- If you’re looking for songs about gambling, I have 15 classic examples featuring brilliant lyrics.
- You’ll find some of the best songs about betting and casino games from a variety of artists.
- “Ace of Spades,” “Luck Be a Lady,” and more make up my list of the top gambling songs.
Do you think there are songs about gambling that that that everyone can relate to? It turns out that there are dozens of them in almost every music genre.
From country to rock, heavy metal, and hip-hop, the best gambling songs cover everything from poker and blackjack to sports wagering and horse racing.
If you enjoy playing at the , you might be surprised by how many of these lyrics you’re already familiar with.
And if you’re looking for something new to listen to while you play poker or blackjack, I’ve got you covered. Here are 15 great examples of songs with gambling themes.
1. “Ace of Spades” - Motorhead
Is this the best song about gambling ever? Probably not, but it has to be one of the heaviest.
Anyone who enjoys listening to Motorhead will probably enjoy playing at . But getting back to the subject at hand, what do the lyrics mean?
On the surface, they deal with someone on a gambling winning streak. Regardless of whether he’s playing poker or some other game, he can’t lose because he’s been dealt an “ace of spades.”
Are the lyrics deeper than that, though? Some people believe frontman Lemmy Kilmister was referring to sexually transmitted diseases when he sang about contracting “the deadly sins.”
Others feel as if “Ace of Spades” is a metaphor for engaging in high-risk behavior of any kind. Whatever the case might be, there’s no denying the song’s status as one of the heaviest tracks in the Motorhead discography.
2. “The House of the Rising Sun” - The Animals
When Eric Burdon & The Animals released their version of “The House of the Rising Sun,” it became a #1 hit around the world. However, the roots of this timeless classic go all of the way back to the 19th century.
multi video pokerSome historians believe that traditional folk songs like this were passed down orally before eventually being put to paper. Others feel as if the original lyrics were inscribed on sheet music as far back as the 1800s.
One thing we know for sure is that the song tells the story of a young man who, after squandering his money and prospects, must turn to prostitution to survive. In this case, the house in question isn’t a casino but rather a brothel.
This song has been covered by dozens of major artists over the years, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Delaney & Bonnie, and Foghat.
If you enjoyed what the Animals did with this classic tune, I highly recommend seeking out those versions as well.
3. “Little Queen of Spades” - Robert Johnson
Was Robert Johnson the greatest blues musician of all time? That debate will undoubtedly continue for the foreseeable future.
What isn’t open to interpretation is the fact that Johnson cut two fantastic albums during his lifetime (essentially). The third and fourth sides of his seven 78 RPM recordings session ended up on posthumous releases.
While none of the tracks on King of the Delta Blues and The Complete Recordings contain actual slot machines, “Little Queen of Spades” does have something to do with gambling. More specifically, it deals with a bet the singer has lost.
Johnson doesn’t explain exactly what he was wagering on, but some listeners feel as if the “little queen of spades” refers to the Jack of Spades, which is a longstanding symbol of death and bad luck in the world of gambling.
Interestingly enough, this isn’t the only song about the Jack of Spades. There are dozens of others, and I’ll leave it in the hands of the reader to seek them out if they so choose.
4. “Lucky Day” - Leona Lewis
Up until this point, all of the songs about gambling I’ve mentioned have been performed by women. Believe it or not, men haven’t completely dominated the market when it comes to writing about betting and casinos throughout history.
British singer/songwriter Leona Lewis reached the top of the charts with this lottery-themed hit in multiple countries around the world.
Like most songs about the lottery, “Lucky Day” focuses on the idea that if the listener wins the big prize, their significant other will receive just reward.
Of course, things don’t always work out that way. Just ask Cindy Taylor.
Regardless, this catchy pop tune deserves mention among the ranks of lyrics about wagers that everybody knows.
5. “Horse With No Name” - America
You didn’t think I would get through this list of songs about gambling without including at least one desert-themed tune, did you? OK, there’s really nothing about poker, roulette, or sports betting in this classic hit by America.
That said, the lyrics do contain several references to gambling capital Las Vegas never had. For example, the opening line describes “a desert moonlight feeding on the run,” which sounds like something out of a dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic world.
Later in the song, lead vocalist Dewey Bunnell sings about “the hills of California far beyond the city.” Even if you’ve never been to Southern California, you probably know the hills he’s talking about. They’re home to dozens of world-class casinos, so I think it’s safe to say he was aware of that as well.
Overall, “Horse With No Name” isn’t necessarily one of the best gambling songs ever recorded. It does, however, deserve mention among the ranks of songs with desert themes that all gamblers should hear at least once.
