Modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks for adults. They draw in visitors with glitzy shows, shopping centers and lavish hotels, but they wouldn’t exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack and the like generate billions of dollars in profits each year. They are what bring in gamblers to spend their hard-earned money for a chance at winning big. But is it all about luck?

In Casino, Robert De Niro plays Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a savvy casino operator who operates with both principle and pragmatism. He’s a man who knows the risks of loving and trusting anyone, but he is unflinching when it comes to his gambling empire.

Similarly, he scoffs at the idea that he’s being targeted by the FBI for taking illegal bribes and skimming off the Tangiers’ till, but he won’t deny that his wife Ginger is a seductive smart-aleck who can keep a guy awake “for two or three days.”

Casino is a slyly provocative drama that shows how love and loyalty can be played to one’s advantage in a world where nothing should be left to chance. Whether or not you agree with its conclusions, the movie is well worth your time.