Whether you like to play slot games just for fun or want to wager some real money at a casino every now and then, there is a likely chance you will have created your own gambling featured playlist. Paying attention to this, the 20 best gambling songs we have created for ourselves are listed below. Therefore, instead of meandering about those wonderful songs which brought about such an impact to the music industry, why don’t you just give them a try and see if they also fit in your collection? Nevertheless, bear in mind that we can’t be blamed if you find yourself singing even these catchy tunes.Are you prepared?Let’s get started!
1. The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
Marks a good start with the song The Gambler at the top of the list. Despite its age (over 40 years old) and having been released in 1978, the betting touch of this song hasn’t lost its relevance even with the passing of the years. The lyrics go something like this: “If you’re gonna play game boy you gotta learn to play it right. The chorus lines given here are from “speaker’s first-person story” and are inspired from the following interaction between a singer and a seasoned poker player, “know when to hold the cards, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run.” The lyrics, written by Schlitz as a remembrance of his dead father, make an analogy of poker. The song Gambler was also covered by an array of musicians, including Johnny Cash in his 1978 album Gone Girl.
2. Viva Las Vegas – Elvis
The opening notes of “Viva Las Vegas,” which is the second song in the playlist, may emerge in your minds visually as an imposing casino with an energetic gaming environment. A legend Elvis Presley made a timeless hit and this song is particularly about the city and its essence of rhythm will fit into a gaming session perfectly. The song was intended for the movie which also had the same title; the lead role was played by Elvis Presley as a race driver who moonlights as a waiter at a hotel to settle a debt. One scene that stands out is when he sang this song at a performance and a group of showgirls performed around him.
3. Ace of Spades – Motörhead
The next song is heavily flooded with lyrics that are about gambling, this comes with the lyrics that say, “The thrill is in playing, I don’t agree with you but I can do what I want, you don’t have the same gust as me, I only need the Ace of Spade” these lines and many more is sure to get your foot tapping as you await more winning streaks. This song, which was played on the 1980 airwaves, was inspired by the slot machines the band’s frontman, known as Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister, used to play in London pubs.
4. Deal – Grateful Dead
Next one up is the song Deal. It was first performed by the Grateful Dead in 1971, as a regular part of the repertoire through their 1970’s tour. Although being less common to the fans during the 1990s, the band continued to perform it. The singer opens with the message: “Since it cost a lot to win and even more to lose you and me are bound to spend some time wondering what to choose,” which later kicks off with a chorus: “Don’t let your deal go down…”
Loser is another song first performed by the Grateful Dead in 1971 as well, heavily played during 1971 and 1972.
5. Luck Be A Lady – Frank Sinatra
The upcoming song on our playlist tells the tale of a gambler wagering on a bet that could make or break his relationship with the woman he loves. You might already be familiar with this classic—it’s “Luck Be a Lady,” released in 1965. The crooner behind this legendary track is none other than the widely acclaimed musical icon, Frank Sinatra.
6. Tumbling Dice – Rolling Stones
“Tumbling Dice” is one of our top picks on this list, penned by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It narrates the tale of a gambler incapable of staying loyal to any woman. Launched in the 1970s with a blues boogie-woogie beat, this song was and remains one of the most exceptional singles ever.
The Rolling Stones also brought “Casino Boogie” to life, a track from their 1972 album, “Exile on Main St.”
7. Gambler’s Blues – B.B. King
The very first recording of the song “Gambler’s Blues” was done by B.B. King in 1966 while it came out in 1967. It appears on the album “Back in the Alley” released in 1970. (1) Some consider the link between blues music and gambling especially strong. If you like betting, haven’t you heard it and formed an opinion? Take a listen, please.
8. Deck of Cards – Don Williams
“Deck of Cards” is a narrative song that recounts the tale of a soldier apprehended for playing cards during a church service, who then has to face judgment from a senior officer. The soldier justifies his actions, asserting that he wasn’t planning on playing a round of poker, but was using the deck of cards as a tool of faith affirmation. First performed by T. Texas Tyler, the song gained significant popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. Wink Martindale’s 1959 cover of the song achieved even greater success, and a notable rendition by Don Williams featuring Tex Ritter and Buddy Cole also garnered considerable acclaim.
9. You Can’t Beat The House – Mark Knopfler
Now we are going to talk about “You Can’t Beat the House”, the third track from the album “Get Lucky”. This studio album was released in 2009 and is the creation of the English singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler. The album along with its songs received favorable reviews and also peaked the top three positions of album charts in countries like Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and Poland. Knopfler’s bewitching vocals, delightful music and lyrics, give the memorable line, “You can’t bear the house, you can’t bear the house, tell the man somebody, you can’t beat the house.“
10. Four Little Diamonds – Electric Light Orchestra
“Four Little Diamonds,” a song by the British rock band Electric Light Orchestra, was released in 1983 and is featured on their album “Secret Messages.” The single didn’t achieve much popularity in the US, spending just two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 86, and reaching number 84 in the UK. The song’s lyrics speak of the singer’s unfaithful partner who deceived him and took a ring adorned with ‘four little diamonds.’
