With flashing lights, free drinks and crowded tables, casinos seem like a lot of fun. But beneath all that veneer lies a system of mathematical odds designed to slowly bleed patrons of their money. Casino is an expertly constructed thriller that examines this institutional system of grift. It may lack the pizzazz of Goodfellas or the star power of Basic Instinct, but it’s a film with well-defined characters engaging in compelling drama.
Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) is the kingpin of the world’s most glamorous casino, the Venetian in Macao, which covers over 550,000 square feet. He knows all the ins and outs, who to pay off, and how to manipulate people. He even has a smart hustler girlfriend in Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone).
Like any casino game, gambling involves risk-taking and a degree of luck, but the house has an edge, which is defined by the mathematics of the games. The house edge can be shaved down by careful play, but even then a player will lose more than they win. Casinos know this and are constantly on the lookout for cheaters.
To keep their bottom line healthy, casinos employ an arsenal of technology to monitor players. Chip tracking allows them to oversee bets minute by minute, and computer systems regularly analyze roulette wheels to discover any statistical deviations. But the best defense against cheating is a tight security net. Security guards are on the lookout for anyone who might try to steal anything, especially from the slot machines.