Casino, Entertainment, Music
December 1, 2021

Bet to the Beat: Top Songs about Casino Gaming

Here at Hard Rock Sacramento, we’re tying our love for music and artists with our love for gaming. This guide is giving you all of the best songs centered around gaming, casinos, and ultimately testing your luck. 

Get ready for a night filled with casino fun as you reminisce throughout the decades with these tunes.

Songs About Gaming in the 50s

Losing Hand – Ray Charles | 1957 | R&B/Soul/Blues

Composed by Charles E. Calhoun, this blues anthem was produced during the same session as the top hit, Mess Around. Losing Hand embodies all the blues elements that you could hope for, written by Jesse Stone and performed by none other than the blues king himself, Ray Charles. Similar to some nights of gaming with cards and chips, this song is all about betting on love and losing in the end. Let’s hope your blackjack game is better than this romantic ode.

“I gambled on your love, baby, and got a losing hand”

Additional songs about betting and gaming that were produced and released in the 50s include:

  • Life Is Like A Card Game – Joe Turner | 1950 | Blues
  • The Gambling Man – Sister O.M. Terrell | 1953 | Blues
  • King of Spades – Peetie Wheatstraw | 1956 | Jazz/Blues
  • Gamblin’ Man – Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group | 1957 | Pop/Jazz/Rock
  • Blackjack – Ray Charles | 1958 | R&B/Soul/Blues
  • One Eyed Jack – Johnny Burnette | 1959 | Rock

Songs About Gaming in the 60s

Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley | 1964 | Rock and Roll/Pop

When the King of Rock and Roll is singing about casinos, you have to stop and listen. Derived from the Spanish phrase “viva” meaning “long live”, this song is all about the wonders of Las Vegas and the anthem of Sin City. However, this song was actually introduced through Elvis Presley’s movie about a race car driver coming to town for the Grand Prix Race. Throughout the song, Elvis touches on blackjack roulette, poker, the nightlife, and much more giving us the ultimate casino gaming song where establishments go their roots.

“Bright light city gonna set my soul

Gonna set my soul on fire

Got a whole lot of money that’s ready to burn”

Additional songs about betting and gaming that were produced and released in the 60s include:

  • House of the Rising Sun – Bob Dylan | 1962 | Rock/Blues
  • Luck Be a Lady – Frank Sinatra | 1965 | Jazz/Blues
  • St. John the Gambler – Townes Van Zandt | 1969 | Country
  • Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man – Bob Seger | 1969 | Country/Rock

Songs About Gaming in the 70s

Casino Boogie – Rolling Stones | 1972 | Rock

From their 1972 album, Exile on Main St., Casino Boogie was recorded by the Rolling Stones in the South of France with a mixture of blues, vocals, and rock n’ roll. When discussing how this song came to life, Mick Jagger stated that they all wrote different phrases to the song on cut up pieces of paper, threw them into a hat, and picked them out on-by-one to assemble them into the verses that we all know and love today. Can you piece together what they’re really trying to say?

“No good, can’t speak, wound up, no sleep”

Additional songs about betting and gaming that were produced and released in the 70s include:

  • Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones | 1972 | Rock
  • The Jack – AC/DC | 1975 | Rock
  • Solitaire – Carpenters | 1975 | Pop
  • Lay Your Money Down – Bread | 1977 | Rock
  • The Gambler – Kenny Rogers | 1978 | Country
  • Roll the Dice – Steve Harley | 1978 | Pop/Rock
  • The Card Cheat – The Clash | 1979 | Punk

Songs About Gaming in the 80s

Deal – Jerry Garcia | 1981 | Rock

As the opening song of Jerry Garcia’s first solo album, Deal makes you wonder who’s the main character throughout the song. With lyrics beautifully written by Rober Hunter and almost all musical instrumentals performed by Garcia, this song and many other songs on the album became staples associated with the Grateful Dead. Not only is this song a tribute and an ode to betting, but if you listen closely you’ll catch little bits of wisdom throughout its three minutes. When you reach the end of the song, most people believe the deal ends in defeat as the final piece of wisdom of this tune.

“Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lost, you and me bound to spend some time wond’rin’ what to choose”

Additional songs about betting and gaming that were produced and released in the 80s include:

  • Ace of Spades – Motorhead | 1980 | Rock and Roll
  • Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton | 1981 | Country
  • Ace in the Hole – George Strait | 1989 | Country
  • Gambler – Madonna | 1985 | Pop
  • Easy Money – Billy  Joel | 1983 | Alternative/Pop
  • Playing to Win – Little River Band and John Farnham | 1984 | Rock
  • Gambler – Whitesnake | 1984 | Rock

Songs About Gaming in the 90s

Casino Queen – Wilco | 1995 | Pop

Found on the track list of Wilco’s 1995 album, A.M., initial sales were low and was dubbed as a “failure” by the band. However, there was a hidden gem on that album and it’s title Casino Queen. This song is about a real riverboat casino and the many ups and downs of a night filled with casino gaming. Whether you enjoyed this album or not, we can all appreciate an accurate casino reference when we hear one.

“I’ve been gambling like a fiend, on your tables so green”

Additional songs about betting and gaming that were produced and released in the 90s include:

  • Ace of Hearts – Alan Jackson | 1990 | Country
  • Roll of the Dice – Bruce Springsteen | 1992 | Rock
  • A Good Run of Bad Luck – Clint Black | 1993 | Country
  • Deuces Are Wild – Aerosmith | 1994 | Rock
  • Gambler’s Blues – B.B. King | 1992 | Blues
  • The Angel and the Gambler – Iron Maiden | 1998 | Rock/Heavy Metal

Songs About Gaming in the 00s

The Dealer – Stevie Nicks | 2014 | Country/Rock

Originally written in 1979, The Dealer, a Fleetwood Mac vintage record, was released on Stevie Nicks solo album, 24 Karat Gold – Songs from the Vault. This song is a song all about love, life, and regret through a variety of card references. As The Dealer, you hold all the cards, but sometimes that might not be a good thing. Next time you’re sitting at the poker table, we’re sure you’ll think of this song.

“I was the mistress of my fate, I was the card shark”

Additional songs about betting and gaming that were produced and released in the 00s include:

  • All I Wanna Do Is Play Cards – Corb Lund | 2005 | Country
  • House of Cards – Radiohead | 2008 | Rock
  • Poker Face – Lady Gaga | 2008 | Pop/Hip Hop
  • Waking Up In Vegas – Katy Perry | 2009 | Pop
  • Wagon Wheel (Country Remix) – Darius Rucker | 2013 | Country
  • Go Big or Go Home – American Authors | 2015 | Alternative/Indie
  • Roll of the Dice – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill | 2017 | Country

Now that you have a taste for casino gaming and some good tunes to do it, head out to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento and test your luck on our casino floor. Whether you’re looking for slots, poker, or something in between, you can find it here at Fire Mountain. All bets are off, are you feeling lucky?

Enjoy our Gamble to the Beat Spotify Playlist to prepare for a night of casino fun. We’re sure we missed a few, so help us build our playlist. What are your favorite songs about testing your luck?