What would you do if you were a parent and could not afford to send your daughter to college? Well, according to a new Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler movie due out in June, the answer is simple – you open a casino.
The House, which also stars Jeremy Renner and Jason Mantzoukas, is a reminder of the huge influence that casino culture and gambling has had on popular culture down the years. Ever since Sean Connery uttered the immortal words ‘Bond… James Bond’ while playing baccarat in Dr No, the glitz of casinos has had a huge influence on movies.
There seems to be an enduring appeal which has led to this relationship, but is it simply a case of movies stealing the glamour of casinos or is there more at play than meets the eye? It is rather difficult to pinpoint exactly when cinema first became so obsessed with casinos, but the aforementioned 1962 Bond adventure must mark one of the primary moments when cinemagoers were introduced to the concept.
While the Bond series has had its up and downs, casinos have been one constant throughout the films alongside other enduring factors such as glamourous women and an array of exciting gadgetry. The use of casinos in the films may link back to the idea that such sites were once seen as the domain and playground of the rich and the elite, a distant world for many sat in a cinema in the 1960s.
Of course, gambling has gone on to pop up in a number of other films through the decades too, from Ocean’s 11 to The Hangover. Even Back To The Future Part II’s timeline-twisting plot revolved around a sports bet which changed the course of history. There is also Rounders, the Matt Damon vehicle based on underground poker which could well be getting a sequel if reports are to be believed.
But is the relationship between movies and casinos all one way? Not necessarily, as online casinos in particular have their own way of paying tribute to popular film franchises. 32Red casino is home to online slot games based on iconic films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, with the title using imagery, branding elements and music from the original film to successfully adapt James Cameron’s 1991 masterpiece into the format. It even echoes the plot of the film by allowing the T-1000 symbol can shape-shift into other characters – a move which you have to admit is pretty ingenious. There’s also a ‘T-800 vision’ option, which allows for the bonus free spin round to unlock.
It is not just 32Red casino doing this either. Online slot site SlotSquad are home to a slot title based on the smash hit wedding comedy Bridesmaids, with the likenesses of all of the major characters included. Films are not the only major franchises being adapted either, with 777SpinSlot offering a game based on HBO’s worldwide fantasy phenomenon Game of Thrones.
This online slot trend does raise a question, however. Why are franchises and titles which have no relevance to slot games or casinos in general being adapted? After all, did we miss the moment in Game of Thrones when Jon Snow left Castle Black to enter a poker tournament in Molestown?
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The point is of course that these TV and film properties have a huge number of fans, whether it is 32Red paying tribute to a film classic like T2 or other casinos offering slots on a show like Game of Thrones. Just as movies try to reflect casino culture, casinos are looking to reflect the movies by creating experiences based on formats that people know and love. It is all about attracting fans to try their hand at something new or simply take a look to how their favourites have been adapted.
All of this showcases just how casino and popular culture undoubtedly have a mutually beneficial relationship. While TV and film love to use casinos as a jumping off point for a host of adventures, the latter like to use successful franchises to attract both old and new players to their services. It is a relationship that shows no signs of abating at this point and one which is certainly fascinating to watch. With The House once again pushing casinos back onto the big screen, it is hard to bet against it being the next film to get the online slot treatment.
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