A casino is a place where champagne glasses clink and tourists and locals mingle. It’s a place that can be thrilling and exciting or depressing and demoralizing depending on the luck of the draw. However, casinos make their money from more than just gambling. They also earn from food, entertainment, and other venues. But the main source of revenue is the games themselves. This makes it important for casinos to promote responsible gaming. With features like deposit limits and self-exclusion tools, they can help people control their gambling habits.
Few movies can boast the depth and breadth of Casino, Martin Scorsese’s sprawling epic about Vegas and its mafia era. But the movie doesn’t confuse its protagonists for dashing underworld heroes. De Niro plays Ace, a tough guy who’s principled enough to refuse to assist the FBI in their investigation of Nicky. And Sharon Stone is the movie’s emotional anchor as Ginger McKenna, a woman who revels in her ability to seduce men.
Despite all the flash and the glitz, though, Casino is ultimately a human drama about greed and corruption. The sleazy characters in this movie aren’t likable, and they’re often downright repugnant. But they’re also incredibly realistic, and their scenes of violence, treachery, and avarice ring true. And if these characters didn’t get their comeuppance in the end, we would all be very disappointed. Even so, the movie remains entertaining and compelling, thanks to a dynamite cast and Scorsese’s typically flawless direction.