Casino is a classic tale of treachery and greed. But while the story of gangsters and hustlers is compelling, it’s also a reminder of the human cost of this type of gaming.
The film stars the great Robert De Niro as a ruthless mobster named Santoro, but it’s Sharon Stone who steals the show as the scheming Ginger McKenna. Her portrayal of a girl whose moral compass has gone completely off the rails is both charming and harrowing. The movie has a few other good actors, including the always-dependable Joe Pesci as a cold-hearted muscleman named Paulie.
There’s one thing every gambler knows: You can lose more than you’ve wagered, so you have to be careful how much you bet and when you play. Luckily, there are some things casinos do to help you avoid this.
For example, casinos often don’t have clocks in their halls so you can’t tell what time it is. This is because the casino managers want you to lose track of time so you will continue trying your luck with the games.
Another trick casinos use is to waft scented oils throughout their ventilation systems. This smell, along with the glitzy lights and joyful noises of the slot machines, creates a manufactured sense of euphoria that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. This makes you want to gamble even more. Casinos also encourage heavy drinking and serve free booze to players, which lowers inhibitions and clouds your judgement.