Casino has all the hallmarks of a great movie – a brilliant script (adapted by David Levinson from his own book), excellent acting, and a masterful directorial style. It is also a film that illustrates the dangers of gambling and how it can destroy people’s lives. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are both at the top of their respective games, but it is Sharon Stone who elevates this movie above the merely good. Her performance is a career-defining one and it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role.
Gambling in its various forms has been a part of human society for millennia. The earliest proof comes from China in 2300 BC, when archeologists found wooden blocks used in games of chance. Dice came along in 500 BC and playing cards appeared shortly after that.
In the modern sense of the word, casinos are places where gamblers try to win money and have fun. They use a variety of methods to keep you in their building, including free drinks and attractive women. But the psychology of casinos goes way beyond this. They are designed to be as addictive as possible.
In his book, Luck, Leisure and the Casino in Nineteenth-Century Europe, Jared Poley explains how casino design is based on a series of psychological principles that have been proven to be effective. He describes how the layout of a casino influences its customers and why they spend so much time there.