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The Casino Experience

We’ve all been there: you stride into the Luxor, Mohegan Sun, or Tropicana brimming with confidence and your wallet filled with cash, and plan to enjoy some enjoyable, sensible gambling and two rounds of cocktails. Hours later, you have no idea what time it is or how much money you’ve lost. It’s the result of casinos’ masterful design, a mix of sounds, lights, and physical space that creates an environment that is both welcoming and hard to step away from.

Casino’s ambivalence toward the violence is on full display in the movie’s aforementioned torture-by-vice sequence that features a popped eyeball and an infamously trimmed baseball bat beating, the latter of which was so sound-designed as to almost merit an NC-17 rating. It’s clear Scorsese isn’t convinced of Ace and Nicky’s vision of the good old days but remains skeptical of what will replace them.

The casino’s labyrinthine layout is also intentional: it makes navigating the floor difficult, as there are no straight aisles leading to exits. It’s all part of a strategy that aims to make it harder for gamblers to leave the building, a goal that is often achieved by distracting players with drinks and food.

Some casinos even have restaurants or bakeries inside to attract customers and keep them playing. In addition, many have air conditioning that wafts scented oils through the ventilation system to create an artificial feeling of euphoria. These tricks, coupled with the dazzling lights and joyful noise of slot machines, all help to lure players into spending more than they intend to.