Recovering gambling addict Chance (played by Scott Hamm Duenas) has to raise a lot of money fast. On Christmas Eve, he learns he has only two days to give $64,000 in back rent to his foster mother’s nursing home, or she’s going to be kicked out. She needs the facility’s around-the-clock care. But how is he supposed to acquire that kind of money so fast?

Chance has been clean for six months, and his girlfriend — who he wants to make his fiancée — says she’ll break up with him if he ever gambles again. In the face of his mother’s predicament, however, the temptation to wager proves too strong. Chance starts placing bets on football games and promptly loses twice in a row, digging himself into a $5,000 hole.

Scrolling through his betting history, however, Chance discovers he hasn’t lost a bet on December 25, Christmas Day, in nine years.

Is this his superpower? Or is it just a superstition Chance has dreamt up, the way many gamblers do?

But what if Chance really can’t lose on Christmas Day? If so, then can he dig himself out of debt and save his mother by gambling on the 25th this year?

But what about the love of his life? Will he gain all the money he needs only to lose her?

These are the central conflicts in “Final Wager,” a one-of-a-kind feel-good Christmas movie.

The Inspiration for “Final Wager”

“Final Wager” is the brainchild of writer Jerry Artukovitch, an Emmy-award nominated casting director who has worked on major television shows such as “The Golden Bachelor,” “America’s Most Wanted,” “The Voice,” and others.

The movie’s lead character, Chance, is brought to life by Scott Hamm Duenas, a distinguished actor who has appeared on “Cobra Kai,” “General Hospital,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and many more.

“When I first read the script, I couldn’t put it down,” Hamm Duenas says. “I identified with the lead character so much, and it also reminded me of many movies I grew up watching and enjoying. I immediately reached out to Jerry, saying, ‘We have to make this movie. I love it, and I love the main character, Chance Sleigh.’ He said, ‘Well, you should because I based him on you and some of your gambling adventures over the years.’”

“Final Wager” Derives From Real-World Experience

According to Hamm Duenas, he and Artukovitch are “old friends” who used to go on gambling excursions together when they worked together at a bar.

“The movie includes lots of situations that we lived ourselves,” Hamm Duenas explains. “A bar also happens to be where almost the entire movie takes place.”

Hamm Duenas’s previous experience with sports gambling in general and fantasy football in particular stems from his identity as a collegiate baseball player. “Like most former athletes, I’m always under the illusion that because I played, I know a little bit more than the average bettor,” he says.

These days, though, he sees through that self-delusion. “Everyone thinks they have an angle, but they don’t,” he says. “The only one that has a real angle is Vegas and the oddsmakers. It doesn’t matter if you’ve played sports your entire life or have never picked up a ball; you have no advantage. It’s been a hard and expensive reality to learn at times for me. I’ve certainly lost my share of money over the years and learned the hard way that gambling is no way to make a living.”

While some of the subject matter related to gambling may be difficult, “Final Wager” is a character-driven story with heart.

“Final Wager” Is A Story With Heart

“At the end of the day, Chance is ultimately risking everything to save his foster mother, whom he loves dearly,” Hamm Duenas explains. “He truly loves the small circle of people in his life. Even at times, if he may act a little harshly towards his friends or keep things from his girlfriend — which is a mistake — he ultimately would do anything for all of them.”

Chance also has his flaws, however. “He’s human, and he makes mistakes,” Hamm Duenas says. “He’s the type of guy that has his heart in the right place, but sometimes that’s what ultimately gets him in trouble. I think we all know and love someone like Chance.”

Over the course of “Final Wager,” audience members come to know and love Chance, too.

In the end, Hamm Duenas decided not only to star in the film but also to join the ranks of its producers, which include director Kenny Yates, Kipp Tribble, and Artukovitch himself. In addition, the cast features the legendary Michael Madsen and Tom Arnold, as well as Trevor Penick, Fernanda Romero, Jennifer Daley, Gwendolyn Fuller Mukes, and Waymond Lee.

“Final Wager” Enables You to Live the Fantasy

How would you feel if you discovered you couldn’t lose a bet on Christmas Day? What would you do with this knowledge?

“Final Wager” enables viewers to live this thrilling fantasy through Chance as he embarks on exactly this adventure. The delightful Christmas-themed drama is currently available for streaming on Fandango, YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.