Casinos have a lot of things going for them: elaborate themes, lighted fountains and shopping centers help draw in the crowds, but they’d be nothing without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, poker and other table games provide the billions of dollars in profits casinos rake in every year. Whether they’re legal or illegal, casinos attract thousands of people to gamble and play their favorite games every day.
Casino is one of the most realistic and revealing films about Sin City that has ever been made. It depicts the darker side of gambling, the mob influence and how a city that was once run by organized crime now mints its billions in profits.
Robert De Niro is superb as Ace Rothstein in Casino, and Sharon Stone is equally excellent as Ginger McKenna. Joe Pesci adds a welcome dash of danger as Santoro, and the scene where he tries to smuggle money out of a counting room is particularly compelling.
While the movies about Vegas focus on its glitz and glamour, casino culture is actually quite complicated. There’s a delicate balance between playing by the rules of the gaming commission and providing entertainment for the dollar(s) that guests want to spend there. Managing a casino requires navigating this fine line with skill and finesse. Casinos are also heavily regulated, and they have to be very careful about not attracting people who might be interested in cheating or stealing to maximize their profits.