A casino is a gambling establishment that offers card and table games to individuals who want to place wagers. Unlike other types of gambling, which depend mostly on luck, casinos also incorporate elements of skill into their games.
The central area of a casino is the gaming floor, which features table games such as blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines. These devices allow players to win a substantial amount of money. However, winning big requires patience and time management, as there is always a chance that the next spin will be your last.
Casinos use various tricks to encourage players to gamble longer and more often. For instance, they often lack clocks and windows to prevent players from noticing how much time has passed. They also offer free drinks, which may seem like a perk but actually helps them make more money by keeping players inebriated and making them more likely to make poor judgments that can cost them more money.
As with his other Mafia movies (Mean Streets and GoodFellas), Scorsese packs Casino with a wealth of details that feel authentic, from the tacky 1970s décor to the low-level hoods’ meticulous accounting. He also makes the characters’ avarice and treachery relatable, despite their horrific actions. The movie is ultimately a tale of human tragedy, with everyone getting their comeuppance in the end.