The Montreux Casino in Montreux, Switzerland
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of gambling? Perhaps it’s a casino, or maybe a game of poker. Maybe it’s a bet with your friends over who can eat the most hotdogs in five minutes.
Music might not be something that enters your mind when you’re thinking about gambling. However, some well-known songs are about gambling – you may not even realise it. Numerous songs are about love, while others are about heartbreak. It’s rare you will hear a song that is about gambling.
Is There a History of Music Related To Gambling?
There is definitely history shared between music and gambling. Gambling songs are typically a subgenre of country music, popularised by artists like Hank Thompson and Kenny Rogers. These songs tend to tell stories about gambling and its consequences.
Stock characters in gambling songs include down-on-their-luck gamblers and the women who become disillusioned with them.
Although some songs are obvious about their genre, others (like the ones in this list) aren’t so obvious. If you’re not familiar with these songs, I’d recommend you download them and listen to the hidden meanings within these songs.
The Winner Takes It All (ABBA)
Swedish pop group ABBA has been called one of the most successful music groups of all time. They’re best known for their songs ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Waterloo’, both released in 1974. The group’s 1981 hit ‘The Winner Takes It All’ was inspired by a divorce between two band members. While the song is about heartbreak, it also has an underlying theme of gambling. Card-playing and dice-rolling are references to the tragedy of a failed marriage.
A Good Run of Bad Luck (Clint Black)
Clint Black’s ‘A Good Run of Bad Luck’ is a popular country gambling song. Though it comes off as a love song, it’s actually a metaphor told through the lens of gambling. The narrator, who’s a gambling enthusiast, compares his feelings for a lady to the ups and downs that make gambling so exciting. It has been on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts.
Shape of My Heart by Sting
Despite its 1993 release, Sting’s ‘Shape of My Heart’ has continued to impact the music world, with rapper Juice WRLD sampling it in his hit song Lucid Dreams. It was one of the rare times that Dominic Miller co-wrote with Sting; Miller is also responsible for the memorable guitar riff.
The song describes a poker player who doesn’t gamble for money, but to discover some mystical logic.
House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)
Though the origin of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ is unknown, the British rock group The Animals brought the song to international fame in 1964. The song tells the tale of a house called the Rising Sun, located in New Orleans. The house could be any one of three things: A women’s prison, a gambling house (hinted at through the use of the words ‘cards and songs’) or a brothel. ‘Rising Sun’ was also an unofficial nickname for Louisiana, so it could also possibly be about that state.
The song also mentions a father who’s a gambler—perhaps a reference to his poor luck at the gaming tables?
When You’re Hot, You’re Hot (Jerry Reed)
‘When You’re Hot, You’re Hot’ by Jerry Reed is a song about a player who takes part in a crap game run by two friends. After enjoying several winning rounds, the trio is interrupted by a police officer. To avoid going to jail, the player promises to pay back his debt—to the judge — if he receives a lighter sentence. He gets 90 days in jail while his friends get away with just small fines.
Conclusion
It might be strange to think of songs about gambling as a genre, but several deserve recognition. Many of these songs fall into the category of country music, but some appeal to listeners of other genres. These are just a handful of the best songs about gambling, so be sure to check out the full list online before you roll the dice. Just in case you want to try your luck for free, check out these casinos that offer a no-deposit bonus.
