Whether you gamble or just watch, casino games offer an incredible buzz. With music blaring, champagne glasses clinking, and coins clacking, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. The crowds are a diverse mix of regulars strutting their stuff with confidence and people trying to make back what they’ve lost on previous trips. There’s always something going on and no one knows when luck is going to strike.
Casinos are carefully designed to influence the gambling behavior of visitors. They are noisy, crowded, and filled with bright lights that resemble the joyous glare of slot machines. They use a variety of scented oils that are wafted through their ventilation systems to create an artificial sense of bliss. Guests are encouraged to stay by offering complimentary drinks and snacks. They are even able to purchase these scents and bring them home to recreate the experience. Casinos also don’t put clocks on their walls because they want patrons to lose track of time and continue gambling.
Unlike other movies that glorify Vegas, like Goodfellas or American Pie, Casino shows the seedier side of the city with its opulence and organized crime history. And it doesn’t shy away from the brutality of mob life either. Robert De Niro’s performance as Nicky Santoro is a masterful portrayal of the ruthless and predatory mindset of the mafia and it’s easily one of the best performances he’s ever given. And Sharon Stone is a knockout as the blonde hustler Ginger McKenna.
