A casino is a gambling establishment that houses games of chance, some of which require an element of skill. Slot machines, poker, blackjack and other games provide the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos every year. While musical shows, lighted fountains and lavish hotels draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without gambling and it is the games of chance that are at the core of their operation.

The casinos’ goal is to encourage gamblers to spend money repeatedly in order to win big payouts. To achieve this, the environment must be enjoyable and stimulating, so that patrons will keep coming back for more. A number of factors are considered when designing a casino, including lighting, music, and the visual and audio systems.

One of the most important factors is security. Casinos invest a lot of time and money in ensuring their patrons are safe and the property is protected. In addition to hiring armed security guards, many casinos also have elaborate surveillance systems that give them an eye-in-the-sky view of every table, change window and doorway. Elaborate casino security also includes pit bosses and table managers who watch over the tables with a broader perspective and can spot suspicious betting patterns that could signal cheating.

Casino has some bravura set pieces, but it also has a distinctly rueful sensibility that is carefully attuned to institutional systems of grift. While Ace is a heartless son of a bitch, he also seems to be guided by some kind of demagnetized moral compass that keeps him from abandoning his old ways.