Casino is a fascinating study of gambling, corruption, and the mob in Las Vegas. It’s also a movie about human tragedy. Despite its dark subject matter, Casino never sags or loses its grip. This is largely due to the excellent cast. Although Robert De Niro is the marquee name, it’s Sharon Stone who steals the show as the hard-edged hustler Ginger McKenna. Her ability to portray a character who is at once ruthless and vulnerable makes the audience both root for and fear her.
The movie’s depiction of the way casinos manipulate their customers is spot on. Every detail, from the sound system to the physical layout of the casino is designed to influence how much money people spend there. For example, casino architecture often features curved walkways that lead players into enticing games. These paths make it difficult to find your way back to the exit or bathroom, which forces gamblers to keep spending money. The sounds and lighting are designed to be hypnotic as well, ensuring that the gambler’s senses are stimulated and they are less likely to focus on the fact that they’re losing money.
Many casinos also feature electronic gambling machines that allow gamblers to load money onto a card instead of using cash, which can help dissociate the feeling of losing money from the actual cost of the bets. This trick helps to increase gamblers’ chances of winning and keeps them coming back for more. Local unemployment rates before and after a casino opens should be examined with the help of other factors, like population changes and statewide business trends, in order to get a true picture of the employment benefits that are claimed for new casinos.