Casino games have become part of our lives in many ways. After all, they are fun and allow people to get lost in virtual realms. And with online casino sites like 5 Gringo, playing them is just one tap away. Moreover, people can perfect their playing styles before heading to physical casinos where they can show off their skills. Interestingly, many TV shows have also been incorporating these games into their storylines. Why is this? We find out:
The Link Between Casinos and TV Shows
Credit: Amazon Studios
RELATED: When Will Invincible Season 3 Be Released On Prime Video?
Have you ever noticed how most films and TV shows often feature casino scenes? It’s not by accident. Producers do this for the following reasons:
1. They Evoke Emotions
When characters gamble, anything can happen. They can win, or lose, or the game may not even end because a heist could happen mid-way. The audience never knows what to expect, which draws them in even more. Even better, story writers often grab the audience’s attention by providing a backstory.
Players are not always gambling for fun. Some are doing it to save their families, others are doing it to raise ransom, while others are doing it to pay off a debt. With such a storyline, the audience empathizes with the characters as they go through the motions of winning and losing. Creating a binge-worthy show is easy when the audience is invested in the outcomes.
2. They Showcase a Luxurious Life
Credit: Icon Productions
Many people work hard to achieve luxury. They want to live in mansions, drive high-end cars, shop in designer stores, and vacation in secluded islands. For many of them, these dreams seem far-fetched. So, it’s quite enthralling to watch casino-themed TV shows as they display this opulence to a large extent.
The main characters are often flashy and have no qualms about spending large sums of money on a game. A character will willingly spend thousands of pounds on a hunch and not feel sad when the wager fails. This depiction enables the audience to live vicariously through the character, somehow envisioning themselves in that position. It is a sign that anything is possible and people enjoy relating to it.
3. They Are Dramatic
What do you get when you combine a lot of money, high stakes, and risk-takers? Drama! Something always happens in the TV shows where casinos are the focus. For example, the person managing the casino may be doing it to pay off a big debt to a crime boss. The audience would follow the risks the person would take to meet the set deadlines.
Or let’s suppose two people own the casino and one of them wants to get rid of the other because they are greedy. The audience would get to follow the drama, rooting for the person they think should have the upper hand. This drama pulls the audience in even more as people somehow enjoy drama as it helps them escape the reality of their lives.
4. They Have Big Plot Twists
Credit: Universal Pictures
Watching a predictable show is boring. People love twists and turns. They want the protagonists to face challenges, they want the underdogs to get a helping hand and they want the antagonists to get what’s coming. TV show producers understand this. And where better to do this than in a casino where nobody ever has the upper hand?
They can take a predictable character who always does what’s right and place them in a poker game where they make impulsive choices that cost them everything. Or they can take an impulsive character and build them as a blackjack pro who makes a fortune by being strategic. There’s no way to tell who will come out on top and the audience loves this.
The intertwining of all these factors makes casinos the perfect ingredient for a hit TV show. People keep tuning in to watch the action play out and cannot help but wait for the next episodes. If you wish to try casino gaming, approach it with some strategies. It’s always good to understand the games, have a sound budget, find ways to manage your emotions, and keep cool even under pressure.
What do you make of this feature? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
