Casinos are establishments where people can gamble and play games of chance or skill for money. They also offer other amenities like restaurants, luxury spas, swimming pools, and shopping boutiques. Some casinos have multiple gaming floors while others feature themed architecture and decor such as the Venice-inspired Venetian Macau in China or London’s Hippodrome Casino in the UK. Casinos are regulated by the government and often have loyalty or rewards programs to encourage repeat business.
Robert De Niro delivers his best performance as Sam “Ace” Rothstein in this riveting drama based on real events that shaped the gambling history of Las Vegas. Shot in a style that evokes the tacky 1970’s period decor, Scorsese draws us into the story with energy and pace. He’s not afraid to show us the little moments – the way Ace orders the casino cooks to put “exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin”; Lester hustling Ginger at her wedding; and the gangster’s plane making an emergency landing on a golf course.
As its name suggests, Casino is about the mafia’s relationship with gambling in Las Vegas. It lays bare an intricate web of corruption that extended to politicians, the Teamsters unions, the Chicago mob, and a Midwest mafia based in Kansas City. The movie is filled with avarice, treachery, and violence, and there are no good guys. But, thanks to a marvelous cast, especially Sharon Stone as the blonde hustler Ginger McKenna, it’s still an entertaining and informative watch.
