Casino – How to Avoid Casino Psychological Tricks
Despite its dark themes of corruption, deceit, and violence, Casino is an incredibly entertaining film. It’s also an epic history lesson about Vegas and the rise of gambling corporations that have changed the desert city forever. The movie’s star is Robert De Niro as mobster Ginger McKenna, but Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci round out the stellar cast.
Modern slot machines don’t use physical spinning reels, but the same principles apply: players insert currency and select their bet amount, then hit spin to see if they’re lucky enough to win. Some electronic games even offer sound effects and celebratory music to create a sense of victory when the reels stop spinning. This manufactured feeling of euphoria encourages people to play longer, and casinos know that it’s easier to make bad decisions when you’re in an intoxicated state.
To further distract players and keep them playing, some casinos even eliminate external cues like windows and clocks to obscure the passage of time. This trick works well, because intoxication often clouds judgment and leads to poor decisions that cost gamblers money.
Fortunately, you can protect yourself from these psychological tricks by setting limits for yourself before entering the casino floor. Start with a set amount of cash you’re willing to lose, and don’t exceed that limit no matter what happens. In addition, don’t be fooled by the casino’s “comp” system, which rewards loyal players with free meals, drinks, hotel rooms, and other perks. This encouragement to spend more money is exactly what the casino wants you to do, and it can easily become addictive.