Gambling, in all its forms, has been a part of human life for millennia. Wooden blocks used in games of chance date back to 2300 BC, dice arrived around 500 AD and playing cards a century later. Today, gambling is an industry that is worth billions and encompasses everything from the casual game of dice with friends to the high stakes world of casino table games.
Every aspect of a casino is designed to lure players into spending more money than they planned on. From the flashing lights and bright colors to hypnotic soundtracks, casinos are expert at manipulating their customers’ senses. They can even get away with charging for things that were once free, such as parking or hotel amenities, and use a variety of tactics to keep their profits up.
One of the most common tricks casinos use is luring players with free drinks. By keeping players inebriated, they can manipulate them into making more risky bets. This is known as the “sunk cost fallacy,” and it’s a well-documented psychological phenomenon. Casinos also know that if they want a player to continue gambling, they need to make them feel valued and encourage loyalty. This is why they offer comps, or complimentary meals, rooms and drinks, to their players.
Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci deliver powerhouse performances in Casino, a film that dials up the gangster lifestyle of Goodfellas to 11. It’s an entertaining story about greed and corruption but is also a lesson about how the mob eventually lost control of Vegas, allowing massive gambling corporations to take over.