The glitzy and glamorous world of casino gambling is an amazing place. Champagne glasses clink and people mix in an energetic environment while they test their luck at a variety of games from poker to roulette. In addition, casinos often offer a full range of other entertainment options from food to live music and shows. Moreover, they usually provide a large number of jobs and help local economies.
Despite the seedy backroom gambling parlors in movies, most casinos are safe and well run. They attract millions of people from all over the country who want to enjoy their favorite games, eat good food and watch exciting shows or even win some money! While a few casino patrons may fall prey to gambling addiction, most do not. Nevertheless, the casino industry is not immune to the occasional violent incident.
Although some people may feel that they are simply lucky to win, the truth is that a casino’s built-in statistical advantage ensures that it will always make a profit. The edge can be lower than two percent, but it adds up over time. It is this profit that enables a casino to build elaborate hotels, fountains and replicas of famous monuments around the globe.
Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award winning Casino is a fascinating history lesson on the rise of Vegas from a town controlled by mafia-inspired crime to the mega gambling corporation it is today. The movie features Robert De Niro as mob boss and casino owner Sam Rothstein, Sharon Stone as blonde hustler Ginger McKenna and Joe Pesci as the ruthless Frank Santoro. The film’s depiction of treachery, violence and avarice makes it a compelling watch.