Professional wrestling provides much-loved entertainment across the world, and something that’s been popular within it for many years now is casino-themed events and matches. The All Elite Wrestling (AEW) for example, has something of an obsession with it right from the start. But even the WWE can get caught up in casino-style gimmicks, where thematic gambling imagery is at the heart of the show.
But what is the link between the two worlds? Why are there so many gimmick events that are casino-themed, and how have they managed to keep going strong for so many years within the sport? Here is a look at how the gambling industry influences professional wrestling matches.
Wrestling and Gambling
As an aside to why wrestling may be influenced by gambling, some bookmakers offer sports betting markets for wrestling, but these are not particularly common. A prime example of a betting market is which wrestler will win the next Royal Rumble or World Championship, but it’s very limited scope in terms of options.
However, the sport has strong links with online casinos. In countries around the world where gambling is legal – for example, at the top US sites or at the best casinos UK, there are wrestling-themed slots to be found, from Lucha Libre to WrestleMania, in addition to many other games and various bonuses.
The Casino – Wrestling Tag Team
The theme of casinos brings a fantastic dynamic to wrestling. It’s not so much about the decor and theme, but more about what casino games represent. They are based on chance, like Random Number Generators driving slot machines, and players have to rely on luck for the right card in a game of poker to flop.
This major theme of chance therefore is great for adding an element of unpredictability into the world of online wrestling. Of the major wrestling organisations, the AEW has got into this type of gimmick-theming heavily, and they are seen as being the originators of this.
Gimmick Casino Wrestling Events
Back in 2018 AEW held their inaugural “All In” event, so they were already leaning on the casino theme. The then-reigning WWE Champion Cody Rhodes set it up, with help from the wrestling stable the Bullet Club and other wrestlers.
They bet an unconvinced wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer that they could sell out a 10k independent wrestling show in the USA. The Bullet Club sold out the show in just 30 minutes, and the AEW was born. Because of that initial gambling theme, it has stuck with the AEW wrestling promotion for things like:
Casino Battle Royale
A twist on the traditional Battle Royal event where everyone starts in the ring. Instead, in a casino Battle Royale, groups of wrestlers join the action based on what card suit they have been designated, like anyone with a Diamond will enter the ring together.
Casino Ladder Match
This takes the thrills of a standard ladder match and blends in a mix of the casino. In the AEW casino ladder match, at the top, the prize is a casino chip, which gives the feeling of winning a jackpot to whoever gets it. A similar theme was introduced in 2010 by WWE, a multi-fighter format where wrestlers compete for a contract for a championship match called “Money in the Bank”.
Casino Gauntlet
A winner-stays-on format, in rolling one-on-one battles. The next person to enter the ring to challenge the victor is left up to the chance of a random lottery draw, emulating the randomness of a real-life lottery or slot game.
Jokers
Keeping with the casino theme, Jokers are often integrated into casino-themed wrestling events. It’s typically used as a sort of wildcard to introduce a surprise competitor, like when MJF made his wrestling return after a long injury in 2022.
Other Integrations
There have also been wrestlers who have carried a casino theme as part of their character, like Jeffrey Gann who fought under the ring name The Gambler, and Kevin Nash who had the gimmick of Vinnie Vegas (among many others). In TNA there was the wrestling stable Aces and Eights whose fighters left playing cards as warnings to others.
Top wrestling action will make its way to the Gambling Capital of the World, Las Vegas in April 2025, as WrestleMania 41 will be held at the Allegiant Stadium. Circa Casino meanwhile will be hosting a WrestleMania week featuring meet-and-greets, watch parties and more in a wrestling-influencing-gambling turnaround.
In Summary
Gambling doesn’t influence the outcome of wrestling matches, of course, but it still has found its way into the sport through theming. Given that wrestling has a lot of showmanship and over-the-top characters, it’s a perfect vessel of entertainment for casino-themed elements, among all the bright lights, big storylines and high-energy action that’s also associated with gambling.
