While many movies focus on the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas, few have the guts to delve into the city’s dark history. Casino does just that, revealing how organized crime lost control of the desert city in the 1970s. This movie is a must-watch for anyone interested in the roots of gambling, the mob, and Vegas itself.
Casino is one of the longest films by Martin Scorsese but it never lags in the middle and remains lean, mean, and riveting till the end. Scorsese uses masterful editing and taut narration to keep the film at a pace that doesn’t allow audiences to lose interest.
It is important to know how much money you’re ready to lose before you go into the casino. Gambling isn’t designed to save people down on their luck; it is a form of entertainment and should be treated as such.
One of the most common mistakes gamblers make is following a losing bet with an even bigger one. This is known as the “sunk cost fallacy” and it leads to more losses than gains. Casinos use this psychological trick to keep players spending more and more money. They also use lights and sounds to create a sense of excitement and euphoria. This makes it hard for players to leave until they have won.
Casino is a gripping look at the mob life that takes Goodfellas up to 11. Robert De Niro is mesmerizing as Ace Rothstein, the gangster who funnels money out of the fictional Tangiers hotel for his bosses back east. Sharon Stone is equally stunning as Ginger, a woman who goes from high-end designer clothes to tackier white leather miniskirts as she descends into madness.