Casino is an epic tale of greed, treachery and betrayal. The film focuses on the mafia’s attempts to control the gambling business of Vegas but ultimately loses ground to real estate investors, hotel chains and large casinos. The story is told through a narrow lens but still manages to keep the action moving at a fast pace until its satisfying conclusion. Director Martin Scorsese is in full form throughout and keeps the movie a lean, mean thriller.
There are four things that come together to make a game profitable, its popularity, its odds, the skill of the player and pure luck. Casinos spend a huge amount of time, money and effort on security to ensure that these four factors are in balance. Casino security starts on the floor, where pit bosses and managers keep their eyes peeled for any blatant cheating or stealing. Then there are the table managers who look over the tables, making sure that players are not stealing money from each other and watching for suspicious betting patterns. Then there are the surveillance cameras which watch all the tables from above, allowing personnel to monitor every bet minute by minute, and quickly spot any statistical deviations from their expected results.
Casinos also use a variety of other techniques to create a manufactured euphoric experience for their patrons, including wafting fragrant oils in the ventilation system and lighting them with dazzling colors. This combined with the joyful sounds of slot machines and stage shows creates a fabricated ambiance that keeps people playing.