A casino is a gambling establishment where guests can wager on games of chance for entertainment. Modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks for adults, with shopping centers, restaurants, hotels and elaborate themes to draw in the crowds. While lighted fountains, music shows and shopping malls are a big part of what draws people into casinos, the majority of the money that casinos rake in every year is from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance provide the thrills that attract visitors and make casinos a profitable business.

Gambling has been around in one form or another for millennia, and casinos were established over a century ago. Today, there are many famous casinos all over the world, from the glitzy Las Vegas Strip to the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany. Regardless of the location, though, most casinos are built with the same objectives in mind: to keep people gambling and coming back for more.

In Casino, De Niro stars as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a Jewish American gambling expert who manages the Tangiers casino in Las Vegas. As a front man for the Chicago Outfit, Ace works with mobster Nicky Santoro (Pesci) and seduces streetwise chip hustler Ginger McKenna (Stone). As his empire grows, Ace’s relationship with Nicky deteriorates and he faces a challenge from his own brother. With a nod to its gangster roots, Scorsese’s Casino is a frank and sometimes shocking look at the underbelly of Las Vegas.