Casino is a film that delves into the inner workings of a mob-run casino in Las Vegas. It follows the life of bookie Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) as he juggles an ambitious career, drug-addicted trophy wife Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone), and his friendship with loose-cannon Nicky Santoro. It is a complex, layered story of betrayal and destruction.

The film lays bare the corruption of the gambling industry, and it is one of the most important movies to have ever been made about this subject. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, deception and betrayal. It also reminds us that while gambling is entertaining, it is not a profitable way to make money, and the house always wins.

The movie also shows the rise of huge gambling corporations that have taken over the city of Las Vegas, and how they have changed the face of this once mob-controlled desert city. It is a movie of contrasts, and despite the brutality depicted, it does have a sense of nostalgia for the old Vegas. The film ends with images of the Tangiers being destroyed, and Ace laments that the town will never be the same. He remarks, “Today it works like Disneyland.” It is a bitter pill to swallow, but one that is necessary for a movie that looks at organized crime and gambling in this way.