The gambling culture has always been intertwined with the cinematic culture as cinema has always been fascinated with the glamour of the casino world. The gambling culture is thriving in the United States where for example the casino hotspot Las Vegas continues to gain high numbers in revenue, for example reporting a revenue stream of $1.31 billion in September 2024. Furthermore, the gambling culture has gone digital, with online casinos booming.
The thrill of in-person casinos and the convenience of online casinos have even been merged in the format of live casinos. When you play live casino, you are joining a table game from your phone or computer, however the dealer and the other players are all present in real-time. In other words, you are joining a live session as if you were at a casino in real person – but you do so from your device. In cinematic storytelling, casinos have long been a preferred topic, and this is not going to change anytime soon with the strong presence of gambling culture in the United States.
The glamour of gambling on screen
Casinos have in many instances been the stage for various movies, as they in many storylines represent excitement, danger, and the allure of taking home big winnings. The variety of casino movies stretches from classics such as Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” from 1995, where the rise and fall of a Las Vegas empire constitute the core storyline, to popular Hollywood productions such as the “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise. What many casino movies have in common is using the casino as a stage for character drama and intricate plots. This also reflects the fascination with risk and reward which is a natural part of human nature.
The interest in the world of gambling is not only related to the stage it provides for storytelling. The global gambling markets continue to expand, resulting in fostering a strong gambling culture. In Europe, the gambling market revenue of 2022 reached €108,5 billion, and in the United States this number reached $66.65 billion in 2023. The surge has especially been fueled by the online gambling scene, where mobile and digital platforms constitute a large portion of the total gambling activities. A survey by Statista from 2023 found that almost 75% of participants place bets online. It is especially the format of live casino games that has helped the growth. By replicating the thrill from in-person casino visits in the online format is preferred by many people.
Movies and cultural reflection
Over the decades, casinos have reflected societal attitudes toward gambling. The most noteworthy mention is the Bond franchise which glamorized the gambling lifestyle with for example “Casino Royale” from 2006 showcasing intense poker scenes, bringing a global attention to Texas Hold’em. On the flipside, some movies choose to shed light on the other side of gambling. Take for example the movie “The Gambler” from 2015 which explores the dark side of gambling addiction.
The richness of using casinos in storytelling for movies is not just related to luxury, luck, and addiction. Casino movies also take a crime perspective, in for example the movie “21” from 2008 where MIT students using card-counting techniques to win millions is depicted on the big screen. This type of narrative is an embodiment of a blend of brilliance and moral ambiguity, which makes casino movies a good way to explore the psychological and ethical dilemmas related to gambling.
The evolution of gambling in cinema
While traditional casino movies especially focused on blackjack, roulette, and poker as plot devices, casinos movies today might have to adapt to the newer formats of the casino world. With online gambling and crypto-betting on the rise, movies would have to uncover storylines related to these formats to reflect the real-world shifts. Such a change in narrative could for example dive deeper into the influence of technology on gambling behavior or uncover some of the risks related to the online format.
As for the content for plot devices, online slots dominate the online casino market, as this type of game is offered by virtually any type of online casino. But other formats such as live casino games are gaining traction, which could also be considered for intriguing storylines for future movies. A new wave of movie plots could for example delve into the intricacies of the online casino world and the psychological impact of such easily accessible platforms.
Bridging the gap between cinematic and real experiences
With the digital age, the line between the cinematic allure of casinos and real-life experiences of casinos has become blurry. With the rise of the live online casino format, where dealers and players are streamed in real-time, the thrill of physical casinos is available to a large audience.
This has taken the allure of casinos closer to the consumer, who might otherwise only have experienced the thrill from casino themed movies. By offering an authentic experience mirroring the experience in real-life and from the screen, movie fans and casino fans alike can easily access the casino experience.
Concluding remarks
Casinos have for decades played a crucial role in cinematic history, and despite the changing format of casinos, the cinematic world still looks towards the industry for inspiration for the stage and storyline of movies. As online casinos have become a popular format, it will be interesting to see how the cinematic universe adopts this new type of casino into storylines for upcoming movies.