Upbeat music is one of the trademarks of modern casinos. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about traditional or online gambling outlets – the sound of music represents an important contributor.
But casino music wasn’t always the same.
It changed with the very evolution of gambling. From early times to modern decades, we will go through popular casino music genres to explain how they transformed over time.
Why do casinos need music?
There are actually a few reasons why casinos need music. From instant withdrawal casinos to land-based outlets, all casinos follow the same principles. The first reason for playing music is to create a more festive and fun atmosphere.
Besides that, studies have shown that certain types of music can help to increase excitement and arousal, which can lead to people making riskier choices and spending more money. Lastly, background music can help to drown out the sound of slot machines and other gaming noises.
Casino music: The early days
The first casinos in the world were established in the first couple of decades of the 20th century. The earliest casinos had a unique feature: music. It wasn’t used for entertainment purposes but as an element to encourage people to gamble and dig deeper into their pockets and purses.
Casino music was played in the background. There was no hit parade or special songs that people could recognize. On the contrary, it was all about the melody, tone, and rhythm which drove players to keep on gambling.
Besides that, casinos used music to cover the sound of clanking coins and other annoying and potentially disturbing tones. Soundtracks of most early 20th century movies depict this very casino culture where music played an important role in building the most exciting atmosphere possible.
Mature stages of casino melodies
After the first few decades, casinos started following the trends in the music industry. There were no strict rules, but casinos would follow either one of these trends most of the time:
Big band music
Swing music
Jazzy tunes
Big band sounds included most popular songs from the ’30s and ’40s. The ballads back then often referred to love or happy moments in life. They didn’t have anything to do with gambling so the choice depended on the patrons.
Swing music from the ’40s and ’50s was a bit different. It was uniquely fast with a strong beat, which made it perfect for dancing. And most casinos of that time had a dance floor for this exact reason. Jazz music covered most of the ’50s and ’60s. It was another form of upbeat, bar music that blended perfectly with the party mood in casino halls.
Alternative casino music genres took over
The dawn of the rock n’ roll era meant big changes for casinos too. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, new generations of gamblers wanted to hear something new and exciting, so casinos had to switch from classical tunes to modern vibes.
They started introducing live acts on their stages which were often followed by DJs when the night grew old. Pop music became a real deal in traditional casinos, encouraging visitors to gamble more and have fun in the meantime.
Modern casino tunes
These days, most casinos don’t have live bands anymore. Instead, they play recorded music on a more or less regular basis. As technology advanced and the internet became available to the masses, online casinos were introduced too.
Today you can find hundreds if not thousands of gambling outlets where you can play slots, blackjack, or roulette to your favorite tunes. The music is upbeat and modern, it’s there to keep you entertained but also to let you concentrate on whatever game you’re playing.
And it’s evolved ever since with the rise of new technologies, computerization of gambling outlets, and following trends in the music industry. Casino music these days ranges from old school to pop hits that perfectly fit this modern gaming atmosphere.
But the evolution of casino music didn’t stop here. There are casinos that decided to go with unique sounds. For example, casinos in Macau often play traditional Chinese melodies. That’s a good way for gambling outlets to create a unique atmosphere, in which players can enjoy gambling in a completely different way.
Conclusion
Just like your everyday music, casino tunes have changed drastically over time. Today, you can find hundreds of traditional and online casinos with all kinds of music genres. No matter what you like, you can find that genre on one of many digital casinos. That way, casinos take gambling entertainment to a whole new level.
AUTHOR BIO
Emma Rundle is a blogger interested in essay writing, academic research, online games, and betting. Apart from blogging, she writes amazing research papers and dissertations. Emma is a passionate traveler and a long-distance runner.