If you’re like me, when you hear the word “casino,” you picture a twinkly and noisy place where you roll dice or spin a wheel to see if lady luck is on your side. Gambling in its various forms, from the casual game of craps to a more complex table game such as baccarat has been a part of human civilization for millennia.
The best casino games have some element of skill to them, such as blackjack or video poker, but in general casinos operate on the assumption that their customers are essentially playing against chance. Most of their profits come from the rake, which is a percentage of money that players lose when they play against the house. Other revenues come from a variety of promotional activities such as food and drink sales, souvenirs, and gambling comps.
While most casino movies rely on the cliché of opulent ambiance and neon signs to portray Las Vegas, Casino goes a step further by addressing the city’s past ties with organized crime. The film lays bare the web of corruption that centered in the city, with tendrils that reached politicians, Teamsters unions, and mob families based out of Chicago.
Despite the fact that they are not immune to the occasional scandal, large, professionally run casinos tend to have positive effects on their home communities. For one thing, they generate significant tax revenue for local governments. Another advantage is that they create jobs. However, it is important to note that just comparing changes in local unemployment rates before and after the opening of a casino can give a misleading picture. It is also important to consider population changes and local business trends when analyzing these effects.