6. “Ramble On” - Led Zeppelin
When you think about songs with gambling lyrics penned by men, few acts come to mind as quickly as Led Zeppelin. This hard rock legends wrote about everything from magic and fantasy to historical events and mythological creatures.
Caesars Casino Bonus Code Options for 2023 - Both Realistic and ExaggeratedIn the case of “Ramble On,” the theme seems to center on the latter. Up for interpretation is whether the verses’ lyrics refer to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings or similar source material.
There’s little doubt that the chorus deals with gambling in one form or another. The lines “I've been forewarned, I won't be inured, no, no, no! I'm a man who don't suppose, statues can come to life, no, no, no!” could be interpreted as the narrator warning himself against engaging in high-risk behaviors like gambling.
On the other hand, plant did claim that the lyrics told the story of a young man on the move who couldn’t stay in one place because of his past mistakes. Ultimately, the meaning behind this hard rocker is open to interpretation.
7. “Money Flower” - Alice in Chains
Everybody knows that frontman Layne Staley wasn’t alive to see Black Gives Way to Blue, Alice in Chains’ comeback album released in 2009. He passed away in 2002 after struggling with drug addiction for more than a decade.
Believe it or not, Staley contributed music and lyrics to several of the tracks that appeared on that release. One of them was “Money Flower,” a ballad dealing with gambling that ranks among the best songs about betting ever recorded.
At its core, this tune tells the story of someone who has lost everything due to their gambling problem. Lines such as “All I wanted was to be loved, never asked too much in return, but the cards kept dealing, turned my house into a tent” drive this idea home.
Anyone who has watched a loved one destroy themselves with regular trips to the casino will likely appreciate what Alice in Chains did with this track.
8. “Luck Be a Lady” - Frank Sinatra
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that there are plenty of songs about gambling that originated on Broadway or in Hollywood. Musicals and movies often include songs designed to advance the plot and help viewers better understand the characters.
Such is the case with “Luck Be a Lady,” a song from the musical Guys and Dolls. In this case, Nathan Detroit needs luck because he’s running a failing illegal gambling operation and owes Skye Masterton $1,400.
He prays that his luck will change and asks Lady Luck to watch over him when he heads to Havana to find Sky. The rest, as they say, is history.
Has anyone actually said “Luck be a lady” outside of musicals and old gangster films? I’m not so sure about that, but there’s little doubt this track remains one of the best known among all of the songs about the odds.
9. “Gambler, Gambler” - Don Williams
Country music includes lots of songs about gambling and casinos. Johnny Cash recorded “Cockfighter,” which includes the lines “Well, I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die / When I heard panachy ruled in that case / I took my winnin’ hand and I went home / Leavin’ that woman there to uphold the law / Seein’ nobody would cheat nobody in that holy land of Nevada.”
Dolly Parton sung “Coat of Many Colors,” which has nothing to do with betting per se. However, one of her biggest hits—“9 to 5”—has a famous lyric about working for the man so you can afford to gamble on horses.
I’ve chosen “Gambler, Gambler” for this list of songs with gambling lyrics because it drives home the concept that everyone loses in the end if they can’t stop betting. Stan Jones penned the lyrics to this track, and Don Williams recorded it in 1976.
The central figure in this song keeps telling a gambler that “nine hundred miles below my toes, is a land where the grass is green and the clover grows.” All the gambler has to do to join him is quit gambling and come visit.
Of course, the gambler can’t seem to give up wagering, even though he has lost everything and is starving to death. In the end, he dies without ever accepting his friend’s invitation.
10. “Deck of Cards” - Hank Williams, Jr.
There are several different covers of this song dating back to the 1930s. The first version I ever heard was performed by Hank Williams, Jr. Back in the day when he was still trying to break free of his father’s shadow.
Best Real Money Casino Apps in USA for 2023 [Legal Sites]Williams, Jr.’s cover of “Deck of Cards” was included on his 1979 album . While the record failed to produce any major hits, it did include two good honky-tonkers—“I’m a Country Boy” and “You Win Again.”
This tune tells the story of a fellow who draws several unfortunate cards early in a game of poker. Thinking he sees a mark, he encourages the other player to keep dealing. Of course, the unfortunate hand continue coming, and the narrator ends up losing everything he has.
Any poker players in the audience will surely appreciate this ditty, which serves as a reminder that even the best rounds can turn sour in a hurry.
11. “Rove Bell” - Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia was a huge fan of country music, so it should come as no surprise that the Grateful Dead covered this traditional tune. Most historians believe the original author of this song is Merle Travis, but they can’t seem to find documents proving that assertion.
Best Hard Rock Casino Jobs To Apply For Online Right NowRegardless, “Rove Bell” is a traditional country tune that tells the story of a gambler who has made a series of poor choices and lost everything as a result. The titular rove bell is a cowboy term for high card drawn in a game with no set rules.
