16 Best Gambling Songs

For some, gambling is life, and risking is the only way to diversify the monotonous routine. However, online casinos may sometimes lack the music that can put you in that mood and give you that much-needed adrenalin boost to make another bet.

So many renowned artists have devoted their songs to gambling in all sorts of genres, ranging from blues to rock'n'roll. Their songs about gambling illustrate how recreational betting is or how wagering is so much alike to the way we make decisions in real-life situations.

Here is a list of the best songs about gambling for every poker player out there. Add them to your playlist and play them whenever you wager towards the desired jackpot.

Texas Hold'em by Beyoncé

Released: 2024

"This ain't Texas (woo), ain't no hold 'em (hey)

So lay your cards down, down, down, down"

One of Beyoncé's latest release in 2024 is Texas Hold'em, and the first two lines from song capture the essence of risk-taking and decision-making in poker, as players must commit to their moves, just like in life. Knowing when to lay your cards down or push forward mirrors the strategic mindset required in gambling.

The song speaks to the importance of timing and strategy in gambling. And if you can’t figure out when to lay down your cards—well, let’s just say Beyoncé might be walking away with your chips!

[Updated 9 Sept 2024]

"Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" by Garth Brooks

Released: 2016

“Yes, she's my lady luck, hey, I'm her wild-card man

Together we're buildin' up a real hot hand

We live out in the country

Hey, she's my little queen of the South

Yeah, we're two of a kind

Workin' on a full house”

A country song by Garth Brooks is about how a good relationship with a partner is equal to having a strong hand in the game of poker. You start small with Two of a Kind and slowly build your hand to a Full House and finish a game as a winner. It is a work in progress, and it may not happen immediately, and the same applies to poker as a game of unexpected outcomes.

"Gambling Man" by The Overtones

Released: 2010

“…My odds are stacked

I've never been a gambling man

I've never had the winning hand

But for you I'd lose it all”

The lovely tune by The Overtones is a song about a man who has never been addicted to table games but will play on end and lose everything for a woman. The singer compares winning in casino games to winning the heart of a woman. Earning her attention is a risky business, just like making a wager, as you never know the outcome unless you start playing.

The moral of this song is when you feel this is the right call - go for it with all your heart. The same applies to gambling, where you should listen to your intuition and gut feeling.

"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga

Released: 2008

“I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas, please

Fold 'em, let 'em hit me, raise it, baby, stay with me

LoveGame intuition, play the cards with spades to start

And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart”

When it was released in 2008, "Poker Face" by the pop star Lady Gaga instantly became a hit. The song is about how to professionally play the game while not showing any weakness on your face. Needless to say, this tune, that any gambler can relate to, held first place on the charts and helped Lady Gaga become the queen of our hearts.

Make your enemies wonder what you hold in your hand while you keep a poker face throughout the game that you for sure will finish triumphing.

According to Lady Gaga, her song states that she is the one leading the game, and nobody can really know what's on her mind and what her next step is.

"The Angel and the Gambler" by Iron Maiden

Released: 1998

“Nothing to lose
But so much to gain
A little danger
It goes without saying
But what do you care?
You're gonna go in the end”

The rock band clearly divides the two sides of gambling: winning and losing. There is no in-between, and every player should be up to the challenge. At a poker table, you should watch the game and players carefully and come out with a strong hand. Many high-rollers will find this song uplifting and give you a boost of energy to join another table of card games.

"Rambling, Gambling Willie" by Bob Dylan

Released: 1991

“Come around you rovin' gamblers and a story I will tell

About the greatest gambler, you all should know him well

His name was Will O'Conley and he gambled all his life

He had 27 children, yet he's never had a wife”

Bob Dylan knew how to cheer up a gambler with his witty song "Rambling, Gambling Willie." This is a story about Willie O'Conley - the unreadable and unbeatable gambler - whose lifestyle is nothing but a game. Willie gambled in the White House, in the railroad yards, played Jackson River Queen in New Orleans, and even sat through the entire night playing poker in Cripple Creek. A fortunate fella always had luck on his side until he faced a tragic fate.

Through this song, Bob Dylan reminds every gambler to stop the game before losing everything.

"The Winner Takes It All" by Abba

Released: 1980

“I've played all my cards

And that's what you've done too

Nothing more to say

No more ace to play”

We couldn't agree more with Abba's song "The Winner Takes It All" - they sure do! The story here uses gambling as an analogy for a broken love, a divorce, and a loss. Well, the same can be said about a losing poker game. The straightforward meaning pinpoints that losing is hard to overcome.

"Roller" by April Wine

Released: 1978

“Gonna catch a flight to Nevada

Leave her friends at home in L.A.

Seven come eleven or blackjack

Gambling night and day yeah”

If you need a bit of motivation, turn on this rock'n'roll track by April Wine about a high-roller who has no limits whatsoever. The singer and his babe are living the moment, ignoring the negative remarks of those around them. The song will inspire you to live your life however you want and forget about people who try to put you in a box.

