You walk into a twinkly, noisy casino and your senses are stimulated by flashing lights, engaging sounds and the rush of the games. Each one offers a different type of thrill, whether the fast pace and strategic decisions in blackjack or the pure chance of rolling the dice. Casinos also offer a wide range of entertainment, from concerts with famous musical artists to world-class shows from Cirque du Soleil.

But a casino is a business and profits from the house edge, which means that in the long run, the house will win. If you don’t want to lose, then you have to know the odds of each game and how the house edge affects your chances of winning. You can also set win/loss limits, so that you don’t get carried away and start spending money you don’t have.

While it may lack the pizzazz of Goodfellas, Casino is a compelling drama about greed and corruption that is both fascinating to watch and deeply disturbing to contemplate. It also features a brilliant performance from Robert De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein and a terrific Sharon Stone as the feisty hustler that every man would love to have as a trophy wife. And Joe Pesci adds a menacing presence as a mobster who takes over the casino.