When most people think about gambling, music is not really the first thing on their mind. However, if we were to delve a bit deeper into the realm of casinos, we’d find that the two industries share a surprisingly deep connection. Music influences casino goers on a very fundamental level, and gets them excited for a night of fun. On the other hand, a lot of iconic songs have been written because of gambling.
It doesn’t end at land-based gambling either. Music plays a surprisingly important role when it comes to online casinos as well. For example, we can look at a website like NetBet Casino, and especially pay attention to the themed slots. The slot section is full of incredible games made even more impressive by the choice of music therein. So, in this article, we would like to explore the relationship between music and casinos, and give you an idea of just how influential the two are on each other.
Music in Casinos
Anyone who has been to a casino knows that music is not uncommon. What you may not know, is how drastically music in casinos has changed over the years. You see, when the first casino opened, way back in the 17th century, the establishment could only be accessed by high-class patrons. Aristocrats, nobility, and royals were the only people capable of gambling. Gambling halls as establishments for the rich remained the norm for a long time, and their music choices reflected that.
Classical music was not uncommon in casinos up until the 20th century. In some places, classical music remained the norm, and in some American casinos, jazz took over. Regardless, it wasn’t until the growing success of Las Vegas, and the popularity of the commercial casino that gambling halls opened to a broader audience. Today, anyone can access a casino. Most land-based businesses don’t have a dress code, and you can quite literally play online in your pajamas.
Today, the music in most casinos will reflect the popular music of our era. Don’t be surprised if you walk into a gambling hall and listen top-rated artists like Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish. Of course, popular music in 2025 necessitates that we talk about rap and hip hop. Hip hop is, perhaps, the most popular genre of music in the modern day industry, and, believe it or not, it has a relationship with gambling.
Hip Hop and Casinos
The most obvious connection between hip hop and casinos is that you can often hear the style of music in many gambling establishments. Artists like Drake, Usher, Kanye West, and more who are associated with “pop rap” or “chart toppers” will frequently get play in many casino halls. The reason is simple; these are the artists that most people are familiar with. Music has the power to make us feel safe and secure, no matter what. By playing familiar music, casinos are allowing their customers to feel like they belong, which of course, furthers their desire to return to the casino.
The hip hop/casino relationship is a two-way street, however. It isn’t just that hip hop helps attract an audience to casinos. It is also that gambling culture has inspired a lot of hip hop artists and songs. For example, the incredible song “Pokerface” by Ghostface Killa. Often thought of as one of the best rap songs of all time, “Pokerface” starts out with a reference to the World Series of Poker, and never once lets up on the gambling theme. Of course, though it very much is a fun casino song, the text is about so much more than simply gambling.
Finally, there are a lot of hip hop artists that love to gamble. For this one, we must come back to Drake, who has been spotted plenty of times at casinos all over the world. Not only that, but Drake has also openly admitted that he enjoys playing games at online casinos, which led to him quickly becoming the face of iGaming in the music industry. 50 Cent is another prolific gambler. Reportedly, he is a big fan of boxing, and especially betting on it. He has publically wagered on several boxing competitions, and even won millions from said bets.
Songs About Gambling
We discussed the relationship between hip hop songs and gambling, but what about the broader musical landscape? Of course, many of us are familiar with some very popular songs, whose main themes revolve around the ancient hobby. Most notable of these is Kenny Rogers’ song, “The Gambler.” A narrative song, “The Gambler” speaks of a narrator who meets an old man on a train. After they share a drink, the old man shares some gambling advice, before fading away. The narrator is left with that advice, and ruminates about how it could relate to daily life.
For a more modern example, we need only look at Lady Gaga, and her song “Poker Face.” Not to be confused with Ghostface Killa’s song of the same name, “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga is not so much a gambling song, as a relationship one, that borrows casino metaphors. Still, the catchy tune, the clever lyrics, and the high energy of the music make “Poker Face” one of the best gambling songs, and a staple of many casino mixes.
Finally, we couldn’t talk about gambling songs without bringing up the King himself, Elvis Presley. “Viva Las Vegas” is an ode to Sin City, the world’s biggest gambling destination. In the song, Presley talks about slots, baccarat, and all of the magnificent games that he loved to play when visiting Vegas. Indeed, Presley was quite a prolific gambler, with Vegas being one of his favorite destinations to visit.
Summing it All Up
Though gambling and music may not seem like related industries, they have quite a deep connection. From gambling artists, to art about gambling, there is a relationship between the two that is not very likely to wane in the coming years. In fact, with developments made in online casinos, we would argue that the music/gambling connection will only grow stronger.