Beneath the veneer of flashing lights and free drinks, casinos are rigged systems engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. For years mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables by using probability theory and game theory, but in the end the only real way to beat a casino is simply not to play.

Whether they are online or brick and mortar establishments, casinos must be profitable to remain solvent. They rake in billions of dollars every year for the corporations, investors, and Native American tribes that own and operate them. In addition, state and local governments benefit from gambling revenues through taxes, fees, and payments to service providers. And, like all businesses in a capitalist economy, casinos are in business to make money.

With a strong cast headed by two of the decade’s most acclaimed actors in Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci (reuniting for the first time since Raging Bull), Martin Scorsese’s Casino was an immediate smash hit. It captured a moment when violent, profane criminality was in vogue thanks to Quentin Tarantino’s breakthrough and Goodfellas, and it introduced mainstream audiences to the world of organized crime.

Despite its epic length, the film never sags or runs out of steam. With masterful editing and taut narration, Casino is a lean and mean thriller from beginning to end.