What is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment where games of chance are played. Casinos usually offer table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines. They may also have stage shows, free drinks and other entertainment to lure customers. Some of the world’s most famous casinos include the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco and Casino Lisboa in Portugal. The term “casino” is derived from the Italian word for little house, and early modern casinos were small private clubs where members could gather to play cards or other games of chance.

The large amount of money handled in a casino makes it tempting for patrons and staff to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, casinos spend a lot of time and money on security measures. Besides employing highly trained personnel, many casinos have elaborate surveillance systems. These often include cameras placed in the ceiling that provide a “view-in-the-sky” and can be focused on particular suspicious patrons.

In a film like Casino, where greed and corruption are the central themes, there is no room for good guys. But the performances of De Niro and Sharon Stone as the hustler Ginger McKenna make this movie an outstanding drama that’s well worth watching.