A casino is a fun place to try your luck at blackjack, poker or the roulette wheel. Champagne glasses clink and the music blares, creating an upbeat atmosphere. It’s a place where gamblers from all walks of life mingle and share the same desire to win big, while also having a good time.
But there’s more to casinos than the games and opulent surroundings. In order to maximize profit, casinos employ various psychological techniques to manipulate customers into spending more money than they intend to. From the colors of the rugs to the layout of the gaming machines, all elements are carefully designed and strategically placed in order to catch the eye of the passerby. Curving paths and well-placed gambling sections are meant to lead people off the main path toward the bathroom or exit, tempting them to play a few more rounds before they head back out to meet their basic needs.
In fact, most casinos don’t even have clocks to make it easy for visitors to lose track of time. They keep the lighting and temperature the same day and night, making it impossible for patrons to know what time of the day it is without looking at a watch or phone. This helps patrons stay longer and increase their betting habits.
In his movie Casino, Martin Scorsese does an excellent job of capturing the essence of Las Vegas and its connection with organized crime. With a tense storyline and masterful editing, the movie doesn’t lag or lose steam in the second half, making it a lean three-hour thriller.