Music and gambling go hand in hand, and it’s no surprise that they both inspire and influence each other. Many great musicians and bands have slot machines made in their honour, and in turn many musicians have written songs around classic casino and gambling themes. In some cases, the casino theme is fairly literal, meaning there is no doubt that the song is indeed about real life gambling. In other cases, metaphors stemming from the casino world is used to critique or comment on other walks of life.
Songs from either group may help lift your gambling experience to new and epic heights, and you might even feel inspired to put together a casino party playlist especially for those occasions. Use our 15 top casino music hits as a starting point and add your own favourites at the end!
Motörhead – Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades is a true 80’s classic, and it’s packed full of casino and gambling references. While the lyrics might be difficult to catch through Lemmy’s half-shouted half-sung rendition, there is no mistaking the opening lines;
“If you like to gamble, I tell you I’m your man
You win some, lose some, all the same to me”
While we can all agree that it might not be all the same to us whether we win or lose, the sentiment is easy to get on board with in the midst of a high-stakes game where heartrates are high!
Frank Sinatra – Luck Be A Lady
Mr. Sinatra was himself an avid gambler, and a regular at many of the best casinos in Las Vegas, and in Luck Be A Lady, he manages to get across the way many of us feels about luck. The song implores luck to be a lady, and as such not to leave him hanging in favour of someone else. The perfect song for when you need a little bit of encouragement for your own lady luck.
Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Lady Gaga’s smash hit from 2008 brought her into the spotlight and the eyes of the world, and simultaneously introduced us to one of the world’s most up-beat casino songs. Granted, this song isn’t a literal casino anthem, but it does use a wide array of casino references as metaphors for love and relationships. As far as casino music goes, this one is a stayer!
Kenny Rogers – The Gambler
While country and Kenny Rogers may not be the first two things that come to mind when you think of casino music, there is no doubt that this 1978 hit put gambling on the table, so to speak. The lyrics describe a luck encounter with a gambler, and how advice that holds true in gambling, also may be transferred to life in general. No doubt, you’ve got to know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em both and in life and in gambling.
O.A.R. – That Was A Crazy Game of Poker
As a gambler, you might not like the thought of a poker game where everything goes straight to hell, but at the same time, it might be nice to be reminded that this happens to all of us occasionally. O.A.R. manages to make losing sound like a much more pleasant prospect than what it normally is, and they definitely remind us that a losing is nothing to let stand in the way of getting back in the game.
Grateful Dead – Deal
Deal by Grateful Dead was released in 1972, and has since become one of the band’s most played songs. The song uses casino references to give sage life advice which all in all boils down to taking things slow, thinking things through and taking time making your choices. Some of the other songs on this list may disagree with that sentiment, but it never hurts to see all sides.
Aerosmith – Deuces Are Wild
This rock hit is really all about love of a woman who is unlike anyone else the singer has ever met. She’s not afraid to speak her mind or do what she wants in life, something he equates to her deuces being wild. As a poker player, wild deuces are the perfect surprise, as they can be whatever you want them to be. Not a bad sentiment for gambling, or life.
AC/DC – The Jack
The original version of AC/DC’s The Jack was full of poker references, in relation to the main character of the song. The woman pretends to be an angel, but according to AC/DC, not only were her deuces wild, she also lied about never having had a full house. Make of that what you will, but either way it’s a great song for a gambling session.
Ray Charles – Losing Hand
In this 1957 blues ballad, Ray Charles sings about cheating, gambling and in the end getting a losing hand. All these metaphors refer to losing at love rather than cards, but it might still help us remember that even if we lose in the end, the road there might hold something valuable.
Elvis Presley – Viva Las Vegas
There is no way around this gambling anthem when talking about songs to get you in the right casino mood. Las Vegas is the mother city of all gambling, and this song plays tribute to everything that makes the city what it is. The casinos, the card games, the women and the nightlife. It’s all there, and gets you dreaming of Sin City as the first bars roll over the speakers.
Katy Perry – Waking Up in Vegas
Another Sin City tribute is brought to us by Katy Perry. Her song is about all that can happen in one crazy night in Vegas, and how piecing it all back together may be a bit of a challenge. While gambling isn’t at the forefront of this hit, there is no denying that any song referring to Las Vegas will get a gambler’s blood a little hotter.
Bob Dylan – Huck’s Tune
Bob Dylan is a lyrical genius who could probably write a moving song on any topic out there. It is therefore no surprise that he’s managed to move us all by his dark and somewhat pessimistic approach to gambling. The song appeared in the movie Lucky You, and became an instant classic for gamblers and others alike.
Stevie Nicks – The Dealer
The Dealer is another song full of casino references, which in reality is all about love and life. In this deep and emotional song, you get to switch between being the dealer and the card shark – in any case holding a lot of the control in the way your life, or your card game, plays out. The song wasn’t released until 2014, but was written way back in the 70’s, and definitely carries a lot of that vibe.
Van Morrison – Ragland Road
Ragland Road is an Irish classic, based on the poem “On Ragland Road”. Like many of the songs on this list, it is really about how life and love require you to let go of control, and play with an open hand. Whether your queen of hearts bakes tarts or not (yes, those are the lyrics), you won’t be making hay by waiting for the perfect hand. Take Van Morrison’s advice and jump in with both feet!
Sting – Shape of My Heart
While the title might not suggest it, Shape of My Heart is all about a poker player who doesn’t care whether he wins or loses. His mind is on the game itself, and all he cares about is finding the sacred geometry that will help him crack the game. While it might sound like the player is indeed looking for ways to beat the game, you will eventually see that he is looking for answers in life. He makes sense of the cards by seeing diamonds as money, clubs as weapons and spades as swords.
A Vast Offer of Bingo Related Songs
If you want to dig a bit more in detail, you will find that most casino games have dedicated songs – bingo offers and games, for example, have captured the imagination of several artists and bands. From the uber-popular bingo-themed kids song of the same name to hardcore punk record Bingo Masters at the Witch Trials by The Fall, the list is long. No doubt bingo has been popular in the UK for decades now, a popularity which has been revamped in recent year mainly due to the explosion of the online bingo phenomenon.
By listening to some of the best bingo-related tunes and songs, it is impossible to resist the charms of this classic game. The best part is that has never been a better moment or era to play bingo than today’s times. You can play online at any of the new UK bingo sites and take advantage of several bingo bonuses which are up for grabs to new clients. Playing bingo with a hefty bonus from the comfort of your house or wherever you are is quite the experience – and if you pair it with some bingo-related music it will be even better!