In Casino, Martin Scorsese takes a behind-the-scenes look at the gambling cash cow that is Las Vegas. From the opulent decor to the sounds of clinking slots and laughing players, stepping into a casino is like stepping into an alternate reality. And when you walk out with a win, it’s a rush that can be hard to match.
The thrill of winning is what attracts most people to casinos. But there’s more to a casino than just games of chance. It’s also a place to enjoy entertainment, eat and drink and socialize with friends. That’s why many casino marketers use emotional appeals to encourage people to spend more money and stay longer.
Keeping patrons happy and loyal is the goal of any casino. Casinos reward their most frequent and biggest spenders by giving them free goods or services, such as hotel rooms, shows or dinners. These are called comps. Casinos also give perks to people who bring in business, such as limo service and airline tickets.
Gambling corporations and real estate investors with deep pockets have bought out many mob-run casinos, allowing them to run the businesses without mafia interference. These companies have also invested in sophisticated surveillance systems that can monitor a room from a control room filled with banks of security screens. This “eye-in-the-sky” allows security workers to focus on suspicious patrons or catch criminal activity. The cameras also record each game, so that if a gambler is caught cheating on the roulette table or at blackjack, they can be prosecuted.