Your Guide to Songs About Gambling
By
Jane Shaw
Senior Editor Updated: 02/09/2024
We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.
Songs About Gambling
- Gambling Songs: An Introduction
- Casino-Themed Songs
- Vintage Vegas Tracks
- Top Chart Poker Hits
- Lyric Analysis
- Music in Gambling Culture
- Movie Soundtracks
- Frequently Asked Questions
Gambling and music have always had a close relationship. Songs about taking risks, playing the odds, winning, losing, and the colorful characters involved have captivated listeners for decades. In this blog, we will explore some of the most notable gambling tunes in various genres and eras. From Sinatra to Gaga, AC/DC to the Grateful Dead, there is no shortage of artists who have written music about gambling – so, without further ado, let’s look at the best casino songs around!
Gambling Songs: An Introduction
When you play at the best online casinos you may notice that things are a lot different to the classic land-based casino days, when going gambling, in general, had an air of mystique surrounding it. A lot of this has been perfectly captured over the years in music – and in today’s blog, we’ll be showing you some of the best gambling songs ever written, in our opinion!
Casino Theme Songs
When people think of gambling music, Las Vegas naturally comes to mind. The casinos of Sin City have inspired numerous catchy tunes that capture the sights, sounds, pleasures, and pain of its glittering gambling floors and shows.
Lady Gaga’s smash hit “Poker Face” is a casino theme song that brings poker straight to the dancefloor with its vibrant beat and cheeky lyrics about bluffing in love. Likewise, Elvis Presley’s iconic “Viva Las Vegas” showcases the absurd nature of America’s gambling scene, bringing in huge swinging bands to perfectly represent the extravagant nature of the city!
Another song, The Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice”, has a blues-like vibe to it, telling the tale of a gambler constantly rolling the dice from town to town, instantly making you think of images of smoky backroom games. And don’t forget Kenny Rogers’ timeless country classic “The Gambler”, which is all about giving advice to a younger card player.
These casino theme songs are iconic – and while some are new, and others old, they’ve all cemented themselves as historic, so to speak.
While today’s blog focuses primarily on land-based casino songs, don’t forget, our website also focuses heavily on online gambling. For example, if you’re looking for the best online poker sites, we’ve got you covered – and even if you want to find the best games to enjoy, we’ve got that sorted, too!
Vintage Vegas Tracks
Before it was known for its extravagant themed hotels and shows, old school Las Vegas had a certain vintage charm and air of danger. Several classic tracks beautifully capture the vintage Vegas vibe. Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be a Lady” sees a gambler pleading with luck to help him out one last time, or else, he’ll lose his lover.
Similarly, Dean Martin’s easy-going hit “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” finds a love-struck man so in love that even losing his week’s pay in the casinos couldn’t dampen his spirits. And Louis Prima’s hot and swinging “Sing, Sing, Sing” features him scatting and shouting excitedly about the electrifying sights and sounds of Las Vegas, painting a lively audio picture from way back in the day.
These mid-20th century tracks transport listeners back to the vintage Vegas world – and while you won’t find the same vibe when you play at online casinos in New Jersey, you can still have a great time – especially if you win!
Top Chart Poker Hits
Poker and pop music had a lot in common back in the 2000s, thanks largely to the poker boom and rise of TV competitions like the World Series of Poker and Poker After Dark. Several chart-topping hits creatively incorporated the game of poker and its lingo into their lyrics and themes.
Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” kicked things off with a bang in 2008, riding the poker wave to #1 around the world. But she wasn’t alone for long as Katy Perry chimed in with 2009’s “Waking Up in Vegas”, telling the tale of a vodka-heavy Vegas wedding partly brought on by a poker game.
Over in the UK, popular singer Example wrote “All the Wrong Places” – a song all about his rollercoaster romance with gambling, including the iconic line: “I must have put my chips in all the wrong places / ‘Cause every hand I ever played just ends up losing.”
Of course, songs about gambling in the pop era are a lot less popular than those from 20, 30, or even 50 years ago – but they remain popular, and, as we’ve seen, many have managed to top the charts – so it’s not all bad news!
Lyric Analysis
Beyond references to specific games, gambling lyrics often talk a lot about risk-taking, luck, irresponsibility, regret and more. Take Thin Lizzy’s 1979 rocker “The Boys Are Back in Town” for example. While not specifically about gambling, lead singer Phil Lynott’s lyrics warn of “throwin’ dice” or wasting time recklessly. Similarly, Bob Dylan’s folk tune “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Willie” uses poker playing as a metaphor in its vivid character portrait of a drifter.
Some songs also touch on the darker side of gambling addiction, like The Clash’s “The Card Cheat” which describes a compulsive poker player who pays the ultimate price for his cheating ways. Others take a more hopeful stance, such as Kenny Rogers’ timeless ballad “The Gambler” which tells people to “know when to walk away, know when to run” from a lifetime of ups and downs at the card tables.
One great thing about songs about gambling is that, a lot of the time, the message may be casino-specific – but it can actually reference ordinary life, too. Many lyrics are metaphors for day-to-day life – and this is why these casino-themed songs are so popular; a lot of the time, they’re open to interpretation, so it’s up to the listener to make their own determination on what the true meaning behind the song is!
Music in Gambling Culture
While gambling has inspired many songs, music has also become an integral part of casino culture. Slot machine manufacturers have incorporated music and songs into their games to make them more exciting. Many feature big band jazz, funk, hip hop, rock and pop hits to enhance the playing experience. Table game pits can also be found playing lively background music to up the energy.
On the entertainment side, Las Vegas production shows famously showcase spectacular musical numbers and variety acts along with dramatic Cirque du Soleil-style aerobatics. You’ll even find a number of residencies – artists that have a recurring show – and this includes the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Adele at hotels along the Strip, which also reinforces the bond between gambling destinations and the music world.
It’s clear that music has become a key component of modern casino and gambling atmospheres. Whether it’s songs about gambling – or songs played in casinos – these songs are iconic, popular all around the world, and are likely to continue to grow in popularity!
Movie Soundtracks
So far, this blog has focused on casino-themed songs in general. However, there is also a huge sub-culture of gambling songs, written specifically for movies. For example, many fans still associate Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” with the 1964 film of the same name starring Elvis as a race car driver heading to Vegas for some high-speed action.
Likewise, the soundtrack to 1988’s Rain Man, about an autistic card counter in Vegas, featured an original song “I Wouldn’t Change a Thing” which is all about chasing big dreams – and, for many listeners – big wins at the table.
In the film Bugsy, Warren Beatty plays the mobster Bugsy Siegel who built the Flamingo hotel casino in 1940s Las Vegas. The soundtrack brings the colorful story to life and includes the vintage gambling tune “Ace in the Hole” performed in the movie’s scenes.
