A casino is an exciting place to try your luck at games of chance. The decor is usually flashy and extravagant, the music is upbeat, and there are always plenty of places to eat and drink. There’s no telling when you’ll hit the jackpot, so it’s no wonder that people love to visit casinos.
A successful casino scene isn’t just about making people feel good; it’s also about creating a sense of drama. That’s why many of the best casino movies feature high stakes and dangerous characters. Whether it’s Robert De Niro’s Ace Rothstein or Leonardo DiCaprio’s Lucky Luke, there’s something about the thrill of risk that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Casino is a classic example of a film that takes the genre to the next level. Director Martin Scorsese uses a bravura approach to set pieces and filmmaking to convey the glitzy, fast-paced world of Las Vegas gambling. He doesn’t shy away from the brutality, either, with a torture-by-vice sequence that features a popped eyeball and a sound-designed baseball bat beating (which had to be trimmed to avoid an NC-17 rating).
Something about the presence of large amounts of money seems to encourage people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a winning jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. Dealers are heavily focused on their game and can quickly spot blatant attempts at cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the tables, looking out for betting patterns that could signal that someone is trying to manipulate the outcome.
Casino’s most memorable character is Ginger, played by Sharon Stone. Her performance builds on and inverts the momentum she gained with Basic Instinct; whereas Catherine Tramell was melancholy and repressed, Ginger exults in her ability to seduce and control men. Her performance is both sexy and devious, as she tries to convince Ace that she can make him love her while being utterly unreliable.
While it’s important to think about how your casino makes people feel when designing your marketing strategy, it’s even more essential to understand what your audience wants from you. If you know what they need, you’ll be able to meet them with the right messaging and offers. For example, if you offer group business and events, Cvent’s Competitive Market Ads will give your casino prominent exposure to event planners in similar markets or sister cities, making it easier for them to find you and get a quote. This is a great way to grow your casino’s business by targeting planners who wouldn’t have discovered you on their own. To learn more about how to make the most of your casino’s unique marketing opportunities, download this guide today.