Casino gambling and popular culture are intertwined, with many professional gamblers making appearances in popular TV shows and films, and various celebrities enjoying traditional and online casino games in their free time.
Unsurprisingly, countless casino scenes have popped up in the world’s favorite TV series over the years, from “Friends” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to “Twin Peaks” and “The Office.” Read on for a round-up of U.S. television history’s most hilarious and intense casino scenes.
“The Office” – “Casino Night”
In this episode (the second season’s finale and the first to run as a “supersized” episode), Michael Scott throws a casino night at Dunder Mifflin, where he awkwardly juggles two dates: his boss Jan, and real estate agent Carol. The highlight is the poker game between Michael and Toby, with Jim caught in the middle.
“Friends” – “The One in Vegas”
“Friends” is far from a gambling TV show, but it has certainly featured some of TV’s funniest gambling-related episodes. The two-part “The One in Vegas” episode is one of them (“The One with All the Poker” being another). In the series’ fifth season finale, the gang heads to Las Vegas to support Joey as he embraces his “big break” (spoiler alert: it was more of a big disappointment). Of course, what was meant to be an entertaining weekend away becomes totally chaotic — Ross and Rachel get married when not quite of sound mind, Phoebe tries to beat a slot machine, and Monica and Chandler almost elope after rolling an eight in a craps game.
“Twin Peaks: The Return” — “Part 3”
“Part 3” unravels one of the best scenes from a casino in the show. Agent Dale Cooper emerges disoriented into the real world after being trapped in the otherworldly dimension of the Black Lodge for 25 years. He ends up at the Silver Mustang Casino in Las Vegas and, in a bewildered state, starts playing slot machines. Guided by visions of floating, flame-like symbols above certain machines, he repeatedly hits jackpots, to the astonishment of both the casino staff and patrons. Cooper’s incredible luck earns him the nickname ‘Mr. Jackpots.’
“The Sopranos” — “The Happy Wanderer”
In “The Happy Wanderer,” Tony Soprano’s former classmate, Davey Scatino, a compulsive gambler, joins Tony’s high-stakes poker game and ends up deep in debt. Tony attempts to collect the debt by force, leading to tension with Richie, a fellow mobster.
“How I Met Your Mother” — “Atlantic City”
This episode features the gang’s spontaneous trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, prompted by a sudden decision by Marshall and Lily — you guessed it, they’re keen to elope, and as quickly as possible. Shortly after they arrive, they find out about the state’s three-day waiting period. As they wait, the gang keeps busy with some gambling. Barney, especially, is thrilled to be there and gets a little too excited with his betting. He also introduces everyone to a complicated but hilarious Chinese game called “Xing Hai Shi Bu Xing.” Belly laughs are guaranteed.
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” — “The Royale”
In this season two episode (known for being one of the series’ most unusual), the crew of the Enterprise find themselves trapped in a bizarre hotel-casino based on a novel called “The Hotel Royale,” where they must play along with the narrative to escape. The casino’s atmosphere is somewhat reminiscent of Las Vegas in the early- to mid-20th century.
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“Las Vegas” — “The Big Ed De-cline”
Undoubtedly, “Las Vegas” is the American casino TV show known for some of the best scenes in TV history related to casinos, so it’s hard to choose just one casino moment. That said, “The Big Ed De-cline” stands out. In this episode, the story centers around Ed Deline’s personal health crisis and its impact on the operations and staff dynamics at the Montecito Resort and Casino. The way Ed grapples with his condition adds tension to his decision-making responsibilities in the casino’s high-stakes environment. Interestingly, the episode also showcases the complexities involved in casino management.
“CHiPs” — “Roll the Dice”
Action lovers will enjoy this episode in which Ponch and Jon go undercover at a casino to bust a cheating ring. The duo must blend into the high-energy atmosphere of the casino, and play various casino games while keeping their eyes peeled for suspicious activities.
“The Simpsons” — “Viva Ned Flanders”
In “Viva Ned Flanders,” Homer discovers that Ned is 60 years old but looks much younger because of his clean-living lifestyle. Realizing that Ned has not really lived a wild or adventurous life, Homer decides to show him how to “live it up,” ultimately leading them to Las Vegas for plenty of gambling and, of course, a regrettable impromptu wedding (or two).
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