When most people think of a casino, they envision twinkly lights, loud music, and the joy of gambling. But casinos are so much more than just an adult playground. They’re a place of learning and fun, providing an escape from daily stresses. In fact, the mere act of venturing into a casino can help humans cope with stress by encouraging the brain to release feel-good hormones that improve focus and concentration.

The movie Casino takes us deep into the heart of Vegas, showing the nitty gritty beneath the shiny veneer of opulence and neon. It’s a Mafia film, but it’s also a story of betrayal and destruction. The film’s cast is top notch, with Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone especially impressive. The violent scenes (including the torture of a man with a vice, and a car bomb that kills Nicky) are disturbing, but they’re not gratuitous. The real-life events that inspired the story are so resonant, they force the viewer to face their own weaknesses and fallibility.

Casino is a rare example of a movie that’s as concerned with history as it is with plot and character. It reveals how the Vegas machine allowed mobster characters like Ace and Ginger to flourish, then spit them out. It also shows how casinos skim money from other games, food service, and even the gift shops, and it tells the harrowing story of how one gangster tried to steal 25 percent of the slot-machine take and got jacked by two security guards.