A casino is an establishment for gambling. Some casinos are operated by government-licensed operators and others are independent businesses. In most countries, casinos are legally required to provide patrons with a fair chance of winning. Generally, casinos are open 24 hours a day, and they offer various betting games including poker, baccarat, craps, roulette, slot machines, and more. Casinos are also known for providing complimentary items to gamblers, such as drinks and snacks. Some casinos feature live entertainment and some are located near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, and other tourist attractions.

Despite the flashing lights, free cocktails, and glamour of their interiors, casinos are built on a bedrock of mathematical probability engineered to slowly drain patrons of their cash. It is virtually impossible to win a large sum of money in a casino game without taking an enormous risk. Physicists have attempted to beat the house by using math and knowledge of probability theory, but they can only succeed in a very small percentage of cases.

This is the central theme of Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino, which stars Robert De Niro as Ace Rothstein, a ruthless mobster who tries to wrest control of his local casino from the corrupt underworld operators who run it. The movie’s supporting players, especially Sharon Stone as Ginger McKenna and Joe Pesci as the gangster Santoro, are equally compelling in their portrayals of underworld hustlers. But it is the chemistry between De Niro and Stone that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.