There are few casino games to have made such an impact on pop culture than roulette. The iconic spin of the wheel and anticipation as the ball jumps from number to number is often used to depict tension and excitement on the screen and this has helped its popularity even further. Traditional card games like poker can often have tricky rules and take a lot of time to master, in comparison, roulette offers users a simple way to place a bet and a lot of excitement.
Roulette Explained
The game lets people back specific numbers or which colour the ball will land on and roulette odds payout even money on red or black betting and 35/1 on numbers betting. Casino expert Tom Middleton explains that the “0” pocket on the wheel gives the operator an edge, ensuring the game is profitable to them over time.
There are a few different bet types that consumers can place including inside bets which are straight bets on the number you think the ball will land on when the wheel is spun. Outside bets refer to their position on the table and let players choose whether they want to bet on black or red. Split bets give players a better chance of winning by covering two numbers, but in this case, the odds are reduced to 17/1. Split bets can also be called two-number bets.
Three-number bets or street bets drop the odds to 11/1, and four-number bets see odds of 8/1, with betting options also including 6, 12, and 18-number bets.
Roulette in Pop Culture
While a card game scene in a smokey room can help to create tension between characters, roulette in pop culture is usually associated with excitement and glamour. The following examples show how roulette has seeped into pop cultures and been able to add something extra to the mediums it is introduced to. Roulette has wonderful visuals including the table where bets are laid, the wheel’s design, and the motion of the wheel spinning. This makes it a great choice for movie scenes.
Casablanca
When it comes to iconic cinema, Casablanca is up there with memorable lines, incredible actors, and an enduring love story. Humphrey Bogart plays a club and casino owner and a key scene in the movie sees him betraying his cynical personal to help his ex, played by Ingrid Bergman, by advising her and her new partner to bet on number 22 on a rigged roulette wheel.
Indecent Proposal
It is difficult to imagine a movie like Indecent Proposal being made today without the main focus being how misogynistic it is for Robert Redford’s character to offer Woody Harrelson £1 million for a night with his wife.
That aside, it is actually a great movie with excellent performances from the cast including Demi Moore.
The “indecent proposal” comes about after Moore and Harrelson lose all of their money by betting on red at a roulette table. The fact that the colour red is known for symbolising passion and desire foreshadows how the story will develop.
Fast Five
The Fast and Furious franchise has 12 movies, an animated series, and two short movies, which quite frankly is far too many. However, it is a widely held belief that Fast Five from 2011 is the best of these.
The modern trend of post-credit scenes, especially in Marvel movies, has seen an increase in cinemagoers hanging around as the credits role. Fast Five’s post-credit scene focuses on Leo and Santos who have argued throughout the film.
The scene sees the two taking their heist earnings to a casino with one putting all their money on red, and the other putting their money on black. The scene cuts before we find out who was victorious, or if they both lost their money.
Diamonds are Forever
James Bond movies are synonymous with gambling, and they have gone a long way to sealing the reputations of casinos around the world as being cool and classy locations. Diamonds are Forever sees Sean Connery winning at roulette, as well as dealing with an enemy by thrusting his head into the wheel.
Lost in America
The 1985 movie Lost in America pays homage to Casablanca by having the main characters bet on number 22 on the roulette table. While this helped save the lives of the characters in Casablanca, in this movie the couple lose all of their money during an American road trip.
Run Lola Run
Hollywood doesn’t have a monopoly on cool casino scenes, and the German movie Run Lola Run features the protagonist Franka gambling to raise enough money to save her boyfriend’s life.
Gaming
The gaming industry has seen a lot of gambling crossover in gameplay in titles like GTA and Red Dead Redemption. There are even some titles that focus purely on casino game titles that can be a great way for consumers to enjoy risk-free gaming or practice their skills.
Fallout: New Vegas
The 2010 RPG Fallout: New Vegas sees gamers battling in a post-nuclear war US, with a set of quests providing endless hours of gameplay. Players can earn money by completing quests and then gamble these earnings on roulette wheels.
TV
While movies have made the most of the visual aspect of roulette, TV shows have taken a different approach, with one in particular hitting the big time.
Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune is one of the most famous gameshows and borrows elements from hangman and roulette to create a fun experience for contestants and viewers alike. Players try to solve puzzles by guessing the letters which make up the answer. A wheel was added by creator Merv Griffen after he was inspired by roulette, and the wheel contains potential prizes that the contestants can win.
Conclusion
These are just some examples of how roulette has featured in pop culture, with many more instances of art, animation, TV, and film all drawing inspiration or direct use of the famous casino game.
