The modern casino is an entertainment complex that provides a wide range of experiences. It’s a glamorous destination with lighted fountains, high-end hotels, luxurious accommodations and breathtaking art displays. The centerpiece, however, is gambling. Games of chance – such as slots, blackjack, poker and roulette – provide the billions in profits that casinos rake in every year.
While the thrill of winning a jackpot is enough to draw many people to the casino floor, there are other factors that keep them there. For example, the dazzling lights and joyful sound of slot machines create a manufactured sense of bliss that can keep people coming back to gamble. Moreover, many casinos reward their best players with comps – free goods and services like hotel rooms, dinners and show tickets.
Although some gamblers are able to beat the house edge and walk out with more money than they put in, most lose money in the long run. The odds for most casino games are stacked against the player, so even a short winning streak is unlikely to offset that.
Martin Scorsese’s Casino is a riveting look at the mob’s decade-long grip on Vegas and the eventual rise of massive gambling corporations. It may be three hours long, but it never lags or becomes monotonous. Starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone, this film is an epic history lesson that demonstrates how the mafia’s power slowly lost ground to capitalism.
