A casino is a building where people gamble and play games of chance. These games range from classic table games like blackjack and poker to slot machines and roulette. Some casinos also have a variety of other entertainment options, including live entertainment and top-notch hotels. The main attraction for most people, however, is the gambling.

The odds for each game are stacked against the players, and it’s rare for anyone to walk out of a casino with more money than they came in with. This is why many casinos are so heavily regulated, with sophisticated surveillance systems that offer a high-tech eye-in-the-sky view of every table, window, and doorway. In addition, most casinos have a team of security guards to monitor the action and keep an eye out for cheaters or other suspicious patrons.

Despite the movie’s hellacious violence (including a torture-by-popping-eyeball scene that had to be trimmed to avoid an NC-17 rating), Scorsese never lets Casino lose sight of its underlying theme: a wistful nostalgia for a Las Vegas gone bad. Much like Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls from a few years later, Casino posits that the old Sin City is dead and done for good, and that today’s Vegas resembles Disneyland.

To attract and retain patrons, casinos must create an environment that appeals to people’s emotions. The music, decor, and food are all designed to make people feel excited, upbeat, and a little bit reckless. Lighting is another important part of the atmosphere, as it affects how people perceive their surroundings and can help to set the mood for gambling.