Music is a significant component of many spheres of life, and online gambling is no exception. Today’s web-based casinos add music to their backgrounds in order to boost user experience, and the top operators such as White Lotus Casino (review by Playcasino.co.za) showcase a variety of genres. Music amplifies the exciting casino venue atmosphere, and if you were looking for tunes you could listen to while playing, check out these 10 great gambling-themed belters:

Kenny Rogers - The Gambler

“The Gambler” is an iconic song that tells a story of a man who knows “what to keep, and what to throw away”. Besides the catchy tune, it is also known for its deeply meaningful lyrics that have touched and inspired a number of gambling enthusiasts. The main character in the song claims that reading people’s faces helped him make a life, something that many poker players can relate to. 

Motorhead - Ace of Spades

Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” is the perfect song to play if you really want to jump into the shoes of a gambler and get a real feel of what it’s like to be one. Lemmy, the band’s singer, was adored by many, and through this work, he shows what an intriguing soul he truly was. Namely, at the very beginning, he makes it clear that for him it is all about the thrill of the chase, and not about winning. 

Leonard Cohen - The Stranger Song

Being more than just a musician, the late, great Leonard Cohen uses his superb narrative skills to tell stories inspired by real-life events. His art is supercharged with raw emotion, and “The Stranger Song” is a wonderful example. Cohen tells a complex story about the problematic commitment between a man and a woman and shapes it into a masterpiece with a poker game analogy. 

Sting - Shape of My Heart

Sting’s “Shape of My Heart” is all about poker, but it doesn’t talk about a game played for money. The player in the song is actually looking at the hands that he was dealt, searching for meaning. He is looking for answers in the cards, trying to interpret them through lines like “I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier”. Ultimately, he finds a meaning for all the symbols, except for the heart. 

Bob Dylan - Rambling, Gambling Willie

Will O’Conley, the subject of the song, is a fictional character who had 27 children but no wives, and a heart of gold. Dylan’s inspiration comes from early American songwriting where situations and characters were exaggerated to absurd and hilarious levels. Willie joins a card game on a riverboat and ends up owning the boat himself. However, even though he had such great luck with most of his opponents, his luck does eventually run out. 

ABBA - The Winner Takes It All

“The Winner Takes It All” is an exciting story about a player who takes the pot and leaves everyone else out in the cold. In reality, this song was a metaphor that represented the relationship between the singer and his spouse, which had, unfortunately, fallen apart. Bjorn Ulvaeus took inspiration from his divorce, claiming that one person is bound to lose it all, while the other gets everything. 

Ray Charles - Losing Hand

Ray Charles uses the “Losing Hand” to explain that not every hand is a winner. The song tells a story about a man who played the game according to his plan, but ended up losing it all. This involves a cheating woman who took advantage of him, and despite the dishonest relationship, the man continues to play to get her affection. Ah, the things we do for love. 

Jerry Reed - When You’re Hot, You’re Hot

This famous song by Jerry Reed is about two friends engaged in a game of craps. One of them is on an exciting winning streak, until the game is interrupted by a police officer. The two friends end up in front of the judge, hoping for Lady Luck to be present when it comes to the sentencing, however, it only smiles upon one of the friends.

Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City

“Atlantic City” is a song about redemption where a man in love tries to revive the dying passion between him and his beloved lady. He decides to take a shot at happiness in a place where the sand turns to gold, a reference to Atlantic City - one of America’s gambling meccas.  

The Clash - The Card Cheat

The Clash published a song that showcases a dirty gambler who tries to gain an advantage by switching his cards. As luck would have it, he is caught and even ends up getting shot as a result of his cheating ways. This song is a neat reminder that no matter how badly you might be playing, cheating is never an answer, and in some instances, it can prove fatal!  

There are many songs out there that revolve around gambling, and listening to the ten amazing examples listed above will serve as a great foundation for your perfect gaming playlist.