Molly Bloom’s rise from Olympic-class skier to underground poker mastermind was immortalized in the 2017 biographical drama Molly’s Game, directed by Aaron Sorkin. Although the story spans high-profile cities like Los Angeles and New York, the filming took place largely in Toronto and parts of NYC.
Bloom’s Olympic-Class Background
Before becoming the central figure in one of the most elite underground gambling networks in the world, Molly Bloom was an Olympic-class skier with a future carved out in competitive sports. Her trajectory shifted dramatically after a spinal injury derailed her ski career.
Bloom, known for her intelligence and tenacity, later immersed herself in Los Angeles nightlife and soon became the architect of a high-stakes poker scene that attracted A-list celebrities, financial moguls, and billionaires. Her poker empire wasn’t a casual home game—it was one of the most exclusive and secretive operations in the gambling underworld.
Aaron Sorkin’s Directorial Debut
Aaron Sorkin made his directorial debut with Molly’s Game in 2017, adapting Bloom’s memoir into a feature film that delved deep into ambition, risk, and legality. Known for penning sharp, rhythmic dialogue in The West Wing and The Social Network, Sorkin brought a unique intensity to the film’s pacing and tone.
Jessica Chastain starred as Molly Bloom, portraying the character’s complexity with nuance and force. Idris Elba played her defense attorney, and Kevin Costner took on the role of her father. The film was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards and received multiple Golden Globe nominations.
Where Molly’s Game Was Actually Shot
Molly’s Game takes viewers across glamorous and dangerous terrain—from Hollywood to Manhattan to ski resorts in Aspen. Despite this geographic scope, the film was primarily shot in Toronto, Canada. Toronto’s film-friendly infrastructure and urban architecture made it an ideal double for various American locations.
Certain courtroom and legal office scenes were also filmed in New York City to maintain visual authenticity. However, there is no evidence—either in studio production logs, cast interviews, or location databases—that any part of Molly’s Game was filmed in Kentucky.
No Filming Took Place in Kentucky
While Molly’s Game traverses multiple cities narratively, there is zero documented connection between the film and the state of Kentucky in terms of production. No scenes were shot in Lexington, Louisville, or any rural Kentucky location.
The movie’s production was handled outside the state entirely, with Canada providing most of the stand-in backdrops. Although Kentucky offers film tax incentives, Molly’s Game did not utilize them. Any claim suggesting that the film was partially filmed in Kentucky is incorrect and unsupported by any verifiable source.
Kentucky’s Cultural Resonance With the Story
Kentucky’s absence from the filming process doesn’t erase its thematic relevance. The state’s world-famous equestrian tradition—most notably the Kentucky Derby—reflects a similar atmosphere to Molly Bloom’s poker games: elite attendees, vast sums of money, and high social stakes.
Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and the culture surrounding them evoke the kind of high-risk, high-reward environments that defined Bloom’s illegal empire. Kentucky’s gambling prestige has always rested on the edge of legality and allure, paralleling the seductive but dangerous world Bloom curated in her penthouse poker rooms.
Kentucky’s Legal Gambling Evolution
On September 28, 2023, Kentucky officially legalized online sports betting, marking a transformative shift in its gambling landscape. The state, once limited to horse racing and regulated charitable gaming, expanded its digital betting options to include sports wagering through licensed operators.
This decision brought Kentucky into the modern betting era, aligning it with over 30 other states that have embraced online gaming. The move increased tax revenue streams, provided new entertainment options for residents, and further solidified Kentucky’s association with legitimate, state-regulated high-stakes gambling environments.
Parallels Between Molly’s Game and Kentucky’s Betting Expansion
The transition from traditional in-person gambling to digital betting echoes the evolution shown in Molly’s Game. Molly Bloom moved from organizing in-person poker nights in L.A. to orchestrating more clandestine operations in NYC, complete with anonymous players and larger risks.
Similarly, Kentucky has pivoted from its historical dependence on horse tracks to embracing mobile platforms and live sports betting apps. The same themes of accessibility, risk management, and evolving legality apply, creating a natural symbolic link between Bloom’s narrative and Kentucky’s legislative progress.
Kentucky’s legalization of online sports betting introduced several major platforms into the market, including BetMGM.
For those interested in exploring these opportunities, Kentucky BetMGM bonus offers provide enticing promotions for new users. For instance, new customers in Kentucky can receive a bonus bet, offering a safety net for newcomers to the platform.
This aligns with the kind of high-stakes incentives that define the gambling world portrayed in Molly’s Game. It’s no longer about tuxedos and private tables—it’s now apps, odds, and digital promotions.
New York’s Partial Filming and Story Arc
New York City played a dual role in Molly’s Game — both narratively and logistically. Some key court scenes and legal drama sequences were shot on location in Manhattan. Beyond filming, New York was integral to Bloom’s real-life story. It was in NYC that she expanded her poker operations and began hosting games frequented by hedge fund managers and financial sharks.
The stakes increased, and so did the legal scrutiny, culminating in her eventual arrest by the FBI. These scenes, depicted with Sorkin’s signature tension, grounded the movie in realism.
Toronto’s Versatility as a Filming Hub
Toronto has long served as Hollywood’s northern backlot due to its tax credits and versatile cityscape. For Molly’s Game, Toronto replicated Los Angeles office suites, Aspen lodges, and upscale New York residences. Production teams transformed urban streets into glamorous neighborhoods with strategic signage, lighting, and post-production effects.
Interior shots were often filmed on constructed sets within Toronto’s studio complexes. The decision to film in Toronto saved money while still delivering a polished, believable backdrop for Bloom’s lavish poker world.
Molly’s Game and the Portrayal of Power
At its core, Molly’s Game is about power dynamics—who holds control, who breaks rules, and who ultimately pays the price. Molly Bloom built her empire on connections, precision, and emotional intelligence, but when the law caught up with her, reputation became her most valuable currency.
Kentucky’s evolving stance on betting laws similarly represents a struggle between control and regulation, between profit and principle. Just as Bloom had to navigate blurred lines, the state now treads a path between its gambling heritage and a newly digitized future. Both worlds demand precision—and punish mistakes.