Casino is a movie that has a lot of the qualities of great films: It has a great cast (Robert De Niro, especially), it uses interesting characters engaging in compelling drama, and it shows how predatory life in the mafia could be. It doesn’t have the pizzazz of Goodfellas, but it has a more serious focus on how bad that kind of lifestyle is.

The movie is also a fascinating study in how casinos use technology to improve the quality of their gaming experience. While you may still find seedy backroom gambling parlors, most legalized casinos are fairly upscale places that offer gamblers a safe place to eat, drink, enjoy live entertainment or closed-circuit broadcasts and, of course, to try their luck at the tables. Casinos employ security guards, monitor parking lots, and have a centralized control room to supervise the games. Moreover, they usually make significant tax contributions to the community, which allows local politicians to maintain services or even fund new infrastructure projects instead of cutting other important programs or raising taxes elsewhere.

As a result, casinos are becoming more technologically advanced. Some of them use cameras to oversee table action; others use electronic systems to keep track of exact amounts wagered minute by minute, and to discover quickly any anomalies. Some even have video screens to enhance game play and provide sports betting in states where it’s legalized. In addition, they’re starting to incorporate more online components to their games.