If you think about gambling, you probably imagine a roomful of twinkly lights and people rolling dice in hopes that luck will smile on them. After all, it’s a billion-dollar industry that continues to attract new customers and generate huge revenue each year. Yet, it’s not as simple as just showing up at a casino and hoping for the best.
Beneath the veneer of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos are rigged to slowly bleed their patrons of their hard-earned money. While some games do offer an element of skill (like blackjack), most are pure chance, and the house is guaranteed to win in the long run. This built-in advantage, called the house edge, is mathematically determined and can be easily calculated by anyone who understands probability theory.
While some of the violence in Casino is over-the-top, it faithfully portrays real-life criminal activities. The infamous car bomb scene, De Niro’s tortured body and the death by overdose of Sharon Stone’s character are all true to life.
Casino also shows the corruption that tainted Vegas in the 1990s. While other movies only scratch the surface of Sin City, Scorsese lays bare its history and how it lost its mafia roots. In addition, his stars deliver outstanding performances. De Niro is believable as a principled old-school operator, while Pesci brings menace to the role of gangster Santoro. The cast is rounded out by a terrific supporting cast. In addition, the film’s editing and taut narration keep the three-hour running time riveting throughout.