"The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers

Released: 1978

“Every gambler knows

That the secret to survivin'

Is knowin' what to throw away

And knowin' what to keep

'Cause every hand's a winner

And every hand's a loser”

A classic by Kenny Rogers is a story about a man who made a living by reading people's faces. The experienced poker player, who has been gambling all his life, conveys a valuable piece of advice to gamblers out there. And this is to know when is the right time to leave the table, especially if luck is not on your side or your hand isn't strong enough.

Since 1978, this song has remained popular among casino players for its catchy tune and profound meaning. A must-have masterpiece in your playlist!

"The Jack" by AC/DC

Released: 1975

“Poker face was her name

Poker face was her nature

Poker straight was her game

If she knew she could get you

She played 'em fast

And she played 'em hard

She could close her eyes

And feel every card”

A flirtatious rock hit by AC/DC must have been heard by gamblers and non-gamblers all over the world. It is a track about a woman who nobody should underestimate and who played skillfully at a poker table, acted graciously, and beat the singer. The singer mentions that he has a hand full of aces and is sure of his victory. Unfortunately, his confidence was shattered as soon as the woman opened her hand with "the Jack."

"Casino Boogie" by Rolling Stones

Released: 1972

“Left shoe shuffle, right shoe muffle, sinking in the sand

Fade out freedom, steaming heat on, watch that hat in black

Finger twitching, got no time on hand”

The iconic Rolling Stones will diversify your playlist with their gambling song. You might notice that there is no reference to gambling; however, this is because you need to know the background of this song. Apparently, this song was written when Mick and Keith spent their time recording a new album in the south of France, where they could have frequented casinos.

Another interesting fact about this song is how it was written. The rock band scribbled short phrases on pieces of paper and then randomly combined them.

"Go Down Gamblin'" by Blood, Sweat & Tears

Released: 1971

“Born a natural loser I can't recall just where

Raised on brew and poker and a dollar here and there

Black-jack hand dealer man you better pay off that last debt

Two-bit hand a twenty-one that's all I ever get

Go down gamblin'”

A natural loser but with an unlimited drive to play another poker game. No loss and no debt can stop our hero from wagering, even when he has already lost multiple times. His only aim at this point is only to "go down gamblin'." He goes all-in and has literally nothing to lose. A fearless roller has tried his luck at any game possible: craps, blackjack, roulette, and more. However, he is not ready to stop just yet.

"Black Queen" by Stephen Stills

Released: 1970

“Black Queen, holding hearts

Black Queen, tear the game apart

Black Queen, don't you know

Can't beat aces all in a row”

Listening to the acoustic version of "Black Queen" by Stephen Stills, you might find this song quite different from the rest on the list. First, it is a blues track and a masterfully executed one. Second, you hear nothing but passion in his voice and guitar.

"Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis Presley

Released: 1968

“Oh, there's blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel

A fortune won and lost on ev'ry deal

All you need's a strong heart and a nerve of steel

Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas”

If you have never sat at a table in Las Vegas casinos, this song will teleport you to one. Elvis Presley accurately describes Las Vegas (he even got married in the Sin City) with its bright lights, poker games on end, and how time flies so quickly - nobody even notices. The main hero of the song spends his last dime to make a bet and asks Lady Luck to help him hit the jackpot.

"Gambler's Blues" by B.B. King

Released: 1967

“Oh, I don't claim to be no gambler people

Oh, I don't know much about the dice

Yes, I don't claim to be no gambler people

I tell you I don't know much about the dice

Oh, but I wait and my baby knows

She knows I'm not the kind that's gonna crap out twice”

Lyrics show us that B.B. King is not a roller, and taking risks is not what he would usually do. Although this isn't really a song about gambling but about love, he still relates to not taking risks in his relationship. This song should stay in every avid gambler's mind as a reminder that your game will have ups and downs, and you shouldn't feel shattered if your hand isn't strong enough.

"The Stranger Song" by Leonard Cohen

Released: 1967

“And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind

You find he did not leave you very much not even laughter

Like any dealer he was watching for the card

That is so high and wild”

The song is a story inspired by life, and it touches upon gambling, love, and even drugs. Cohen masterfully depicts the fun of gambling but also that any player should be mindful of it. Although gambling is a nice recreational activity, a gambler should be ready to face failure as well. Even after over 50 years after the song was released, any casino games enthusiasts would be able to relate to the lyrics.

Create Your Playlist With the Best Gambling Songs

There are so many more tunes about gambling - the artists who wrote about casino games have played them themselves and were inspired to make songs about them. So many of them compare how rollers act at the poker table to how they lead their lives - risking, taking it all, and not stopping after even a few losses.

Copy those songs to your playlist and hit play whenever you wager in Natural8 online casino.