A casino is a gambling establishment that offers card and table games such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker, craps, and slot machines. It also provides world-class entertainment, such as shows and acrobatic performances. In addition, casinos offer restaurants, bars, and lounges. Some even have swimming pools and shopping areas.
The main reason casinos make people throw hundreds or thousands of dollars away is that they know the odds of winning are against them. They use a variety of strategies to keep you gambling longer. For example, they serve free drinks, which help to lower players’ inhibitions and cloud their judgment. In addition, the use of chips instead of cash creates a psychological disconnect between the money players are spending and their actual bankroll.
Martin Scorsese’s Casino does a fantastic job of showing the darker side of Las Vegas, something most movies only touch upon with the usual twinkly lights, opulence, and neon signs. Robert De Niro is outstanding as Sam “Ace” Rothstein and Sharon Stone is equally captivating as Ginger McKenna. But it’s the always-reliable Joe Pesci who steals the show as mobster Santoro, a man whose menace far exceeds his short frame. He makes every scene a gripping one. The movie runs for over three hours, but it never lags or runs out of steam. In fact, it’s one of the best thrillers I’ve ever seen. A must-see for any fan of crime dramas.