Casino focuses on the mob and organized crime in Las Vegas, and it’s a movie that knows how to keep viewers engaged. The characters and events are all based on real people, and Scorsese uses the violence to convey the true nature of the criminal world. While the movie might seem a bit over-the-top in some scenes, such as De Niro’s torture, Sharon Stone’s drug overdose and Joe Pesci’s murder, they are all faithful to reality.
There’s more to a casino than gambling, of course, but the dazzling lights, joyful sound and manufactured bliss help attract customers. Many casinos also offer restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery to enhance the experience for guests. A few modern casinos even waft scented oils through their ventilation systems to create a pleasant smell that keeps people coming back.
Gambling addiction is a big issue for some casinos, and the money that compulsive gamblers drain from local economies largely offsets any economic benefits that casinos might bring to their communities. In addition, casino revenue can lead to lower property values in nearby neighborhoods.
To maximize profits, casinos must encourage visitors to play longer and take more risks. They make most of their money from slot machines and other games where the house has a mathematical advantage over the player. This is a high-risk environment, but the casino industry works hard to make the experience enjoyable for visitors so that they will return in the future to gamble again.
