The glamorous, flashy world of casinos is a place where champagne glasses clink and tourists mingle with locals over gambling games. But while elaborate themes, hotels, restaurants and other non-gambling attractions may draw in visitors, it’s the games themselves that are responsible for billions in annual profits. Here, we’ll take a look at the history of casino games, what makes a good one and how they make money.

People at a casino are a diverse bunch – you’ve got the regulars who strut around confidently, expecting to win big, and you’ve got the ones trying desperately to recoup their losses from their last trip. But, for the most part, they’re all there to have a good time! With music blaring and coins clinking, the atmosphere is intoxicating and you can’t help but get caught up in it.

Although Martin Scorsese’s Casino features a large cast of characters, Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone stand out as the sexy Ginger McKenna and the more refined Sam Rothstein. Joe Pesci adds a dash of danger as gangster Santoro, and the movie is a taut thriller that never lags or loses momentum. Even at almost three hours, it never feels long or over-extended.