For those who aren’t familiar with Western terms, the rove is essentially the same as a “dead man’s hand” in poker. Both refer to a bad draw that usually means certain defeat.
In this case, the cowboy drawing the rove bell is on a train to Texas to try his luck again. We don’t know if he wins or loses because the song ends there. Still, it’s apparent that this character is destined to make the same mistakes over and over.
12. “Seven Turns” - Bob Dylan
Did you know that Time Out of Mind was the first album Bob Dylan released after being diagnosed with West Nile virus? Critics consider this collection of songs to be some of the best work Dylan has ever done, and many of them revolve around death and mortality.
One of the tracks on this Grammy-winning album is “Seven Turns,” which deals with the idea that life is fleeting. The lyrics reference gambling in several spots, noting that time is the only thing that’s certain to come around seven times for everyone.
Lines like “Mister Death, take as your witness that I came up to meet you / No, I didn’t bet on black or on red / When she fell on thirteen, I didn’t flinch or twitch a muscle / I knew it was time ‘neath her mad eyes and red beard” help underscore that point.
Felonies that Prevent You from Setting Foot in a CasinoOverall, this is more of a philosophical look at life, death, and the role chance plays between the two. Still, there’s little doubt that “seven turns” is one of the best songs about gambling and fate.
13. “Get Lucky” - Daft Punk
Pharrell Williams is a talented musician in his own right, but it was his collaboration with Daft Punk that produced one of the biggest hits of 2013. “Get Lucky” topped the charts in multiple countries around the world, including the United States.
So, what do the lyrics mean? Other than a few references to luck and being in the right place at the right time, this track doesn’t have much to do with actual gambling.
Still, I’m willing to bet that a lot of gamblers have this tune on their road trip playlists. Why’s that? Because the upbeat tempo and positive message make it a perfect choice for anybody hitting the highway.
Whether you’re headed to the nearest casino or planning a cross-country road trip, putting “Get Lucky” on your playlist is a smart move. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even hit a lucky streak once this tune starts playing.
14. “Shot in the Dark” - Motley Crue (Feat. Lil Wayne)
Originally written by Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, and John Corabi, “Shot in the Dark” first appeared on Generation Swine. That Motley Crue album, which was poorly received by critics and fans alike upon its 1997 release, has since gained traction among collectors.
Part of the reason for that is “Shot in the Dark,” which was remade for Saints of Los Angeles with a guest appearance by Lil Wayne. This updated version was released as the lead single from the later album and became a top 40 hit around the world.
So, what do the lyrics mean? The short answer is that the narrator is ready to take a chance because there’s nowhere left to go. Anyone who has hit rock bottom and made the decision to start rebuilding their lives will likely identify with that sentiment.
I wouldn’t say that “Shot in the Dark” is one of the best gambling songs ever recorded, but it definitely deserves mention among the ranks of lyrics about taking chances that everyone knows.
15. “House of the Rising X” - X Ambassador
We’ll close out this list of songs about gambling with a cover that enjoyed more success than the original. Although the original version of “House of the Rising Sun” is incredible, X Ambassador’s take on “House of the Rising X” was a bigger hit.
Best Free Casino Games You Can Play Online Right NowIncidentally, this track was also featured on the _Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2_soundtrack. If you’ve seen the movie, you might remember it playing during the end credits.
As with the Animals’ cover of this classic tune, this one deals with a person turning to prostitution after losing everything due to bad decisions and poor luck. The only difference here is that the establishment in question is now referred to as the House of the Rising X instead of the sun.
I wouldn’t call this tune one of the best gambling songs, but it’s worth listening to if you like modern rock with a retro sound.
Best Songs About Gambling Are Timeless
As you can see, musicians from a variety of genres have written lots of songs about gambling. Whether you prefer classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, country, pop, or rap, there’s certainly no shortage of options to choose from.
Out of all the gambling songs I’ve listened to over the year, “Ace of Spades” is probably my favorite. What about you? Do you have a specific song with gambling lyrics that you tend to listen to whenever you play poker or blackjack?
If so, I’d love to hear all about it in the comments section below. And if you’re looking for some new tunes to add to your playlist, consider bookmarking this page and returning to it in the future.
By the way, if you want to gamble for real in 2023, the following reviewed sites are our top recommendations.
Footnotes:
- Date of Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind diagnosis is from .
Kevin Roberts, previously published as Jacob Smith, is a freelance writer specializing in gambling-related topics. His work has appeared in numerous well-known publications both online and in print. In addition to writing about gambling, he has also worked as a literature instructor, an arena football coach, and a manager for a non-profit organization he helped found.
