Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. Archeologists have found dice dating back to 2300 BC, while the first card game appeared around 800 AD. But casinos have taken things to the next level. The world’s best casinos are more than just a collection of games; they offer an experience. The best ones exude luxury and opulence and are home to some of the most popular casino games.
A casino’s brand is a crucial aspect of its success. This is why top brands work closely with gaming software providers to create a seamless, cohesive gambling experience. Top providers include NetEnt, Amatic, Pragmatic Play and Evolution Gaming. They also provide a range of payment options, including credit cards, e-wallets and mobile banking.
The glamour of casinos goes well beyond flashing lights and free drinks. Beneath the surface, casinos are mathematically engineered to slowly bleed players of cash. While some mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables, the house edge will eventually win out in the long run.
Robert De Niro gives an outstanding performance as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, the mob-backed manager of the Tangiers hotel (which became the Stardust for this film). The movie centers on his relationship with feisty hustler Ginger McKenna, played by Sharon Stone. Her arc is both builds on and inverts her career-making turn in Basic Instinct; she’s a perpetual motion machine, holding—and sometimes leading—the camera’s gaze. And if the story isn’t always as gripping as it could be, Scorsese’s ambivalence comes through in the truly hellacious violence—including a torture-by-vice sequence involving a popped eyeball and a hammy baseball bat beating.