Casino, Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic, is one of his longest movies but it never bogs down or loses steam. The story is gripping from start to finish and features some of the best acting of any movie ever made. Robert De Niro’s portrayal of mobster Frank “Scarface” Sherrill is a tour de force, and Sharon Stone’s femme fatale Ginger McKenna and Joe Pesci’s predatory Santoro are equally compelling.

The movie is also a fascinating look at how casinos operate, with elaborate security systems to protect the house from cheaters and thieves. Each employee has a higher-up watching them with a broader view, keeping track of how much money they’re making or losing and catching suspicious betting patterns. Chip tracking technology enables a casino to see the exact amounts of chips placed in each game minute-by-minute and alerts employees when there’s a statistical deviation from their expected results. Dice and roulette wheels are monitored regularly to detect any tampering or rigging.

Stepping into a casino is like stepping into another reality – one filled with glittering lights, the sound of coins clinking in slot machines and an intoxicating buzz that’s hard to ignore. But the truth is, everything about casinos is designed to lead players into spending their money. They use sounds, colors and even the physical design of their space to make it feel welcoming yet impossible to walk away from. Click through the gallery above to learn nine tricks casinos use to keep you gambling.