You stride into the casino brimming with confidence, wallet filled with cash, and the intention to have some enjoyable, sensible gaming and maybe two rounds of cocktails. Hours later, you have no idea what time it is or how much you’ve lost. Casinos are expertly designed to lure you in and keep your money flowing out. They use sounds, lights and even physical design to create a mesmerizing experience that’s hard to walk away from.
Most casinos have table games that involve a dealer or croupier facilitating the game and bets are placed against the house. Some games require a certain amount of skill, like blackjack and roulette. Other games don’t require any skill, but the casino still earns a small fee, known as the “rake.” Casinos also offer poker rooms where players play against each other, and they earn money from this by charging a fixed percentage of winning hands.
Taking a break and walking around for a few minutes can get you out of the zone and help you make more rational decisions. Keeping your budget in mind and setting a timer for when you should stop playing is another good way to help yourself gamble responsibly.
Martin Scorsese’s Casino is a riveting and often terrifying story of the mob’s relationship with Las Vegas and its casinos. It’s a film with plenty of action, but it never lags or becomes boring. He captures the smoky atmosphere of a mob-controlled casino perfectly, and the cast is outstanding. From the shocking opening car bomb scene to the climactic shootout, Casino stays taut and lean through its nearly three-hour length.