Gambling in Popular Culture: From Movies to Music and Literature

The entertainment industry has been known to draw inspiration from the most intriguing areas of life, from the exciting through the scary to the absolutely bizarre. Stakeholders in pop culture have discovered that there are aspects of life that invoke more emotions than any other, making the target audiences hooked to the piece of art being presented to them. As a result, it is not unusual to find gambling mentioned in different contexts in popular culture.

If you are a fan of taking part in online casino canada real money games, you already know that casino wagering is one area that has inspired many filmmakers, musicians, and songwriters. By channelling the thrill, strategies, risk level, and roller-coaster of emotions associated with gaming, creatives bring forth some of the most captivating pieces ever produced. Thus, the activity has often been used in character development in a plot to create an impression of glamour in some instances or drama in others.

Well, depending on the means of storytelling, gaming is usually presented in a way that will captivate viewers, listeners, or readers enough for them to keep interacting with the media. To show you how much casino gaming is intertwined with popular culture, we took the liberty of compiling examples of obvious instances where there has been an unforgettable overlap between the two. Here we go!

Movies

Gambling has always been included in thriller movies, especially ones showcasing witty and carefree criminal masterminds. In films, it is usually portrayed in glamorous settings where a main character takes some risks at a roulette table surrounded by beautiful women and ends up on the winning side. The most popular movies that depict a story like that include:

• Croupier (1998);
• Ocean’s Eleven (2001);
• Casino Royale (2006);
• 21 (2008);
• The Card Counter (2021).

TV Shows

Gambling has also been featured in detail in several TV shows. Some of the most notable examples of shows include Ozark (2017-2022), where the main characters use a casino business as a cover for money laundering. Jeopardy!, a game show from the 60s, is also another chart-topping show that has been reinvented in recent years to include spinoffs like Celebrity Jeopardy! (2022). Jeopardy! allows participants to win or lose money based on their performance during the show.

Music

The mention of a casino or related to it terms in the music industry immediately takes us back to Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler (1978). It is a classic that has stood the test of time and whose lyrics echo in any room regardless of the generation of the audience. Songwriters have often used metaphors related to gambling in a bid to warn of the risks or express some form of uncertainty. Other remarkable songs featuring a casino thematic concept include:

• Abba – The Winner Takes It All (2015);
• Darius Rucker – Wagon Wheel (2013);
• Aerosmith – Deuces Are Wild (1994);
• Juice Newton – Queen of Hearts (1981);
• Amy Whitehouse – Love Is a Losing Game (2001);
• Big K.R.I.T. – Life Is a Gamble (2013);
• 2 Chainz – Countin (2016);
• Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City (1993);
• Katy Perry – Waking Up in Vegas (2009);
• Lady Gaga – Poker Face (2008).

Video Games

Gambling has been incorporated into various aspects of video games, the most obvious being the option for players to risk something of value in some mini-game with the hope of winning something of even greater value. In other cases, like in Grand Theft Auto, the players visit casinos in a simulation and play real-life casino games, e.g., poker and blackjack. However, the availability of such mini-games in video games may be dictated by jurisdictional restrictions.

Sports Betting and Sponsorships

Following the legalization of sports betting in various regions across the world, the fusion between gambling and the sports industry has been undeniable. Sports betting operators have moved fast to gain recognition from the masses, and this has been done through sponsorships. The most common one has been team sponsorships and events.

With social media influencers drawing a lot of attention from audiences, they also have become gambling icons, finding creative ways to encourage the masses to participate in sports betting. As a result, it is common to see major betting brands subtly or plainly displaying their logos in professional sporting events.

Know When to Hold, Fold, or Walk Away!

The depiction of gambling in media sets the stage for a range of emotions to be aroused within the audience. While generally, casino-related terms in pop culture are used to portray charm and sophistication, it is still wise to note that there are potential risks associated with gaming if you don’t do it right.

Players who do well enter gambling settings with a level head and probably take Kenny Rogers’ advice; ‘You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, Know when to fold ’em, Know when to walk away,’ when the occasion calls for it.