Aside from perhaps Goodfellas, Casino is one of Martin Scorsese’s most influential movies. The three-hour long drama portrays the seedy underbelly of Vegas and lays bare the mafia’s influence over a desert city that was minting money by the billions. The film features a number of violent scenes, including the torture of De Niro’s Ginger and Joe Pesci’s Santoro. But it’s not just the violence for the sake of shock value – these events actually happened to real people and have massive implications.
Casino is also a psychological thriller, showing how casinos use tricks to keep gamblers spending. For example, the fact that casino floors lack clocks and windows helps to create a manufactured state of euphoria that makes players unaware of time passing. This hypnotizing setting also reduces their ability to make good judgment decisions, which can lead to costly losses.
Another strategy is the use of “near wins,” whereby slot machines and other electronic games trick players into believing that they are close to a big payout. This triggers the brain’s reward system and motivates players to continue gambling in the hope that they will win.
Finally, casinos offer perks and rewards for continued gambling, such as free meals, drinks, and hotel rooms. This encourages players to keep gambling to earn more rewards, which keeps them in the casino environment longer and increases their spending. The casino then reaps the benefits of this loyalty program, which helps to sustain the business model.