Casino is a riveting look at the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas. While most movies and shows only touch the surface of what the city is all about, Scorsese’s epic lays it all out in stunning detail. It’s got a little bit of everything, from the mafia to the opulence to the gambling. And of course it features Robert de Niro, who is arguably the best actor to ever take on a mob character. His performance here is a perfect blend of ruthlessness and charisma. The way he and Sharon Stone play off each other is so compelling. And then there’s Joe Pesci. His scene with Ginger McKenna when he turns into a hound after her is one of the most well-constructed scumbag plotlines ever put on film.
The film also dives into how casinos manipulate people to get them to gamble as much as possible. They use a combination of psychology and design to trick people into spending more money than they realize. For example, they often use chips or digital credits instead of cash to create a psychological disconnect between the player and their money. This makes it harder to track how much they’re spending. They also strategically place essential amenities like bathrooms and restaurants deep within the gaming floor so that players have to pass by numerous slots and tables on their way to them. Finally, they often give out free food and rooms to frequent players as a way to keep them gambling for longer periods of time.