Casinos are gambling establishments with a variety of gaming tables and slot machines, as well as restaurants, bars, hotels, and other amenities. They offer a high level of customer service and provide free items, called comps, to regular gamblers. The average casino customer is an older woman with above-average income, according to a 2005 study conducted by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS.
Casino is Martin Scorsese’s most violent movie, and it features scenes of torture and murder, but the director uses them for dramatic impact rather than shock value. It also lays bare the dark side of Las Vegas, contrasting the opulence and neon signs with the gangsters and mobster connections that run the city. This is a complex film that may not be as accessible as Goodfellas, but it is equally as captivating.
Although gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice being found in archeological sites, the idea of a casino as a place where people could find a wide variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century. The term “casino” is thought to come from Italian, referring to a small clubhouse where wealthy aristocrats would gather for social events. Gambling crazes swept Europe during this time, and casinos sprung up all over the world as people sought out new ways to test their luck. Casinos continue to thrive today, offering an ever-increasing variety of ways for people to try their luck.