Casino is a Martin Scorsese movie about money, crime and power. It is an epic history lesson about Vegas and how the mafia lost control of a town that was minting millions for its gamblers and corporate tycoons. It is a movie about greed and corruption, and it is also about how these evil characters get their comeuppance in the end.
The film is full of little details that make it a fascinating study of the seedy underbelly of gambling. From the way that casinos don’t have clocks or windows so gamblers will lose track of time, to how low-level hoods kept meticulous financial records to thwart investigators, Scorsese packs his story with a lot of details that seem just right.
Casinos often have loyalty programs that reward regular patrons with perks like free meals or rooms. This encourages people to continue spending and increases their chances of winning. This is called the sunk cost fallacy, in which people keep spending even when they have already reached their budget for the day.
Another strategy casinos use is to create a manufactured euphoric experience that makes people feel happy and relaxed, making them more likely to spend more money. This is achieved by using a combination of lighting, dazzling visuals and calming music to lull players into a false sense of wellbeing. They also often waft a pleasant smell through their ventilation systems to enhance the experience. Moreover, they may offer complimentary drinks to lure customers in and take advantage of the fact that alcohol can impair judgment.