Casino is an epic crime drama from the master director Martin Scorsese. It lays bare the intricate web of corruption that centered in Vegas with tendrils reaching to politicians, Teamsters unions, the Chicago mob and a Midwest mafia based out of Kansas City. Despite being almost three hours long, the movie never lags and stays a lean, mean thriller throughout its duration.

The film shows how casinos use lights, sounds and physical design to lead people into spending more money. For example, the location of bathrooms and restaurants is intentionally placed deep within the gaming floor so players must walk past numerous tables or machines to access them. This increases the chances that players will make spur-of-the-moment decisions to gamble, even when they know better.

Booze is also freely offered in casinos to keep players inebriated. This lowers their inhibitions and clouds their judgment, which makes it easier to make bad decisions that can lead to large losses. Casinos also avoid using clocks or windows in their buildings to make it hard for players to track the passing of time and increase the likelihood that they will stay longer than they intended.

In order to avoid the traps of casinos, start with a fixed amount of money that you are willing to lose and stick to it. Make a budget for yourself and set a timer to remind you when it is time to leave. This will help you avoid the impulsive decisions that often lead to gambling addiction.