After Goodfellas firmly established him as the master of mafia movies, Martin Scorsese took his talents to Las Vegas in Casino. Based on a nonfiction book by Nicholas Pileggi, who was given full access to the man who ran casinos for the mob and helped write the movie, Casino is an inside look at gambling and the mafia’s relationship with the city.
The film follows Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert who is recruited by the Chicago Outfit to oversee their daily casino operations in Las Vegas. He soon begins skimming from other games, food service, and the gift shops, and his rise to power is matched only by the damage he does to himself and others. The movie also features Sharon Stone as streetwise chip hustler Ginger McKenna, a significant step forward for women in Scorsese’s films.
While many people see gambling as a negative activity, it can actually be a great way to relieve stress. This is because the human brain releases feel-good hormones when playing casino games, which can help relieve stress and improve concentration and cognitive function. However, players should always remember to play within their bankrolls and never gamble more than they can afford to lose.
Although the casino business has some seedy backroom stereotypes, most large casinos are a safe environment for players to spend their money. They hire security guards to protect their patrons and monitor the activities that take place in their parking lots. Crime may occur near some casinos, but it is incredibly rare and the police are generally close by to prevent violence.