Many movies about casinos show a glamorous side of the gaming industry, with neon signs and lavish settings. But only Casino offers a glimpse of the real world behind the scenes, with its seedy ties to organized crime and its many other dark corners. The movie is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the business of gambling.
The movie is not for the faint of heart, as it features plenty of violence and a fair share of gore. But the violence is not gratuitous and is intended to be a realistic representation of how things really are in a casino. The torture of a man with a vice, the attempted murder of De Niro with a gun and the burial of Joe Pesci in a cornfield are all taken from actual events in the lives of these casino moguls.
Casino is also the first film to expose the many ways that casinos manipulate their players. For example, a casino might offer free food and drinks to attract customers, but it will also take steps to keep them from winning too much money. It does this by adjusting the odds of the games in their favor.
Casinos can also give gamblers comps for their play, but these are usually only given to people who spend a lot of time at the table or slot machines. These comps can include free hotel rooms, dinners and tickets to shows. The most loyal gamblers may even get limo service and airline tickets.