Casinos are meant to be exciting, fun places where you can let loose and forget about the stresses of everyday life. They’re flashy, with lots of lights and a variety of music playing. Besides gambling, casinos also offer other forms of entertainment such as shows and different entertainment options. They can be a great place to spend a day or night, and it’s a lot easier than you might think to lose track of time.
It’s easy to see why they attract so many people, especially when they have such a sexy and inviting atmosphere. The bright colors, the giveaways and bling are enough to draw even the most jaded individual. But what really captures people is the idea of winning, of a windfall. It’s why so many people go to casinos – they want to win big, and the hope of leaving with a bulging wallet is enough to keep them coming back.
But of course, there’s always a catch. Gambling is a dangerous game, and for most people, losing is far more likely than winning. In addition, casinos are designed to be addictive, and they use bright, gaudy colors and a cheery, upbeat soundtrack to keep players from realizing how much money they’re actually spending. Many casinos even don’t have clocks on their walls, because they know that people will lose track of time and keep gambling until they’re broke.
In Casino, Scorsese creates a portrait of Sin City that is more than just about the people who live there. He conveys a sense of nostalgia, but it’s more about the loss of what once was than the desire to see what will replace it. “The town will never be the same,” says Ace in the film’s final scene, amidst images of Tangiers being demolished, lamenting that Las Vegas has become Disneyland.
The gaming industry is one of the most competitive in the world, and with so many options for gamblers, it’s important that casinos market themselves effectively. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies that can help them do just that.
Focus on demographics
For a long time, casino marketers have relied heavily on demographic data to inform their marketing efforts. However, this information is largely useless, because it doesn’t tell you why someone is at your casino in the first place. For example, a group of women in their 20s or 30s standing outside your casino may be there on a business trip with an hour to kill, but they could just as easily be there to celebrate a bachelorette party.
In order to target these demographics more effectively, casinos should use strategies such as online components of floor games, elevated food and entertainment offerings, and social media engagement. They should also seek to increase their discoverability through search engine optimization, focusing on keywords that are relevant to their business and the needs of their audience. In addition, they should seek out event and group business, leveraging programs like Cvent to reach these planners when they’re most likely looking for a venue.