From the glittering Las Vegas strip to the illegal pai gow parlors of New York City’s Chinatown, about 51 million people—a quarter of all Americans over 21—visited casinos last year. Whether they gambled with money or virtual credits, these players are exposed to the same psychological traps that can turn a fun afternoon at the casino into a costly nightmarish avalanche of debt.
One of the most common tactics casinos employ is strategically placing important amenities like restaurants and cash machines deep within the gambling area so that players must pass through the gaming floor each time they use these facilities. This nudges players into making spur-of-the-moment decisions to stay longer and make more bets, increasing their chances of losing money.
Another trick casinos employ is obscuring the sense of time by eliminating external cues like daylight and clocks from their premises. By doing so, they create a feeling of euphoria that can reduce the ability to make sound judgments. In addition, the lack of visual reminders can make hours feel like minutes, causing people to spend more than they originally intended.
Scorsese’s depiction of mob life in Casino is both gripping and horrifying. Although some critics have criticized him for using violence simply for style or shock value, the brutal beating of De Niro’s character at the end of the film is not only justified but essential to the story. This, and the film’s many other shocking scenes, makes Casino an incredibly compelling and authentic movie.