By Mitch Rice
The global gambling industry is worth billions of dollars every year, with a wide variety of markets for consumers to enjoy online and in person. Because of this, the industry has achieved significant fame in pop culture, appearing in movies and TV shows, and becoming a theme for musicians to sing about.
The US gambling industry can be confusing for consumers, with legislation changing by state. The majority offers some form of licensed casino and sports betting markets, while online sports betting has also taken off. Online casinos are more tightly regulated and are only available in 7 states at present, but this could change in the future because of how popular offshore betting sites have become.
Offshore operations are regulated in external jurisdictions and can be accessed by Americans who want to enjoy the latest casino games and slots. The ability to play Gates Of Olympus now or explore other slots titles and table games is appealing to many, and local governments are keen to capitalise on this popularity to make the most of revenue streams and offer greater consumer protections.
We explore how this popular industry has leaked into pop culture over the years, especially with musicians who have invoked gambling motifs in their work.
Beyonce
Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, and Beyoncé recently used one of the game’s variants as the title of one of her tracks on the Cowboy Carter album in 2024. Texas Hold’em was released in February with lyrics that covered ‘laying cards down’.
While the single and the album both enjoyed success, the more critical among the music press had claimed that Beyoncé was trying to capitalize on the recent mainstream popularity of country music. Beyoncé claimed that, as she was from the South, it was her music, but it was a definite change in direction from her usual R&B.
The Clash
The Clash are an iconic punk band that was active during the 1970s and ‘80s. Their combination of punky lyrics, thrashy guitars, and ability to blend ska, reggae, and rockabilly into their music made them a more enduring option than the Sex Pistols, who were little more than a boy band designed by Malcolm McLaren.
Their song ‘The Card Cheat’ is an underrated gem from the ‘London Calling’ album, and covers war, death, violence, and loneliness as a gambler eventually pays the price for his cheating ways. With Mike Jones on vocals, this song often goes under the radar, but Clash fans will know all about it.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters of all time, so it was inevitable that the world of gambling would bleed into his lyrics at some point. ‘Gambling, Rambling Willie’, ‘Black Diamond Bay’, and ‘Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts’ all deal with gambling themes as Dylan weaves his narrative around heartbreaking and twisted tales.
The gambler in Dylan’s songs always paints a portrait of someone taking a chance in hope or desperation, and for a man who spent most of his life on the road, he will be no stranger to a deck of cards.
The Killers
The Killers’ song ‘Joy Ride’ is a gambling-themed, Vegas-inspired song that tries to describe a feeling that the characters want to go on. The interesting thing about the Killers being inspired by Vegas and gambling is that the singer, Brandon Flowers, is a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member, who discourage gambling.
Lady Gaga
For a while in the late 2000s and early 2010s, you could barely walk past a radio without your ears being assaulted by Lady Gaga; the fame-hungry pale impression of Madonna seemed to appeal to a massive market, though, as the star went from hit to hit.
Perhaps her biggest hit was the song ‘Poker Face’ which sold more the 14 million copies around the world, and users the ‘poker face’ term of not showing emotions or feelings liberally, while the video features poker players in a futuristic setting.
The Band
When it comes to underrated bands, there can’t be many that have flown under the radar of pop culture quite like The Band. Even the Scorsese-directed Last Waltz is more of a cult classic than anything else.
The Canadian (except the inimitable Levon Helm) band had a huge influence on American music, and their 1969 song ‘Up On Cripple Creek’ features an entire verse about hitting the race track and betting on horses. The song is about a trucker travelling to meet up with a lover and having a good time, and nothing quite beats a day at the track.
Conclusion
The world of gambling can be quite evocative and lends itself well to songwriting. Previously seen as a seedy and sometimes criminal pastime, it could illustrate danger or trouble, while more modern opinions of fun and excitement can also be used.
The songs mentioned above come from all types of artists with all types of meanings, making gambling a worthy topic for lyrical use.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
