A casino is a place where people go to gamble and play games of chance. Some of the best casinos are famous worldwide for their lavish accommodations, dazzling fountain shows, and luxury amenities. Others are known for their opulent interiors and impressive collection of art. And some are even home to legendary gambling games like roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and poker.
Casino: the Movie
When you walk into a twinkly, noisy casino, there is no space for a solitary good guy. Everybody is mired in greed and treachery. Some are regulars who strut around with confidence, expecting to win big; some are just trying to win back what they lost on the last spin. But whatever their personal ambitions, all of them share one thing: a desire to have fun. With music blaring and coins clinking, it’s hard not to be caught up in the excitement.
But beneath the surface, there is much more to a casino than a buzzing atmosphere and glitzy rooms. There are the rules of mathematics. Each game has a built-in advantage designed to ensure that the house wins over time. This mathematical probability is known as the house edge, and it helps to explain why, over time, most people lose money at a casino.
But Scorsese doesn’t merely rehash his familiar themes of mafia-era violence and family ties. He also reveals how huge gambling corporations took over Sin City, turning the town into a family-friendly theme park.