Style, Strategy and the Social Side of Casino Culture

Photo: Drew Rae

The idea of the casino goes far beyond a simple societal desire to gamble. Casino culture, both here in the UK and all across the globe, has had a massive influence on a variety of different sectors, including the fashion and entertainment industries, and the way we socialise with one another. 

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into some of the biggest influences casino culture has had on society as a whole.

Note to Players

It wouldn’t seem right to dedicate an entire article on the influence casinos have had on society without first nodding to casino gaming itself. In the UK alone, it is estimated that almost half of UK residents gamble at least once a month, and a quarter do so on a daily basis.

The rise of online gaming has brought the world of casinos to the fingertips of thousands of punters; however, many gamblers know how strict and often restrictive casinos operating under the UK Gambling Commission can be. With this in mind, many individuals have turned to offshore casino gaming with safe alternatives to Gamstop, as the majority of these casino sites offer larger game libraries and better rewards and bonuses that British sites simply cannot match.

Fashion and Style

Casinos have a history of glitz and glamour that still holds strong today. Many brick-and-mortar casinos across the globe still insist on formal wear, especially those tailored towards high-rollers, and this idea has permeated the fashion world. To this day, many people attend ‘high-class’ events in tuxedos and evening gowns, paying homage to the traditional casino experience. So much so that many of these events have even set their theming to ‘casino night’, with this being enough information for the attendees to know what to wear.

Film and Television

One has to look no further than modern media to see the influence casinos have had on culture. From the classic vision of James Bond in Casino Royale, surrounded by glamour and danger, to the more humorous film The Hangover, or episodes of much-loved television shows, What We Do in the Shadows and How I Met Your Mother, casinos and references to them are everywhere in what we watch.

Socialising 

This is one area that the growth of online casinos has directly influenced. Back in the day, socialising while casino gaming could only be done in person, which caused a variety of restrictions on all gamblers. Now, casino games can be accessed in the time it takes a person to take out and unlock their phone, and their gambling buddies can be contacted with the same ease. Most online casinos have chat rooms and messaging services, and there are countless gambling forums out there, which have really enabled this community to thrive.

On top of this, the most famous gambling game, poker, has brought people together in a way that very few other games have managed to do. Poker sets are sold all across the UK, and in neighbourhoods up and down the country, communities are coming together to run casual poker nights amongst themselves. 

Gaming

Casinos have had a strong influence on the wider gaming world, too. This influence ranges from a general presence of gambling in video games to entire sections dedicated to realistic games of poker, such as in Red Dead Redemption II, despite its flaw of not allowing for big wins..

On top of this, as gambling gained greater popularity with the influx of online gambling games, apps, and mini-games began to emerge too. Digital card games such as Marvel Snap clearly have roots in traditional casino card games such as poker.

Conclusion

So there you have it, casinos have had a major influence on society that goes well beyond encouraging people to test their luck and gamble. The glitz and glam of traditional casino settings and the incredibly accessible online casino world have shaped society in impressive, and often surprising, ways.