You stride into the Luxor or Mohegan Sun brimming with confidence, your wallet filled with cash and plans for just a little bit of enjoyable, sensible gaming and maybe two rounds of cocktails. Hours later, you’re completely lost, and you don’t even know what time it is or how much your bankroll has dwindled. It’s a familiar story because casinos are designed to trick you into spending money. They use sounds, lights and physical design to create an environment that is both welcoming and hard to step away from. Business Insider takes a look at nine ways casinos get you to keep gambling.
Whether it’s the opulent ambiance, the flashing neon signs or champagne glasses clinking at the table, a casino is an incredibly exciting place to be. In many cases, the excitement is as much about socializing with others as it is trying your luck at card games or slot machines. Casinos are where friends and strangers mingle, creating a unique buzz that has made them a global destination for those who are ready to try their hand at luck.
The etymology of the word casino goes back to Italy, where it once meant “villa or summerhouse.” Over time, however, casinos evolved into something more grandiose, and the term came to refer to any public place where a variety of games of chance could be played. This includes everything from high-stakes blackjack to low-tech video poker and the more casual roulette.
Although casinos offer a wealth of luxuries that can make the experience a truly magical one, they’re actually quite simple places in terms of their basic layout and operations. There have been less elaborate establishments that housed gambling activities, and they would still be called casinos.
Casino is a film that captures the spirit of Vegas like no other. It’s a movie about gambling and shady dealings, but it also has a deeper message of societal corruption. In fact, it’s almost impossible to find a hero in this story of greed and treachery, but De Niro gives a convincing performance as the principled, old-school Ace Rothstein. Sharon Stone is also excellent as Ginger McKenna, adding a touch of sexiness to the film.
Casino is a must-see for anyone who loves a good mob drama. It has more of a cohesive storyline than its contemporaries like Goodfellas and offers a glimpse into the underworld of a city that’s been transformed by organized crime, despite its fame for partying and weekend getaways. It also reveals some of the darker aspects of the city that make it so fascinating.
