Gambling is a major form of entertainment for many people around the globe and it is also featured in more than a couple of movies.
Whether it be illegal underground poker ring, a casino run by the mob, or a group of rogues going in to cheat their way to the top, gambling has had a major presence on the silver screen and viewers have enjoyed it immensely. However, why is that? Why is gambling such a major theme in modern cinema and why we like it so much?
Why Gambling?
Gambling is associated with several things in Western culture, one of which is danger. When you take a second to consider it, you may come to the realisation that gambling is generally a dangerous pastime in several ways. On one hand, you stake a certain amount of money or something of great value, which you could lose. This is by all accounts dangerous, as the loss of the bet could be catastrophic.
There are other forms of danger featured in movie gambling. A common trope in modern cinema is the casino operated by the mafia. For whatever reason, directors have decided that every casino establishment in movies has to be an illegal or shady business. This adds danger when a protagonist goes in to clean them out, only to find themselves strapped to a chair in the backroom having their hand broken with a hammer.
Of course, danger is necessary to a certain extent for a film to be good. We as humans are illogically attracted to danger and we certainly enjoy watching it happen on screen from the safety of the couch. But where there is gambling, there is excitement like in BonusInsider.com loyalty programs.
Excitement
Excitement is another major reason why we love watching gambling in films. After all, if a movie is not exciting why would we bother with it. The rush that we get from watching something amazing happen is something of a unique feeling, that we probably will not get in real life. Moreover, serious gambling scenes are also filled with much suspense as we wait for the main characters to reveal their cards.
In these moments, we imagine ourselves in the shoes of the protagonists, feeling their emotions and the seriousness of the situation. In the end, we are either rewarded with a feeling of relief after they win or with crushing disappointment in the event that they lose. Gambling in movies serves to evoke certain emotions from viewers, making the watching experience that much more memorable. It is no wonder that some of the most memorable movies feature some form of gambling.
Comedic effect
On the other hand, gambling in certain moments can be used for comedic effect. The way it happens is different for each movie, but the result could be hilarious either way. The blackjack scene in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery makes a mockery out of the main character for his utter incompetence and stupidity. Though this film is a comedy and it achieves its humour in a lighthearted way.
On the flip side, Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino uses a dry type of comedy that can only be appreciated by fans of dark humor. In the movie, Ace throws out a patron of the casino who had taken of his shoes and placed his feet on the table. This patron then proceeds to spew obscenities and insults to Ace. Later it is revealed, that the player is close with Ace’ friend Nicky.
Nicky asks for Ace to let his acquaintance back inside, only to be told what he had said to Ace. Realising this, Nicky proceeds to beat the man with the phone receiver, despite the fact that he is at least 2 feet shorter than him. It is the type of humor that is common in Scorsese movies and it is slightly different than our previous example, but both are based on gambling.
Overall, gambling in movies is a common trope and has been used since the start of commercial cinema. It can take many forms, but at the end of the day, it always serves a purpose.
There are many types of gambling scenes out there and we can only mention so many of them in here. What we want you to take from this article, is that gambling in movies usually means something amazing is going to happen.