A casino is a facility for gambling. Customers gamble by playing games of chance, or games involving skill, and the house collects a percentage of the money betted. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships. They may also be located in military installations or international border crossings. The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it has been around for thousands of years in various forms.
The film’s opening feels like a fast-cut documentary, with narration from real mobster Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro). Scorsese shifts gears in the first act, evolving away from the stylized documentary approach while maintaining an overall feel of realism.
Underneath the flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos are built on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. A few intrepid physicists have tried to turn the tables, using their knowledge of probability and game theory to beat the system.
The movie’s true story is compelling, and the performances are excellent. But Sharon Stone is especially impressive as Ginger McKenna, a low-level mobster who manages to rise above her circumstances. Then there’s Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro, the mob’s enforcer who goes head-to-head with Ace in a game of wits that plays out more like a revenge fantasy than a gangster thriller. The film’s themes are captivating, and it is a powerful depiction of how the mafia managed its relationship with Las Vegas.