Casinos have long had a starring role in the world of entertainment. It may be on the big screen or tucked into video games, but these buzzing spaces have a way of building the scene. Their classy appeal and ever-present air of unpredictability make them ideal backdrops for drama and a lot of other genres.

Online and In-Person Casinos in Media

Today, casinos live in two very different forms: the brick-and-mortar version with all the bells and whistles and the online versions that are convenient and always available. In person, casinos have that grandiose feel. They scream spectacle. Online casinos are more about convenience and access.

Online casinos are still depicted in the media but often in different scenarios, such as showing a character accessing games. The symbolism of a casino may still be the same but there is a different feel. In-person casinos are often used in films as a specific glamor location. Depictions on television can also impact the way that games spread. People can access an online casino real money USA to check out some of the casino games that they may have seen elsewhere.

Both types have been depicted across media, but physical casinos still dominate when it comes to Hollywood and television. There’s something visually powerful about a roulette wheel spinning under a chandelier or a poker table surrounded by sharply dressed players.

Casinos are also associated with a lot of other classy imagery, including luxurious food and drink. In scenes where we see these kinds of games, we often also see things like lobster and cocktails to add to the ambiance…

Casinos in Movies

Some of the most iconic scenes in film history have taken place on a casino floor. One of the most acclaimed movies ever is even called Casino. Martin Scorsese’s crime epic shows the gritty fictional workings of a Las Vegas casino in the 1970s. The film treats the casino not just as a location but as a living, breathing organism.

Then there’s Ocean’s Eleven, where casinos are the target of an elaborate and stylish heist. The movie uses the flashy and glamorous image of Las Vegas casinos to raise the stakes.

In Rain Man, a casino scene becomes a turning point. The film’s protagonists use card-counting in blackjack to win big in Vegas. It’s quieter and tense in a very different way, showing the mental game behind all the flashing lights and the strategy that may be involved in blackjack.

We even see casinos used in comedies like The Hangover. The film uses the setting for chaotic humor and over-the-top party energy. Here, the casino becomes a symbol of unpredictability that is perfect for a storyline that’s spiraling out of control. The Hangover is pretty well-reviewed and still watched on streaming services.

Casinos in Video Games

Gaming has also embraced casinos in creative ways. In Grand Theft Auto V, players can visit the Diamond Casino & Resort and play with in-game currency. Players explore a fully immersive casino environment. This is such a detailed game and this is an entire lifestyle add-on. It even has some specific missions.

Fallout: New Vegas turns the casino concept on its head, setting them in a post-apocalyptic world.

In Red Dead Redemption, saloons double as casinos, with poker and blackjack games offering players a break from shootouts and story missions. These mini-games serve no major purpose beyond immersion and tone, and they’re wildly popular with players who love these kinds of games. RDR2 (the sequel) has multiple places to play casino games as a mini-game using the in-game currency.

Casinos on TV

Television has also embraced casinos in all kinds of genres. The show Las Vegas took viewers inside the fictional Montecito Resort and Casino. Each episode was a fictional behind-the-scenes look at what goes into keeping a fictional (and dramatized) house running.

Breaking Bad’s spinoff, “Better Call Saul,” features several casino-related moments, especially through the character of Mike Ehrmantraut. These kinds of scenes can be used to symbolize a few different things and provide filmmakers and TV execs another option to change up the feel of their show.

Conclusion

The use of casinos in media is almost as old as the world of cinema itself! There have been many historical references.

Online casinos don’t show up as often as the in-person options – but they are making their way into tech-driven dramas and thrillers as well as just day-to-day life in TV shows and games.

There are plenty of examples of casino scenes that are very memorable – if someone has seen a Bond film, then they have probably seen some form of casino use in the narrative! The location tends to be the main draw, but online casinos are also being depicted more in movies and media.