Casino is a riveting thriller that focuses on the mobs grip on Vegas in the 1980s. The film depicts how the mafia slowly lost control of a city that was minting billions in revenue. It also shows how the gambling industry replaced the mob as the largest source of wealth in Vegas. Martin Scorsese does a magnificent job of keeping the film from dragging in the middle or losing steam towards the end. He also manages to keep the movie lean and mean for its nearly three-hour length.
Whether they are roulette, blackjack, or slot machines, casino games provide an exciting challenge to anyone willing to take the plunge. The dazzling lights, the sound of clinking slots and the smell of scented oils creates a manufactured sense of bliss that makes players want to stay longer and gamble more. Some casinos even employ a team of mathematicians who work to calculate the house edge and variance of casino games to help them maximize their profits.
Although some of the more exotic Far Eastern games like sic bo are available in many American and European casinos, the most common games are baccarat, craps, poker, blackjack, and roulette. Some of these games require a certain degree of skill, but most are not competitive against other players. The casinos earn money by offering a commission to winning players, known as the rake. In addition, they often give out free spectacular entertainment, luxury transportation and living quarters to the biggest bettors as a way of encouraging them to stay and play for hours.