CASINO: a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance and provides services like food, beverages and stage shows to its patrons. Most casinos are located in cities where tourism is a major industry and attracts visitors from all over the world. Casinos are designed to be exciting, lively places where people can let loose and get a buzz on. They usually feature bright and flashy decor, pulsing music and plenty of drinks and food to fuel the excitement. They also offer a variety of games to choose from and are often staffed with friendly dealers.

Casinos make money by offering gamblers a certain amount of odds on each bet. Typically, the more money that is wagered on a particular game, the lower the probability of winning that game. High rollers, who make large bets and spend a lot of time at the tables, are rewarded with comps such as free dinners, show tickets, hotel rooms, limo service or airline tickets if they are deemed to be good players.

There is something about gambling that seems to encourage the human tendency to cheat, steal and scam. This is why casinos spend so much time and effort on security. But there is also a more subtle aspect to casino security. The routines and patterns of casino games have a way of creating a familiarity with the environment that makes it easier for security to spot irregularities. The pacing of Casino, the cast (including Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone), the music and the lighting are all terrific but I think that, mutatis mutandis, it could have been any other Scorsese flick.