Over the past few decades, casinos have become a huge part of popular culture, directly influencing many modern liberal arts, such as music, art and even cinema, which we will delve into further below.
Many of today’s most notable contemporary artists have used casino aesthetics and imagery in their music videos, and their lyrics are clearly inspired by the casino culture in one form or another.
Writers, directors and producers have also been heavily inspired by casinos to create some of Hollywood’s most iconic movies. Plus, we are also starting to see the casino influence in movies and TV shows on today’s biggest streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Paramount+, Disney, Prime and Apple TV+.
Much of their original content has been inspired by casino culture. Let’s dive in to discover more about how casino culture has inspired modern fiction.
Why is casino culture such a huge inspiration for liberal arts like music and cinema?
The thrill and allure of casinos have long been a staple source of inspiration for creative writers, musicians, filmmakers and other talented artists, which has cemented casino culture in popular culture.
In movies today, you can find countless casino-inspired movies that have stood the test of time and resonated with moviegoers around the world due to their very nature.
Some casino culture-inspired movies are centered entirely around the casino. In contrast, others only contain one or two scenes set in the casino, where the main protagonist often risks it all for our viewing pleasure.
Famous fictional spies like James Bond, for example, have also helped casino culture remain relevant and seem more alluring through the countless 007 novels and movies. Much of the credit can be given to the creative minds of fictional writers like Ian Flemming.
These movies often have a huge psychological effect on us and typically celebrate the underdog. It’s the thrill of watching these characters, good or bad, beating the house and defying the odds that people can relate to. It’s fun to watch these characters playing, whether they win or lose.
Through the arts, people can experience the highs and lows of casinos from a unique perspective without ever personally having to take any risks.
Watching people play casino games like blackjack, poker, craps, slots, baccarat and roulette often evokes a range of emotions and elevates the overall viewing experience. People also look to replicate that same thrilling experience they have seen on the big screen when they choose an instant play casino to play those same games online.
Which iconic fictional Hollywood movies have been directly inspired by casino culture?
Ever since Casino Royale made a splash in 1967, many writers have used similar themes directly inspired by casino culture to craft timeless classics.
Some of the most iconic fictional Hollywood movies that have resonated with moviegoers over the past five decades include the following titles. Some of these were instant hits, while others gained cult-like status many years after they were released:
- Casino (1995), which starred Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone and James Woods
- Casino Royale (2006), which starred Daniel Craig
- 21 (2008), starring Jim Sturges, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey
- Mississippi Grind (2018), which starred Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds
- The Cooler (2003), starring Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello and William H. Macy
Some of Hollywood’s other most memorable movies depicting casino culture include the Ocean’s trilogy (Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13), Leaving Las Vegas, The Hustler, The Sting, the Hangover trilogy and The Gambler.
Owning Mahowny, Revolver, Rain Man, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Hustler, The House, Croupier, Hard Eight, Game Night, Rock ‘n Rolla, What Happens in Vegas, Bugsy and California Split, also deserve a mention.
Which famous artists have written about casino culture in their songs?
Just like in the movies, many talented artists have also crafted hit songs that contain lyrics about casino culture. Examples include The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, Desperado by The Eagles, Poker Face by Lady Gaga, Huck’s Tune by Bob Dylan, On the Nickel by Tom Wait and The Stranger Song by Leonard Cohen.
Other timeless classics that you may already be familiar with by now are Roll the Dice by Bruce Springsteen, You Can’t Beat the House by Mark Knopfler, Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley, Bob Seger’s Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, A Good Run of Bad Luck by Clint Black, Gambler’s Blue by B.B. King, The Angel and the Gambler by Iron Maiden, Ace of Spades by Motörhead, Diamond Jack by Wishbone, Casino Queen by Wilco, Little Queen of Spades by Robert Jonhson and Kentucky Gambler by Merle Haggard. The list goes on.
How the iGaming industry has made casino culture even stronger in the modern digital era
Software providers, game development studios and iGaming website operators have also helped ensure that casino culture is here to stay.
Classic table and card games have been revamped for the modern digital era, and many of today’s safest sites now have hundreds of highly sophisticated live dealer games from award-winning companies that allow players to enjoy shared casino experiences. Players can use communication tools to chat with each other while they play.
People can also now chat with the friendly and professionally trained live dealers who present the action to them from a handful of casino floors and fully licensed and regulated casino-themed television studios.
If you decide to see what all the fuss is about and sign up with a licensed casino site to play thousands of casino games from top-tier, award-winning software providers, it’s important that you take advantage of any safer gambling tools that your operator may provide.
Setting deposit limits, session time reminders, win/loss limits and spending caps helps keep things safe and fun when checking out the classics and will ensure that you never spend more than you can afford, like in the movies.
Conclusion
Artists will no doubt continue to look to casino culture for inspiration, so it will be interesting to see what kinds of books and movies will be made to appeal to modern audiences. There’s no denying that casino culture will continue to inspire contemporary fiction for many years to come.
