A casino is a place where people play games of chance for money. The games of choice vary, from the classic table games like blackjack and poker, to more laid-back slot machines. The thrill of the game and the potential for big wins keeps people coming back. While the gambling aspect is the main draw, casinos also offer other luxuries to their guests such as restaurants and free drinks.

A lot of people might not consider themselves gamblers but the fact is, we all gamble in one way or another. We may not take weekend bus trips to the nearest casino but we do bet on sports events, or we might purchase lottery tickets at the local corner store. And, of course, there are those who play the tables for real money. People who are frequent visitors to a casino can be rewarded with comps – things such as hotel rooms, food, shows, or even airline tickets.

Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino is an epic story of the mob in Vegas and how it eventually got taken over by huge gambling corporations. Despite being almost three hours long, the movie never lags or runs out of steam. This is due in large part to the stellar cast led by Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci. The supporting cast is equally impressive with James Woods and Vinny Vella stealing scenes as low-life con-men.

While Casino focuses on the fictional Tangiers Casino, it still manages to capture the essence of Sin City. This is helped by a brilliantly constructed early sequence with deliberate echoes of Goodfellas’ Copacabana scene. The movie also showcases the inner workings of a casino, including the money counting room and the art of skimming off the till.