Casinos provide entertainment through games of chance and the possibility of winning a jackpot or prize. These attractions, in addition to a luxurious atmosphere and a wide variety of food and drink options, are what attract people to these gambling establishments. The social aspect of casino visits also entices people to play with friends and colleagues, creating lasting memories.

Gambling in one form or another has been around for millennia. Evidence of dice from 2300 BC, the first card games in 500 AD and baccarat in the 1400s all indicate that human beings have been seeking to manipulate the odds and increase their wealth for thousands of years.

Casino

Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci both give outstanding performances in this true story of organized crime in Vegas. While the movie has a few over-the-top scenes (Ace’s torture by the mob, his car bombing and subsequent death in an elevator) these events did happen to the real-life characters featured in the film. Sharon Stone is equally memorable as the feisty hustler Ginger McKenna, who seduces Sam Rothstein into running the Tangiers hotel and casino with mob backing.

Casino is a thrilling and compelling look at the underbelly of Sin City. Martin Scorsese’s direction is masterful, from the opening scene with a car bomb to the movie’s conclusion. His use of fast-cut editing and documentary style in the early scenes is a great way to evoke the reality of these mobster activities. The narration eventually evolves into a more traditional style as the movie progresses.