How Is Gambling Presented In Latin American Art And Movies

By 23 November, 2021

Gambling is a very popular form of entertainment in the majority of countries. This essentially entails wagering something of value, such as money, with the intention of winning something worth more. Whether one wins or loses can be blamed on pure luck, although individuals must have certain knowledge as well. Gambling is prevalent in most countries of Latin America, and this has increased in recent years along with the rise in tourists visiting this area, where the gaming industry is worth $2 billion. 

Considering the high interest in gambling among most cultures, and the risk associated with this, including financial loss, debt, and potential gambling addiction, one can understand why this topic makes sense in the art and movies industry. There are many movies that have gambling as a main focus. This article will discuss how gambling is presented in Latin American art and movies, in case you are interested in finding out more about this topic. 

Latin American Movies

The movie industry is incredibly popular as there are so many new movies that get released on a monthly basis. However, the popularity still lies with America, as this remains the capital of the movie industry. Nowadays, international movies and shows are becoming more popular as there is wider access to these types of movies as well as shows and art overall, as individuals can access such material online, this includes anything originating from Latin America. 

Gambling in Latin America

Individuals tend to believe that gambling in Latin America has a liberal outlook and this is mostly due to the glamorization of this lifestyle within Latin American films, music videos as well as pop culture. However, reality differs significantly from this notion, as there is great scrutiny and moral judgments towards gamblers from society. There are, however, many casinos in the majority of countries in Latin America and gamblers can either visit one of these or do this online where they can find free bet offers. It is recommended that you look into the regulations of these sites properly and that you comply with whatever rules are in place to make sure that the activities you are taking part in are completely legitimate. 

Why Are Gambling Movies So Popular? 

There are a few gambling films around the topic of gambling originating from Latin America, including Gran Casino, which is filled with action, thrill, and adventure. These evidently contribute significantly to the global film industry. The topic of gambling overall consists of exactly the type of drama and tension that most movie fans appreciate. The gambling industry in real life also benefits from these types of movies being released, as more people are likely to act on whatever they watch on TV. If you have ever tried gambling in a casino, or even just with friends on a more intimate level, you will be familiar with the kind of excitement this brings. Most individuals will feel a wide variety of emotions whilst gambling, and this can be very engaging and addictive. The main purpose of the film industry is for professionals to invoke emotion on viewers by displaying this through the screen, as you will feel like you are living the scene. 

The Use of Real Life Stories 

One must understand that some movies are inspired by real-life events, with a great number of extra details added to the story to spice it up. This concept applies to gambling movies, as some stories have indeed occurred in real life. Evidently, people look for different things whenever watching movies – although some want to have an experience completely outside of reality, others enjoy finding out more about real-life events, particularly if your aim is to learn a thing or two about poker or any other similar games. When it comes to Latin-American movies, you will have the chance to choose between the two different types, just like you would in American movies. One must note that even films that are based on real-life, still have a dash of imagination to make them that much more interesting. 

Presented with a Crime Factor

More often than not, gambling movies portray action and adrenaline. Evidently, not many viewers would appreciate staring at a screen watching a few individuals around a table playing poker. This is one of the reasons why there is usually a criminal perspective to gambling moves in Latin America. They either portray gambling as illegal, or they make a connection between gamblers and criminality. In reality, this is not necessarily the case although there will be times where the two variables certainly cross paths. You may easily see the gamblers being portrayed as gangsters or part of a mob. Although a couple of decades ago gambling may have been considered illegal, and it was highly disorganized, this is no longer the case as there are so many rules and regulations put in place to monitor gambling sites. However, crime films are incredibly popular and are still one of the most popular genres, therefore adding this to gambling makes it more fascinating and engaging.

Presented as an Addiction

Gambling is widely recognized as an addiction. Although not every gambler will be addicted to this, this hobby certainly provides all the right circumstances to create addiction. This is a real issue that millions of people struggle to overcome, although it seems that it is not necessarily talked about as much as more ‘common’ addictions such as drugs. Although the main purpose of films is to entertain viewers, there is also space for teaching and this is an opportunity to increase awareness. This is why some movies present gambling as an addiction, where viewers can see the real-life impacts of this behavior as well as on their families and friends. The main purpose of this will be for people to develop an understanding of what this looks like, as well as perhaps to gain the courage to ask for support if needed. 

Gambling is a wide subject that has increased in popularity in most societies, and the thrill it provides has helped the topic make its way into the film industry in many cultures, including Latin-American. If you are interested in this topic, the information discussed on this page will provide you with a better insight into how gambling is presented in Latin-American art and movies.


Follow Sounds and Colours: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Mixcloud / Soundcloud / Bandcamp

Subscribe to the Sounds and Colours Newsletter for regular updates, news and competitions bringing the best of Latin American culture direct to your Inbox.

Share: