New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Why do people love gambling? If we had to take the demographic of gamblers in casinos in the States, for example, we would notice that a lot of them reflect the demographic of the region and State they're in. Casinos are full of people from all walks of life. Every class structure, nationality and gender can be found in a casino.
According to an interesting article written on The Psychology of Gambling, the reasons people gamble can range from wanting to be social, escaping their reality or just wanting to enjoy the glitz and glamor of the bright lights in the casino.
Movies and casinos
The relatability to the reasons why people gamble, probably explains the close relationship between movies and casinos. Because casinos make the effort to treat everyone like a celebrity - with special perks such as free drinks and food, people are very keen to flock to them. Some of these perks can include free hotel rooms, free tickets to shows and special deals in restaurants. If you're a high-spending customer, you can even have your own personal casino 'host' who ensures you have a fantastic experience. The bigger the wagers, the bigger the perks.
Even though you can play online, the perks perhaps aren't quite as glam - it's more like free spins on slots or matching dollars down. Don't need glam? Well then, when looking at bonuses they offer make sure to look for sites with no wagering requirement.
Naturally, the relationship between casinos and the movies has been a natural fit. However, it can be quite tricky navigating gambling and filming laws in casinos. For individuals, the filming rules vary from casino to casino. Some might forbid people from photographing or taping themselves, while others don't mind and will even have their casino host offer to take your picture or video for you.
When it comes to actually filming movies in casinos, each casino has its own rules. The Cosmopolitan Casino of Las Vegas for example, doesn't allow videotaping on its casino floor whereas MGM Resorts International takes on a more flexible approach to filming.
Contracts therefore vary and have different stipulations. When looking at bonuses they often make sure to look for sites with no wagering requirement. With its shining, neon lights and everyone's ambition to be rich and famous, the casino makes the ideal backdrop for movies.
Here are some classics that we believe are worth watching:
Showgirls (1995)
In this movie, gambling meets eroticism. This movie tells the classic American story of 'wanting to make it' big in Las Vegas. A young wanderer arrives alone in Vegas with the intention of getting a 'slice of the American pie.' As the story unfolds, it becomes a test of her character as she's confronted with different people wanting to 'help' her realize her dreams. She has to navigate this often-tumultuous road to stardom.
Casino (1995)
Directed by Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese, this movie tells the age-old story of money, power and deception between two friends - one is a high-powered casino executive and the other, a mafia enforcer. They end up competing with each other for the love of a socialite and the ownership of a casino empire. The world that they're in has two faces - the glamorous and the cruel.
Hard Eight (1996)
A destitute and down-on-his-luck gambler named John meets a veteran and (seemingly) sophisticated gambler named Sydney. Sydney takes John under his wing and shows him all the tricks of the trade while John falls in love with a prostitute. A very entertaining story ensues as their lives are turned upside down.
Rounders (1998)
A young, gifted, yet 'reformed' poker player returns to the dangerous and high stakes game of gambling to help out a friend who's a compulsive gambler. Promising his girlfriend to leave it behind and continue his studies, he unfortunately gets sucked back into this world for one last, high-stakes game.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, wants to score the biggest heist in history. He assembles a team of 11 con artists (including himself) to plot and steal a record $150 million. Their target is The Bellagio, the Mirage and the MGM Grand, all casinos owned by Terry Benedict, who's played by Andy Garcia. Terry also happened to have 'stolen' Danny's Ocean's ex-wife. The plot is filled with excitement, suspense, and intrigue. Look out for Ocean's Twelve and Thirteen.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Ben Sanderson, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, plays an alcoholic who, after losing everything due to his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death. Here he meets and falls in love with a prostitute called Sera, a problematic woman played by Elizabeth Shue.
Casino Royale (2006)
Daniel Craig makes his debut as the famous James Bond 007 in the classic series. With his license to kill, he is on a mission to take the ultimate gamble and place his life on the line by taking on a private banker funding terrorists. The famous poker scene takes place in the famous Casino Royale, Montenegro.
Our list of movies proves how big a role the media and TV industry play in how casinos are portrayed, playing up their image as sexy, stylish and fashionable places where the 'rich and famous' or 'high society' hang out. Seems that wanting to rub shoulders with the 'who's who' is human nature.
