A casino is a gambling establishment where gamblers place bets on games of chance and win or lose money based on the outcome. It also provides drinks, restaurants, entertainment and a chance to socialize with others. A casino is usually a lavish, noisy place with flashy decor and neon signs. It may have many different tables where people can play poker, blackjack or roulette. It can also have a variety of slot machines which are often easier to play and provide a faster experience.
Unlike other epic crime dramas, Casino is less concerned with how big the mob was or its connections to other organized criminals in New York and Chicago. The film was written by Nicholas Pileggi and directed by Martin Scorsese, and it is a fact-based account of how Las Vegas casinos became tangled in an inescapable web of corruption that touched local politicians, Teamsters unions, and Midwest mafia factions.
Like other Scorsese movies, Casino is a bit overlong at three hours but it never lags. The cast is led by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci who perfectly portray sleazy mobster types, but it’s Sharon Stone who steals the show as prostitute Ginger. It’s a remarkable performance that shows why she is one of the best actors working today. Throughout the movie, Casino reveals how the mob lost control of the city while it simultaneously gives us a glimpse of what makes Vegas so unique. It’s a fascinating tale of the good, the bad and the ugly of a once-great city that continues to reinvent itself.