A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a range of card and gambling games. These gambling establishments also feature top-tier restaurants and entertainment. Many of the world’s most famous casinos are known for their opulence, neon signs, and large-scale architecture. Casinos have been around for millennia, with evidence of gambling first appearing in 2300 BC China. It wasn’t until the 1400s, though, that the first game still played today- blackjack-first appeared.

Casino is Martin Scorsese dialing Goodfellas up to 11. With its back-and-forth narration dumps between Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) and his mob elders, the film lays bare the way the mafia controlled Vegas. It also shows how huge gambling corporations eventually took over the desert city.

The movie’s length is a bit daunting, but it never lags. Thanks to Scorsese’s expert editing and taut narration, Casino feels lean and mean throughout. It’s also one of the few movies that truly capture the essence of Vegas, with its lurid over-the-topness and morality carwash.

While most people think of casinos as places to gamble, they’re so much more than that. Casinos have become a cultural icon, and there are several ways that they attract and keep customers. Here are some of the most common tactics that casinos use to make you stay longer and spend more money.