What songs tell us about gambling

And how they can be used to prevent it

Synopsis

This document explores how popular music reflects attitudes toward gambling. By analyzing a selection of well-known songs that reference cards, dice, and casinos, we identify both the cultural allure and the risks associated with gambling. Some songs portray gambling as exciting or glamorous, others use it metaphorically to describe emotions and life situations, while several warn against its negative consequences. This collection can be used as an educational tool to discuss how gambling imagery permeates culture and influences perceptions.

 

 

Songs that mention gambling

 

#	Song	Composer(s)	Year	Company (Label)	Gambling lyric
1	The Gambler – Kenny Rogers	Don Schlitz	1978	United Artists	“Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.”
2	Ace of Spades – Motörhead	Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, Eddie Clarke, Phil Taylor	1980	Bronze Records	“You win some, lose some, all the same to me.”
3	Poker Face – Lady Gaga	Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga), RedOne	2008	Interscope Records	“Can’t read my poker face.”
4	Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley	Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman	1964	RCA Victor	“There’s blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel.”
5	Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones	Mick Jagger, Keith Richards	1972	Rolling Stones Records	“I’m the lone crap shooter, playin’ the field.”
6	Luck Be a Lady – Frank Sinatra version	Frank Loesser	1963	Reprise Records	“Luck be a lady tonight.”
7	Blackjack – Ray Charles	Ray Charles	1955	Atlantic Records	“This blackjack game caused me trouble.”
8	Deal – Jerry Garcia / Grateful Dead	Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter	1972	Warner Bros.	“Watch each card you play and play it slow.”
9	Loser – Grateful Dead	Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter	1972	Warner Bros.	“I could pay you back with one good hand.”
10	Desperado – Eagles	Don Henley, Glenn Frey	1973	Asylum Records	“Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy.”
11	Little Queen of Spades – Robert Johnson	Robert Johnson	1937	Vocalion	“She is a little queen of spades.”
12	Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton	Hank DeVito	1981	Capitol Records	“Playing with the queen of hearts.”

 

 

Results

The songs analyzed fall into three broad categories:

1. Positive/Celebratory: Songs like 'Ace of Spades', 'Viva Las Vegas', and 'Luck Be a Lady' present gambling as thrilling, glamorous, or lucky.

2. Neutral/Metaphorical: Songs such as 'Poker Face', 'Tumbling Dice', 'Queen of Hearts', and 'Little Queen of Spades' use gambling imagery as metaphor for emotions, love, or lifestyle, without advocating gambling directly.

3. Cautionary/Negative: Songs including 'The Gambler', 'Blackjack', 'Deal', 'Loser', and 'Desperado' highlight the risks of gambling, emphasizing prudence, regret, or misplaced priorities.

Together, these musical narratives illustrate how gambling can be portrayed as exciting, symbolic, or destructive. This makes them useful resources in educational settings to discuss the cultural significance of gambling and its real-world consequences.

Click here to access more songs that mention gambling.

 

Summary

Beyond individual lyrics, these songs collectively reveal how society views gambling itself. Films and music that feature gambling often glamorize casinos, risk-taking, and the thrill of chance, reflecting a cultural fascination with the idea of beating the odds. Yet, when examined closely, many of these works also carry implicit warnings—portraying gamblers as lonely, reckless, or trapped by false hope. This duality mirrors the real-world paradox of gambling: it is marketed as entertainment and freedom, but frequently results in loss, dependency, and regret. By unpacking these narratives, educators can help young people recognize how popular culture romanticizes risk while subtly exposing its dangers, making these songs a powerful medium for critical discussion about gambling’s broader social impact.

 

References

Don Schlitz. (1978). *The Gambler* [Recorded by Kenny Rogers]. United Artists.

Kilmister, I., Clarke, E., & Taylor, P. (1980). *Ace of Spades* [Recorded by Motörhead]. Bronze Records.

Germanotta, S., & RedOne. (2008). *Poker Face* [Recorded by Lady Gaga]. Interscope Records.

Pomus, D., & Shuman, M. (1964). *Viva Las Vegas* [Recorded by Elvis Presley]. RCA Victor.

Jagger, M., & Richards, K. (1972). *Tumbling Dice* [Recorded by The Rolling Stones]. Rolling Stones Records.

Loesser, F. (1963). *Luck Be a Lady* [Recorded by Frank Sinatra]. Reprise Records.

Charles, R. (1955). *Blackjack* [Recorded by Ray Charles]. Atlantic Records.

Garcia, J., & Hunter, R. (1972). *Deal* [Recorded by Jerry Garcia / Grateful Dead]. Warner Bros.

Garcia, J., & Hunter, R. (1972). *Loser* [Recorded by Grateful Dead]. Warner Bros.

Henley, D., & Frey, G. (1973). *Desperado* [Recorded by Eagles]. Asylum Records.

Johnson, R. (1937). *Little Queen of Spades* [Recorded by Robert Johnson]. Vocalion.

DeVito, H. (1981). *Queen of Hearts* [Recorded by Juice Newton]. Capitol Records.

 

Note

This article was authored by the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association as part of the Erasmus+ project “Reverse the Odds” (Project No. 2024-3-DE04-KA210-YOU-000280177) that aims to prevent gambling among the youth.

 

Disclaim

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.