After the success of Goodfellas, Universal Studios greenlit Casino, a darker look at organized crime and its effects on the casino industry. Featuring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, the film positioned the two stars as modern-day mob icons and completed Scorsese’s trifecta of mob dramas (Raging Bull and The Wolf of Wall Street also follow). Despite its depictions of hellacious violence—including a torture-by-vice sequence that included a popped eyeball and a baseball bat beating that had to be edited to avoid an NC-17 rating—Casino has become one of the most successful films in cinema history.
Casinos offer a variety of gambling activities, including card games, roulette, table games, and video poker. They may also have a restaurant, bar, or other entertainment venue. Most casinos operate on a fixed limit, which means patrons can’t win more than the establishment is willing to pay out. Nevertheless, the overall experience of playing at a casino is enjoyable, especially when complemented with dazzling lights, uplifting music, and delicious food.
Casinos are known for comping big spenders with free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, and other prizes. In order to attract and retain customers, it’s important for marketers to understand what types of activities and amenities are appealing to casino audiences so they can adjust their marketing strategies accordingly.