When it comes to gambling, few things are as alluring as a world-class casino. They offer more than just games of chance—they provide an experience that is at once sexy, lavish, and exclusive. But casinos are also designed to lead players into spending more money than they intended. They use sounds, lights, and physical design to create an environment that is at once inviting and hard to step away from. Business Insider reveals nine tricks casinos use to make it harder for you to walk away from your chips.

Most gamblers enter casinos with a wallet full of cash and the intention to have a bit of fun and maybe one or two rounds of drinks. But hours later, many have no idea what time it is or how much they spent. This is because the casinos are expert at keeping players in a constant state of euphoria that clouds their judgment and increases the chances that they will continue betting.

One of the most effective tricks is to keep the booze flowing. Booze lowers inhibitions and clouds the brain, making it easier to make bad decisions. This is why casinos serve free booze in their bars and at the gaming tables, and give patrons plenty of opportunities to drink. They know that the more a player drinks, the more likely they are to lose their money.

Another trick is to distract players from the fact that they are losing money by giving them a sense of accomplishment. When someone wins a big jackpot on a slot machine or rakes in the dough at the poker table, bright lights flash and music plays, creating a false sense of hope that others will follow suit. In reality, the odds of hitting a large win are incredibly slim.

Casino was written and directed by Martin Scorsese, who used his filmmaking skills to portray the seedy underbelly of the city of Las Vegas. He shot the film in real casinos and hired extras to wear authentic 1970’s costumes. He also created a soundtrack that accentuated the action. Scorsese is a master at using music to set the mood and convey emotions.

While the movie isn’t an objective look at casino operations, it is a compelling drama that shows how greed and corruption can tear down even the most prestigious of businesses. Unlike most movies, it offers no heroes or heroines—no one escapes the avarice and violence of this story. But the audience feels sympathy for the characters, especially Sharon Stone’s Ginger. The film is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of Vegas and how mob rule was replaced by huge gambling corporations.