Casino, the 2015 epic crime drama from Martin Scorsese, is more than just a movie about mobster gangsters. It lays bare the massive gambling corporations that take over Vegas and make billions while showing how the mafia loses control of a city that they once had all but monopolized. While other mafia movies like Goodfellas only show the glitz and glamour of Vegas life, this movie digs deeper into the corruption that surrounds it all. And while Robert De Niro is great in this film as usual, it’s Sharon Stone that really steals the show. Her depiction of the blonde hustler Ginger McKenna is compelling throughout. And Joe Pesci’s Santoro is a menacing presence as well.
In addition to all of the dazzling lights and endless rows of slot machines, casinos also use a number of psychological tricks to get gamblers to spend more money and keep coming back for more. Some of these tactics include avoiding clocks, using digital credits instead of cash to create a disconnect between players and their money, pumping in pleasant smells to help gamblers feel relaxed and euphoric, and so much more.
All of these techniques are designed to make it easier for gamblers to lose more money and keep spending. The more time a player spends at the casino, the higher their chances of earning loyalty rewards (known as comps) which can range from free meals and hotel rooms to VIP access to events and more.