Casino is an entertainment complex that houses a variety of games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, slot machines and more. Some casinos also have restaurants, bars and hotels and other amenities. These attractions are designed to make people feel good, and it’s no surprise that these casinos are so popular around the world.

Every aspect of a casino is designed to lead patrons into spending their money. The lights, sounds and physical design work together to create an environment that’s inviting and hard to step away from. This is a casino’s ultimate goal. Patrons walk in brimming with confidence and their wallets filled with cash, and they’re hoping for a little bit of enjoyable, sensible gambling and maybe two rounds of drinks. Hours later, they have no idea what time it is or how much they’ve lost.

This is exactly the feeling that Martin Scorsese wanted to evoke with his 1995 masterpiece, Casino. It was a spiritual sequel to Goodfellas and reunited the star duo of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, and at a time when violent, profane crime dramas were all the rage (as they’re again today thanks to auteurs like Quentin Tarantino). Casino isn’t afraid to show its audience the brutality of casino life, but it does so with an air of resignation. Vegas may be a hellscape, but it’s also the place where people have fun. And that’s why so many people keep coming back.