If you think about it, we have borrowed ideas from Hollywood for a long time, be it fashion, music taste, or other aspects of our lifestyle. So, it comes as no surprise that this industry has played a huge role in the uptake of online casino games. In fact, for many people signing up on the highest payout online casinos, there is probably a movie or two behind their inspiration. Interested in Manila casinos?
But how exactly do movies relate to the world of online gambling? Let’s explore this.
The Effect of Hollywood on Online Casino Growth.
Even before online casinos were a thing, Hollywood was encouraging people to gamble in traditional casinos. And as Hollywood grew and the casinos went online, this relationship became even stronger and more widespread. But how exactly did the two feed into each other?
- The Stars Glamorized Gambling.
Think of the top Hollywood casino movies like Ocean’s Eleven. They all featured casinos to a large extent, painting them as these opulent spaces where anything was possible. The casinos were grand with state-of-the-art fittings, and the players who turned up to these venues looked sophisticated and wealthy. So, as people watched these and other movies, they could not help but live vicariously through them. They, too, wanted to have that air of sophisticated calm and experience a life where doors literally opened for them. Naturally, when they got the chance to play online casino games that replicated these glamorous casinos, they accepted the opportunities that made them feel like they were reliving these experiences; only that this time, they were in charge.
- The Stars Normalized Gambling.
Online gambling might seem normal now, but it was not for a long time. In fact, there was a time when gambling was seen as taboo, and people who engaged in it often had to hide the fact that they enjoyed these games. But with movies like The Hangover coming out, the narrative soon changed. People got to see gambling as something that could be fun and even quirky. What’s more, Hollywood stars started opening up for their love of casino games even beyond movie sets. And since many Hollywood fans have strong parasocial relationships with the stars, they were quick to try what the stars were doing. Slowly but surely, engaging in gambling became something that people did, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
- The Stars Introduced Skills.
Besides the taboo messaging, some people avoided playing in casinos because they thought that they would lose to the house. And they were not willing to take a risk if their fates had already been sealed. So, how did Hollywood stars change this? Well, they depicted the actual dynamics in casinos as follows:
- Money management. Movies would show just how important it was for players to manage their money and would often show what befell the players who were quick to gamble what they could not afford.
- Emotional management. The stars would experience all sorts of emotions, from anger to fear and happiness. For example, in Casino Royale, the audience was often on the edge of their seat as they wondered whether James Bond would win another round in baccarat. Players learned how to stay calm from stars like him.
Most importantly, the movies were also realistic about the interweaving of luck and skill, showing that players could not always have all their eggs in one basket. And with this honest approach, the audience felt more empowered to place wagers, knowing that they had a winning chance if they played their cards right.
- The Stars Celebrated Wins.
Whether it was 21 or Rounders, one thing was for sure – the moments leading up to the wins were monumental. By combining great visuals and soundtracks, the movie directors made sure that the audience was part of each moment. They, too, could feel the tension in the room, and they were just as invested in the outcome as the players. So, when the players won, the fans also celebrated like they, too, had scored big. It was only a matter of time before fans decided to get that hit of dopamine themselves.