Gambling-related themes remain favourite with film and TV

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Gambling-related themes remain favourite with film and TV

The entertainment industry has many different parts and aspects to it. Some people enjoy watching films on the big screen, some cannot live without their sports, others like to binge-watch their favourite shows on OTT platforms, while the rest enjoy a bout of gambling to spend a few enjoyable hours.
However, despite there being differences in the ways these forms of entertainment are created and consumed, there are certain overlaps among them. Someone who enjoys watching sports might also like to bet on them. Similarly, someone who likes to watch films might enjoy playing online casino games with film themes. It is interesting to note here that modes of entertainment like gambling and film/TV content often take inspiration from one another. And that is why casinos and gambling are often seen in films and TV shows in various forms, both very visually appealing sources of entertainment.


Source: Pixabay
The classic casino film
This genre of film has been around for the past few decades now and has given some truly great hits. The Gambler (1974), Rounders (1998), Casino (1995), or more recently the Ocean’s trilogy are only some of the names in the long list of hit films about gambling. Casinos are also seen as places that are full of interesting people and characters, which makes them natural fodder for the film industry. It is natural that watching these films can make the viewer wish to gamble a little too. In today’s world, driven by the internet, it has become very easy to simply pick up your phone and place a few wagers. Say you are watching 21 and are suddenly hit with the desire to play blackjack online, you can do that very conveniently at an online casino.
The good old lottery
The lottery still remains part of the daily lives of millions of people across the world. For many, it is almost like part of their routine to buy a ticket and then wait for the numbers to be announced. No wonder this is a very relatable theme. The BBC’s The Syndicate is one such show that was based on the lives of winners of the lottery. is one such show that was based on the lives of winners of the lottery. Each season of the show follows a different betting syndicate of five members who win the lottery, and how this affects their lives. Winning the lottery is what each person who buys a lottery ticket dreams of, and thus a show like resonates with the audiences. In the human psyche, winning the lottery could provide a certain sense of being an exception.

Source: Pixabay

Betting on your favourites
Horse racing, football, boxing, cricket – these are just some of the sports that people enjoy betting on. In the world of films, this theme of betting on sports has often been used. However, with The Hunger Games franchise, depictions of betting took on a whole new dimension. In the universe of the films (and the books), betting is taken very seriously. People across the Capitol as well as the districts track the training and progress of the tributes and the wagering goes on till a victor emerges. In fact, the characters that are close to the Games are not allowed to bet at all!


Source: Pixabay
Films, TV, and gambling have been intrinsically linked and will continue to remain so. In fact, for truly creative minds, there is still much left to explore in this theme.