Beneath the flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos are an intricate system of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed patrons of cash. For years mathematically inclined minds have attempted to turn the tables, using their knowledge of probability and game theory to exploit weaknesses in a system that is essentially rigged from the start.
The first thing you notice when you walk into a casino is the sheer number of gaming tables and machines. Even bathrooms are located deep within the building, forcing you to pass many more opportunities to press your luck.
Gambling has been around for millennia, with archeological evidence of dice appearing in 2300 BC China, and the first card games showing up in Europe in the 1400s (baccarat and blackjack being two of the oldest). But unlike many other forms of gambling, casino games do not have any skill element to them; they are strictly chance-based with a house advantage that is uniformly negative from a player’s perspective.
This is the world that Casino reveals, and while the movie may seem sensational at times, it’s not merely for shock value. Scorsese uses his movie to bare the truth about the mafia-centered city of Las Vegas, and the sprawling corruption that reached out to politicians, union bosses, and even the Teamsters. De Niro and Sharon Stone are both excellent in their roles, and Joe Pesci adds a level of menace that is hard to match.