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She bet on love and lost everything — including herself.
TMDB
80
IMDb
66

Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie (1998)

90s afterschool special energyaddiction spiralbad boy warning label

Overview

DramaTV Movie

A young girl is taken with a boy that she meets, but he leads her into gambling where she begins losing money, becomes desperate, and starts to steal.

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Content warning
gamblingcompulsive gamblingstealingbad boygambling addiction

Standout Aspects

Acting

Lisa Dean Ryan sells the desperate spiral with unsettling conviction.

Best for:Solo: For when you need a reminder that red flags look like flags.·Family: Awkward but necessary viewing with teens who think they're invincible.
Heads up:Emotional: Teen addiction portrayed realistically — no easy happy ending here.
J

Director

James A. Contner

ReleasedFeb 11, 1998
Runtime2h
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelheavy
NBC
Libra Pictures

Top Cast

Shelley Fabares

Shelley Fabares

Nancy Erickson

Lisa Dean Ryan

Lisa Dean Ryan

Dana Erikson

David Lascher

David Lascher

Marshall Kearns

Malcolm Stewart

Malcolm Stewart

Paul

Teryl Rothery

Teryl Rothery

Counselor

Kirby Morrow

Kirby Morrow

Ryan

Kimberley Warnat

Kimberley Warnat

Kristi

Robert Moloney

Robert Moloney

Artie

Gordon Currie

Gordon Currie

Frank

P. Lynn Johnson

P. Lynn Johnson

Ellen

Terry David Mulligan

Terry David Mulligan

Mr. Kearns

Ken Camroux-Taylor

Ken Camroux-Taylor

Judge Black

Alf Humphreys

Alf Humphreys

Matt

David Neale

David Neale

Cop

Ask about Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Part of CBS's 'Moment of Truth' franchise, 90s TV movies that turned social issues into weekly trauma delivery systems for families.

Trivia

David Lascher played similar charming disasters in both this and 'Hey Dude' — the man's typecast in trouble.

Reviews

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