Casino
There’s one thing that’s certain in gambling: the house always wins. Even if you win big for a while, the odds are that eventually your play will match up with the house edge, and you’ll lose money. Casinos have a number of built-in advantages that ensure this happens. For instance, they often lack clocks and windows to make it harder for players to track time, so they’re more likely to keep playing. They also serve free drinks, which can be addictive and lead to poor judgment when betting.
Then there are the psychological tricks, like offering near-wins to keep players playing. These trigger the brain’s reward system, making them feel a jackpot is right around the corner. This keeps players glued to the tables, despite knowing that they’re losing. In this way, casinos are able to keep their profits.
Unlike other Mafia movies such as Mean Streets and GoodFellas, Martin Scorsese’s Casino is more interested in the city of Las Vegas than the gangsters who run it. This focus pays off, and the performances from a top-notch cast are powerful and convincing. Robert De Niro is perfect as low-level mobster Sam “Ace” Rothstein, and Joe Pesci adds menace to his portrayal of loose-cannon enforcer Nicky Santoro. But it’s Sharon Stone who steals the show as Sam’s trophy wife Ginger, a femme fatale opportunist who can’t resist a chance at easy money.