It’s happened to all of us: You stride into the Luxor, Mohegan Sun, or Tropicana brimming with confidence and your wallet full of cash. You’re ready for a little enjoyable gaming, and maybe two rounds of cocktails. But then you realize, hours later, that your wallet is almost empty and you have no idea what time it’s been or where the money went. What you don’t know is that everything about the casino is designed to distract you and encourage you to gamble more.
The fact is, gambling isn’t just about the potential winnings; it’s also a form of entertainment and, for some people, even a therapeutic activity that helps manage negative emotions like stress. But before you head to the casino, decide ahead of time how much you can afford to LOSE and how happy you’ll be if you WIN—and stick to your plan.
Gambling isn’t just a fun way to pass the time; it also releases dopamine, which helps to relieve feelings of sadness or anger by stimulating the reward center of the brain. But before you start playing, make sure you understand the dangers of gambling addiction.
In a moment when violent, profane criminality was en vogue thanks to the success of Goodfellas and Boogie Nights, Casino was a healthy return on investment for Scorsese. His depiction of the seedy inner circle of organized crime was both faithful to the facts and highly entertaining, especially with Stone’s sultry Ginger, who exults in her ability to seduce and control men.