What Do Casino Games Reveal About Our Relationship with Chance and Control in Popular Media?

Casino games these days are often portrayed in popular media in various contexts, but mainly via film and television, social media, literature, and advertisements.

Some of the most common games that are portrayed through these mediums include classic American and European table & card games such as roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and craps, but also slot machines, bingo & lottery-style games, and various other games.

On this page, we will be taking a closer look at what these casino games that are often portrayed in popular media reveal about our relationship with chance and control.

We will also briefly discuss how the portrayal of casino games has changed in recent years, and how they now highlight both positive and negative aspects of casino games.

For example, casino gaming isn’t just glamorised anymore, and various forms of media don’t just provide positive representations that encourage this kind of activity.

Instead, casino games are also now portrayed in a negative way that is designed to educate players about the potential risks of gambling and addiction to combat problem gambling and prevent people from gambling excessively.

What do casino games reveal about our relationship with chance and control in popular media?

Casino games that are commonly portrayed in popular media, whether film or television, literature or media, have been described as acting as a cultural mirror that perfectly represents our ongoing fascination with the relationship and perceived illusion of chance and control.

This cultural mirror also reflects the thrill of taking risks for the potential for huge monetary rewards and personal satisfaction, but also the very real possibility of things not going our way or when faced with uncertainty.

As popular culture and media continue to evolve, the way in which all casino games are portrayed will also adapt, which others say will lead to a more in-depth and nuanced investigation into the impact that casino gambling has on individuals and society as a whole and prompt positive changes.

Casino game stereotypes in the media and their impact on society

When portrayed in the media, there is often the danger that casino games can become romanticised, and the potential risks of playing these games are downplayed. Instead of highlighting any risks associated with casino gambling, the media often focuses solely on players winning big and the glamorous side of this industry.

Depictions of casino games portrayed in this light can significantly sway public perception, which can potentially lead to a stigmatization of those struggling with gambling addiction. Casino gamblers are also often portrayed either as degenerate or irresponsible individuals, or incredibly skilled, naïve, and/or lucky individuals, which can both encourage and discourage people to play casino games themselves.

The illusion of control and allure of chance

The main protagonists in films and television shows are often portrayed as skilled, confident, suave and sophisticated individuals, such as James Bond, who use various proven gameplay and betting strategies to reduce the house edge, place more calculated bets, and come out on top, but it doesn’t always work like this in real life.

Winning and losing always boils down to luck, and players are never guaranteed to win, whether they play using a proven strategy at an online or land-based casino. Portrayals like this, where players beat the house and seemingly manipulate the odds in their favour, can blur the lines between randomness and control, which may encourage some people to gamble.

The media often highlight the fact that life-changing jackpots can be won on any lucky spin for a relatively small stake, which is true, but once again, this portrayal can encourage people to gamble who wouldn’t normally.

There’s also now more transparency in the true randomness of online casino games, meaning players can now find out the expected payback information before playing games, which is also known as the Return to Player (RTP%) payout rate.

Experienced players will only play online casino games with a 96.00% to 97.00% or higher RTP payout rate and will avoid playing games with anything lower. Although this is a great strategy to have because, mathematically speaking, you are more likely to win on a high RTP% payout rate slot than one with, say, a 92.00% or 93.00% (or lower) RTP payout rate, it doesn’t always work out like this.

However, players are educated more than ever by online casino operators and in various other forms of media about the chance of winning and control, which has helped them make far more informed financial decisions.

How does the media promote responsible gambling to safeguard players?

These days, online casino operators, regulators, software providers/game development studios, online payment processing companies, and many non-profit/charitable organisations collaborate in various ways through using media to promote responsible gambling like never before, especially in well-regulated markets where online casino gambling activities and operations are overseen by top-tier licensing authorities, regulators, and gaming commissions.

Wherever you look these days online in countries where online casino gambling is legally permitted, from sports stadiums to television shows, buses, and various other places, you can often see responsible gambling campaigns that are designed to safeguard players.

Some of the most notable problem gambling organizations that you can generally find information for on today’s safest iGaming platforms are the following:

• Gambling Therapy
• GambleAware (BeGambleAware)
• Gamblers Anonymous
• GamCare
• The Responsible Gambling Council, and many others

Each major gaming commission/licensing authority, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Gambling Commission, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Michigan Gaming Control Board, and New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, to name a few, also now enforce their licensees to promote responsible gambling and provide a range of safer gambling tools to their fully registered members.

In other words, despite the allure of casino games and the potential to win big prizes portrayed in media that may encourage people to gamble on a legally permitted casino site, there are many safeguarding measures in place designed to protect players and prevent them from overspending.

These days, players can set session time reminders, win/loss limits, spending caps and deposit limits, and by setting these limits, it ensures players keep things safe and fun each time they log in to their chosen online casino account to play their favourite games, and it ensures they never exceed their initial spending budget.

There is far more censorship in the media than ever when it comes to the advertising of online casinos, and the aim of this is to prevent advertising to minors and protect those deemed ‘at risk’ from potentially developing gambling problems.

Final thoughts

The evolution of how casino games are portrayed across various forms of media suggests that future representations will continue to reflect cultural shifts and will highlight how gambling is perceived by the wider population in both negative and positive ways.