The gambling industry has many tools at its disposal to lure and keep customers. In addition to scented air (many casinos use bakery-like aromas) and flashy lights, they also manipulate players through the psychology of “near misses.” Slot machines are programmed to create this sensation by showing two matching symbols or just one symbol away from a jackpot. This triggers the brain’s reward system and makes players feel like they are close to winning, motivating them to play more.
Then there is the casino’s food. Free drinks are offered to players at the card tables, the slot machines, and even in front of the horse-racing screens. The booze lowers inhibitions and clouds judgment, making people more likely to bet recklessly or to place bigger bets than they otherwise would.
In short, a casino can make more money in countless ways, including cutting expenses and increasing the hold percentage on slot machines; charging for things that used to be free, such as parking and hotel amenities; or changing game rules that succeed in taking a player’s money more quickly. However, the best way to win at a casino is to understand how it operates.
In Casino, Martin Scorsese gives viewers a front-row seat to all the opulence and excess of Vegas. At nearly three hours long, the movie never lags or runs out of steam, thanks to Scorsese’s masterful editing and taut narration. In addition to its depictions of organized crime and gangsters, Casino is also a riveting portrait of the city itself and its past ties with organized crime.