Gambling 101 – How to Beat the Odds at Casinos

Casino is a 1992 American epic crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the film’s screenplay with the director. The movie portrays the tangled web of organized crime in and around the city of Las Vegas during the 1990s. The story involves mob ties to local politicians, the Teamsters union and the Midwest mafia. Casino is considered to be one of the most violent movies ever made by Scorsese, but its violence is not for shock value; rather it is used as a tool to depict the corrupt nature of the underworld.

Gambling in casinos is exciting and fast-paced, but it’s important to remember that casinos are businesses and not charitable organizations giving free money away. Each game has a mathematical expectancy, or house edge, that ensures the casino a positive gross profit. It is possible for players to beat the odds and win some money, but it’s very difficult.

Generally, the more a gambler bets and plays, the better their chances of winning are. Casinos often reward their best players with complimentary gifts and services such as hotel rooms, tickets to shows or even limo service and airline tickets. These are referred to as comps. Casinos calculate the amount of time a player spends at the table or slot machines and divide it by the average wager size to determine their comp level.