he demanded that she bark like a seal. Later, Maguire sneered at Molly’s loss of customers and called her to let her know how pleased he was that her previous guests were now going to the competition.
Dark Experiences in New York
In 2009, with Molly’s business in Los Angeles declining, she continued with exclusive poker games for very wealthy players in New York. At this point, she began to lose control of her life. She was increasingly dependent on drugs to keep herself awake as the host of late-night poker parties. To calm down, she used alcohol. According to her own memories, she suffered from anxiety attacks and depression. She now also pocketed part of the stakes as a house share, which means she was no longer just balancing on the edge of the law, but exceeded it.
In her memoirs, she also describes how the Russian mafia approached her in 2010 and wanted to extort protection money from her. Molly Bloom declined. A Mafioso then broke into her home, beat her up, stole money and jewelry and put a pistol to her head. Still, Molly Bloom continued, unable to resist the dark side of the poker world. As she described it in an interview: “I lost myself when I got big money and was ruled by greed. It’s sad when you see yourself going to the dogs morally.”
In Trouble With the Law
In 2011, the FBI busted one of Molly’s poker hands. The FBI agents became aware of their activities in the course of a fraud investigation into one of their players, Bradley Rudermann. Rudermann had made money with pyramid schemes and carried it to the poker table. Court evaluations revealed that he gambled away $5 million of his illegal earnings there. The lawsuits also resulted in some of the names of participants in the backroom poker hands becoming public, including actors and professional gamblers such as Toby Maguire, Nick Cassavetes, Gabe Kaplan and Dan Bilzerian.
In 2013, poker princess Molly Bloom was arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling and money laundering. She faced up to ten years in prison. She got off with a year’s probation, a $200,000 fine and 200 hours of community service. However, her fortune was also gone.
Everything on 1 Card – The Book & the Film
Molly Bloom has steadfastly refused to reveal the names of her clients. In her memoirs, too, she only named those who were already known. The book helped her pay off her large debts incurred by the costs of the court case. It was her idea to follow up the book with a Molly Bloom film, which she convinced director Aaron Sorkin to do.
The film follows the true story remarkably closely and is based on the skiing accident. The Viper Room is slightly alienated as the Cobra Club. However, Bloom’s lawyer in the film, played by Idris Elba, is fictitious. It has been suggested that director Sorkin used this character to portray his own relationship with Molly Bloom, which turned from initial skepticism to respect.
The film was a commercial success, also popularizing online poker and earning Sorkin an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay Adaptation. It’s also striking proof that reality can eclipse fiction.
