A casino is an exciting and fun place to be. It’s a place where champagne glasses clink, where locals and tourists mingle over drinks. It’s where people try their luck at gambling games like blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, and more. There is no telling when you’ll hit it big, but the thrill of taking that gamble and trying to win is what keeps people coming back.

The design of casinos is meant to encourage gamblers to spend more time and money in the establishment. This is why the rooms are usually designed with flashy decor and upbeat music. Additionally, casino guests can receive free goods and services (called comps) based on their spending habits. These can include anything from free hotel rooms and meals to tickets to shows and limo service. Casinos also make a lot of money by rewarding players who are big spenders.

Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci star in Casino, the spiritual sequel to Goodfellas that continues the filmmaker’s ongoing exploration of organized crime. But unlike the giddy thrill of his violent, profane crime dramas for which he’s become known, Scorsese tempers Casino’s bravura set pieces with a rueful sensibility that’s attuned to institutional systems of grift and graft.

There’s something about gambling that inspires some to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot. But there is an art to the game as well as a science. The best croupiers know how to read their customers and understand the nuances of the rules and strategies. They have a feel for the mood of the crowd, and they use this to their advantage in order to maximize their profits.