In this film, author Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) is unable to make a living at his chosen profession. At the insistence of his girlfriend Marion (Gina McKee) he gets a day job to help pay the bills. Despite his reluctance to have anything to do with gambling, the job he finds is as a dealer at a seedy British casino. He quickly finds that his new job is taking away from the writing he wants to do, as well as undermining his personal relationships. Then his relationship with co-worker Jani (Alex Kingston) threatens to involve him in a plot to rob the casino, and may cost him his freedom as well.