Casino (Movie Review)

The gambling industry has a number of built-in advantages that guarantee that the house will win. These advantages, called the “house edge,” make it nearly impossible for casino patrons to beat the house. Even the most successful casinos can lose money, and many go bankrupt. Unlike most other businesses, casinos compete with other casinos, non-gambling resorts, on-line gaming and an illegal gambling business that’s much larger than the legal one.

Casino is an epic crime drama set in the world of Las Vegas casino mogul Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro). The movie also stars Sharon Stone as Ginger McKenna, a blonde hustler who seduces men and manipulates their gambling habits. It’s a star-studded cast, but Stone and De Niro give the movie its force. With a taut script and masterful editing, Casino never lags or runs out of steam. At three hours long, it’s one of Martin Scorsese’s longest movies, but it remains a lean and mean thriller all the way through.

Casino has a lot to say about the nature of gambling. It is a competitive, often corrupt industry where the house always wins and players are lured by flashy lights and lavish inducements. It also encourages people to steal and cheat in order to gain an advantage over their opponents, which is why casinos invest a great deal of time and money on security. They also offer a variety of games that challenge the gambler’s skills and strategy, including poker, blackjack and roulette.