Whether you’re an experienced gambler or a complete novice, there are few things that can compare to the thrill of gambling at a casino. It’s a place where champagne glasses clink and tourists and locals mingle, creating an incredible atmosphere all around. In addition, there’s the potential for big wins that can make the whole experience even more exciting.

Although modern casinos offer a number of amenities that help draw in customers, they are still primarily places to play games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and other games generate billions in profits for casinos every year. While restaurants, dazzling stage shows and shopping centers may add to the overall appeal of a casino, they aren’t what draws in most of the customers.

In order to determine the odds of winning a particular game, casino employees use mathematicians and computer programmers known as gaming analysts. These people are able to calculate the house edge and variance for different types of games. Having this information gives the casino an idea of how much money it will make and how large of a bankroll it will need to keep the casino running.

Martin Scorsese’s Casino is a brilliant example of how a movie can capture the glitz, glamour and dark underbelly of Las Vegas. While other movies have tended to focus on the partying and weekend getaways that Las Vegas is famous for, this film goes deeper and exposes the corruption in the city, revealing its deep ties to organized crime.