One of the fundamental facts of life is that there is a playlist for everything. Whether that’s a breakup, a special birthday celebration or even a night of online gaming with friends, there is a playlist that is just right for the occasion.
That’s also true for a casino-themed party, where everyone arrives in their best tuxedos and gowns for a night with all of the attributes of casino glamour in someone’s living room. Sure, it’s a world away from what typical gambling looks like in a digital era, when you take a look at this list of mobile casinos on your phone, choose a platform and start gambling from the comfort of your home.
But if you miss the glitz of a physical casino, then the casino-themed party is to satisfy this need. But no party is complete without some music to keep the atmosphere pumping along. There has been plenty of research done about the influence of music. For someone in a neutral state, listening to a happy song will immediately give them a lift in emotions. So if you are lining up for a casino party, and want to help get everyone in the mood, then here are some songs that you may want to consider adding to your playlist.
The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
The ultimate, iconic song about gambling is the aptly named The Gambler, by country legend Kenny Rogers. It was a UK chart-topper in 1978 and while there is a deeper context to the song about how life can take you through many highs and lows, on the surface, it’s all about poker.
The Gambler is a timeless classic, one that most people will know, and has that famous line “You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em”. No casino playlist would be complete without it.
Luck Be a Lady – Frank Sinatra
What’s a casino night without a bit of Frank Sinatra? A legend of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, this gambling-themed song is great for mixing into the playlist, and it has a sophisticated jazz groove that will get people tapping their feet.
There are video performances by Sinatra pretending to roll craps dice when singing this song, which comes from the musical Guys and Dolls, although it’s more about love than gambling.
Ace of Spades – Motörhead
This will get everyone’s pulse racing. It’s a high-octane heavy metal classic, with Lemmy’s powerhouse vocals throatily hammering out the words. The riff and pace of the Ace of Spades is just relentless.
Everyone knows it, or at least everyone should know this gambling classic, and if ever there’s a lull in the atmosphere at your casino-themed party, then this is the one to kick things up a few notches.
The Jack – AC/DC
Keeping in the classic heavy rock vibe, you can’t leave out The Jack by AC/DC either. The chorus is just going to get stuck in your head forever, “She’s got the jack” and the entire song is unashamedly about poker. It’s a long, gruff grinder of a song from lead singer Brain Johnson, and perfect for the list.
Poker Face – Lady Gaga
Bringing things back to the modern era a little more, Poker Face by Lady Gaga should also get onto the list. This is a love song with plenty of innuendo running throughout it, but for an adult casino-themed night, this is one to break out. The song was released in 2008 and was a smash hit and everyone will be singing along.
Texas Hold ‘Em – Beyoncé
Beyoncé arrived back on the scene in early 2024 as she went into a country spin with Texas Hold ‘Em. It lassoed itself to the top of the UK charts, lasting at the summit for a month. The lyrics may not make a lot of sense, but the surface-level theme of the catchy, foot-stomping song is another one about poker.
Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley
The King is in the building. Or at least he should be, because there’s no way to leave Elvis Presley off of a casino playlist. The perfect tune? Viva Las Vegas, of course. He sings about poker, back jack, craps and roulette during the song, which has a big party tempo and will get people singing along to this all-time classic.
Careful Consideration
When crafting a playlist for your casino-themed party, think of a good mix of styles as well. You want the upbeat times to keep the party atmosphere going, but think about the end of the night as well, when people are getting tired and may be in the mood for some more sophisticated, slower-paced tunes to unwind to.