Why Casino Themes are So Popular in Movies and Television

In film and television, casinos have long been a popular theme. Interestingly, however, this theme’s implementation takes on various diverse guises, used to generate varying moods. So, let’s consider why gambling-related scenes are popular in on-screen productions.   

Contemporary Pop Culture 

Fundamentally, one of the main reasons that casino themes have established themselves within cinematic and television productions is because of the sector’s ever-growing popularity in the 21st century, especially online. Following the rise of digitalisation, the competition in the sector has been so intense that websites such as Compare Casino have emerged to provide prospective players with the latest casino reviews, sign-up offers and promotions across some of the best blackjack sites.  

Crucially, this need for comparison sites is a testament to the market’s popularity. Moreover, increased user interest and participation ensures that online casino players can relate to the gambling-related scenes both on the silver screen and on TV. This is because audiences are more likely to have developed a deeper understanding of traditional table games than before.

Furthermore, over the last few years, the relationship between the film and iGaming industries have reached new, unprecedented heights. With both establishing themselves as a central part of contemporary pop culture, their forward-thinking approaches have become increasingly intertwined.   This is most evident when you analyse the production of iGaming titles, with many of them now being centred around pre-existing movies and television franchises. Crucially, the Game of Thrones and The Sopranos slots illustrate this, as does the James Bond-themed Casino Royale poker game. 

Central to Emotion and Character Development 

In recent times, utilising a casino setting has been approached in numerous different ways by directors throughout the theme’s cinematic history. Importantly, this demonstrates the deep-rooted diversity that is attached to gambling-based scenes. Because of the emotive nature of film, scenes that revolve around a casino environment and/or game have the potential to explore a wide array of varying emotive narratives.  

According to a report by The Void, gambling scenes aid with dramatic effect in portraying a sought-after message, such as one of broken dreams or pending success. Vitally, few other backdrops would enable such differing narratives to be driven that equally capture the emotions associated with high-stakes casino games, as evident, for instance, in 2019 release Lucky Grandma.
 
Moreover, as a result of the variation around casino scenes, the theme has been at the heart of some of the film industry’s most-enjoyed titles. Interestingly, this is most apparent within the James Bond franchise, as the agent has been consistently pictured at a poker table – although we first met him at the baccarat table, to be precise. Since the character’s introduction in the 1950s, Bond’s on-screen preference regarding his casino game of choice has continued to change.  

Historically, 007 has immersed himself in baccarat in many of the franchise’s movies but, in recent years, has switched to no-limit Texas Hold’em poker. Although this may not seem like a significant alteration, it not only symbolises shifting social trends but also illustrates an element of character development.

A Flourishing Relationship 

Ultimately, few can argue against the fact that casinos are likely to continue being a highly-utilised environment within a whole host of cinematic productions. As showcased above, their implementation enables for a sense of emotive control, along with also being relatable to contemporary audiences given the unquestionable rise of the iGaming sector.