Casino is an epic crime drama that lays bare the corrupt world of organized crime in Las Vegas. It is one of the most violent movies Scorsese has ever made, but that violence is used to underscore how real and believable the story really is. In fact, the entire movie is based on the true events of the Mob’s influence over the gambling industry in the 70s and 80s.
Casinos are a lot like other businesses in the capitalist economy, raking in billions each year for their owners, investors, and, in many cases, state and local governments that collect taxes on the profits. They are designed to be stimulating environments that encourage patrons to gamble, and they use every trick in the book to get people to keep playing.
There are no clocks in casinos because the people running them want their customers to lose track of time and continue to press their luck, never stopping to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom. They also want them to gamble as much as possible, and so they offer “comps,” or complimentary gifts. These can be monetary, such as free rooms, food, or drinks; or non-monetary, such as tickets to shows.
Casinos are also perfect venues for events and group business, so they must market themselves in ways that emphasize these benefits as well. It’s important to understand the demographics of your audience so you can target them effectively, but that is only part of the equation.