11. Huck’s Tune – Bob Dylan
Our following song is a mirror of poker, money, and relationship dangers—themes that are an integrated part of the film “Lucky You.” Can you guess? The fact is that this track of 2007, “Huck’s Tune”, was sung by Bob Dylan. The words “You push it all in, and you’ve no chance to win, you play ‘em on down to the end” are familiar to many of us. The song provides over four delightful minutes of Bob Dylan’s music.
Likewise, Bob Dylan also liked to have malice with a song – “Rambling, Gambling Willie” and “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.” Then again, both masterpieces occur in the gambling theme.
12. Desperado – Eagles
“Desperado” (a song co-written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley) is a very well known song by the Eagles from their 1973 album, which bears the same name. In this song, a timeless tune is chosen over the bitter song which gives the story of a one and only lonely man. The lyrics full of cards mention the queen of diamonds, queen of hearts and others.
13. The Stranger – Leonard Cohen
“The Stranger,” a song by Leonard Cohen released in 1968, features in the movie “The Ernie Game,” which tells the story of a man recently discharged from a mental institution. More notably, it serves as the ideal introductory song in the 1971 western film “McCabe & Mrs Miller,” starring Warren Beatty as a gambler. Even without the visual context of the movie, listening to this song conjures up vivid imagery of card games, hazy dreams, and the juxtaposition of risk and safety.
14. Ooh Las Vegas – Gram Parson
“Ooh, Las Vegas, ain’t no place for a poor boy like me”… serves as the lyrical introduction to the song “Ooh Las Vegas,” penned by Gram Parsons and Ric Grech. The song first graced the airwaves in 1974 when it was released by Gram Parsons along with Emmylou Harris. If you’re embarking on a road trip (especially one headed to Las Vegas) and have the zest to belt out some tunes, this song makes for an ideal soundtrack to start your journey.
15. Blackjack – Ray Charles
Changing the tempo to a one-of-a-kind audio, blackjack fans will feel the thrill of the game through Ray Charles’ “Blackjack” tune. This excellent tune from 1955 is not only a quality song but also a political message on the nature of the harshness of blackjack games. There are those who claim that Charles got this motivation after winning a blackjack game from T-Bone Walker.
Furthermore, a different popular Ray Charles jam, which also deals with gambling is entitled “Losing Hand.”
16. The Jack – AC/DC
The next song on our list will give you some adrenaline boost, for sure. It goes like this – “She gave me the queen, she gave me the king, she was wheelin’ and dealin’, just doin’ her thing, she was holdin’ a pair, but I had to try…” Sounds familiar? This song from the 1975s is called The Jack and is played by AC/DC and there’s no way you can skip it.
17. Kentucky Gambler – Merle Haggard
Written by Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard’s Kentucky Gambler was released in 1974 this being another song on the greatest gambling playlist that you better not ignore. It is the story of a man from Kentucky who abandons his family to risk his life, in the glittering lights of Reno. It is no wonder that he is brought to the end of his streak, and he loses all his winnings. A complete bankrupt he left only when came back he found his wife having an affair.
18. Have a Lucky Day – Morphine
Another song on our list that you simply must check out starts like this: “I feel lucky, I just feel that way, I’m on a bus to Atlantic City later on today. Now I’m sitting at a blackjack table and swear to God the dealer has a tag that says, “Mabel.” Hit me, hit me! I smile at Mabel, soon they’re bringing complimentary drinks to the table.” Check it out yourself – it’s called Have a Lucky Day by Morphine.
19. Casino Queen – Wilco
Now here’s one black-humored gambling-themed song, released in 1995 and titled after a casino. Featuring a dirty electric guitar, Casino Queen was composed by an American songwriter, Jeff Tweedy, who wrote this song after playing a game in a riverboat casino accompanied by his dad. Inspired by the event, the author wrote: “Casino Queen my lord you’re mean, I’ve been gambling like a fiend on your tables so green.”
20. When You’re Hot, You’re Hot – Jerry Reed
If you are a fan of online craps, this track is certainly a must-hear. The song When You’re Hot, You’re Hot was released in 1971 which got Jerry Reed his Grammy. This is recalled by the majority since it was a huge success, top-rated country chart and it also climbed the Pop Top 40. It is a fun novelty song about the gambler’s life of wins and losses, the one winning streak being caught in an illegal crap game.
Keep It on Loop
Our set of suggested songs for your next virtual casino visit is concluded with this. We are excited to know – Does the playlist correspond to your tastes? Are there any other poker or gambling -themed songs you believe should be added to this list? If you have such an opinion, please, let us know on our forum.
In the meantime, pick your favorite casino games from our choice, turn off the background noise, select the tracks from our music library or hit the play button and forget about the outside world.
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