Casino (disambiguation) is an establishment for gambling, most commonly a building or room in which people can gamble. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. They may also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports events. In military and non-military usage, a casino (Spanish) or Kasino (German) is an officers’ mess.

Casinos employ a large number of security personnel to keep watch over patrons and protect their assets. These employees are trained to spot a variety of cheating tricks, including palming, marking, and switching cards or dice. In addition, pit bosses and table managers watch over the games with a broader view of the entire table, ensuring that no one is stealing money or making suspicious betting patterns. Casinos also employ sophisticated surveillance systems with cameras that are able to adjust their focus to track specific patrons or particular areas of the casino.

While other movies portray the glitz and glamour of Vegas, Casino digs deep into the city’s history with organized crime to show how it became a modern financial powerhouse that mints billions of dollars in profit. This is also Martin Scorsese’s most violent movie, but the violence doesn’t feel gratuitous or for dramatic effect; it serves as a stark reminder that nothing in casinos should be taken for granted. De Niro and Sharon Stone give powerful performances, and Joe Pesci adds tension as the ruthless mobster.