A place where people gamble and play games of chance. Casinos are often large establishments, and many offer a wide variety of games. Some casinos specialize in certain games, such as poker or blackjack, which require some skill. Others offer a mix of games, including slots and roulette. Many casinos also have restaurants, spas, and other entertainment venues.
Something about the presence of large amounts of money seems to encourage both patrons and staff members to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently. To combat this, most casinos have extensive security measures. For example, cameras placed throughout the casino provide a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” view of the entire facility. They can be adjusted to focus on particular suspicious patrons by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of security monitors.
In addition to the security cameras, some casinos have a special system that detects the slightest statistical deviations in the payouts of their slot machines. This information is transmitted back to the casino, where management can take action if needed.
Although Casino features some shocking scenes (such as the torture of De Niro’s character with a vice, and the death by overdose of Sharon Stone’s character), Scorsese does not use violence for shock value or style. He is faithfully depicting a world of treachery and avarice, and it is an effective and compelling portrayal.