A casino is a gambling establishment where players can play various games of chance for money. These games may include baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and poker. Many casinos also offer opulent decor and fine dining.
Gambling in one form or another has been part of human culture for millennia. The earliest evidence comes from wooden blocks used for chance games in 2300 BC China, followed by dice in 500 BC and card games in 800 AD. The modern casino, on the other hand, first appeared in Las Vegas in the 1950s. Since then, it has spread to all parts of the world. The modern-day casino is a mesmerizing place of flashing lights, free cocktails, and the pulsing beat of the music. But underneath the gloss, casinos are built on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed patrons of their hard-earned cash.
The movie Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, presents a brutally honest portrait of greed and corruption that is both mesmerizing and incredibly entertaining. Although the film does not contain any sympathetic characters, it is nevertheless a deeply moving portrayal of human tragedy.
This Martin Scorsese masterpiece is a classic example of the power and depth of this master filmmaker’s work. It demonstrates that, unlike some of his contemporaries, Scorsese is not afraid to depict a darker side of life. The film is also a testament to the greatness of his star pairing and the skill of his long time collaborators such as editor Thelma Schoonmaker.