There’s something so sexy about walking into a casino and being surrounded by flashing lights and gambling machines that promise a little slice of heaven. But what you may not know is that casinos are designed to play on your weaknesses to keep you playing for as long as possible.
For one, the rooms are windowless to prevent players from realizing how much time is passing, and they’re filled with enticing games that can eat up your bankroll. Plus, casinos are notorious for offering free drinks, which can distort your judgment and lead to poor decisions.
Another way casinos manipulate players is by using psychological tactics to trick them into thinking they’re close to a big win. This is known as a near win, and it triggers the brain’s reward system like an actual win, encouraging players to keep playing in hopes of hitting the jackpot. In reality, the odds are still heavily against them, but this strategy helps the casino keep players on the premises longer.
Martin Scorsese’s Casino – based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who had full access to the mobster who ran four casinos for the Mafia in the 70’s – is a fascinating and terrifying look at the inner workings of a corrupt industry. The movie isn’t as epic as his other Mafia films (Mean Streets and GoodFellas), but it has the same energy and pacing, along with a wealth of tiny details. From Ace ordering the casino cooks to put “exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin” to airborne feds circling overhead while the hoods gamble, it’s all there.
