Casino was a monster hit, bringing in big bucks for Universal and propelling its star players, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, into the stratosphere of Hollywood stardom. Its hellacious violence—including a torture-by-vice sequence featuring a popped eyeball and an expertly edited baseball bat beating—was well ahead of its time. It pushed the boundaries of taste and morality, but it also made people aware that organized crime in the gambling industry is real.
A modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, and most of its profits come from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette and keno are all chance-based games, but sports betting relies on familiarity with teams, players and the game to be successful. Casinos also rely on other things to keep customers coming back—like a pleasant atmosphere, dazzling lights and the smell of freshly baked bread or vanilla.
Casinos offer comps to loyal customers, which are free goods or services a customer earns for spending large amounts of money at the casino. These can include free food, hotel rooms and tickets to shows. Using these strategies, casinos can reach new audiences and increase customer loyalty. However, it is important to understand that demographics alone aren’t sufficient for marketers to make informed decisions about their audience’s behavior. They need to know what job the audience is “hiring” them to do, which requires more in-depth information about their motivations and pain points. Ultimately, they are looking for a fun and exciting experience that makes them feel good.