The Casino Industry

The casino industry brings in huge profits. In the United States alone, about 51 million people—about a quarter of the population over 21—visited a casino in 2002. Casinos are also popular with tourists, who spend billions at casinos worldwide.

The success of a casino depends on its ability to lure patrons through the doors and convince them to gamble. Lighting, music, and scent all play their part. The blaring soundtrack, the flashing lights, and the pulsing beat of slot machines are meant to create a euphoric atmosphere that makes gamblers feel happy. This artificial sense of happiness is often augmented with a cocktail of chemicals, including methylamines and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can induce a state of blissful happiness.

Casinos employ security personnel to watch over games and patrons. Floor men and dealers have a wide view of the gambling area and can easily spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards and dice. Table managers and pit bosses have a more focused view of individual tables and can spot betting patterns that indicate cheating. Casinos are also able to spot cheating through the use of hidden video cameras.

Casino is often regarded as director Martin Scorsese’s most violent movie, and the scenes of torture, the attempted murder by gunfire of De Niro’s character, and the buried body of Joe Pesci’s character are all shocking. However, Scorsese’s use of violence in the film is not purely for shock value; it serves a purpose.