After Goodfellas drilled deep into popular consciousness, Universal gave Martin Scorsese the green light to continue his organized crime series with Casino. With the star power of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci back on board, it seemed a safe bet for another bloody mafia saga.

While Casino isn’t without its bravura set pieces or its own brand of cinematic excitement, it’s also a movie about emptiness and loss. Even as it recounts the rise of mafia-run casinos and their gradual disintegration, it doesn’t feel like a valentine to a bygone era; more a rueful reminder of how quickly things can turn south in Vegas.

Gambling is a hobby and for most people it offers an opportunity to escape from the daily stressors of life and enjoy some fun. This is why so many people enjoy gambling games online -they can be played in the comfort of one’s own home. People also find escapism through hobbies, such as sports, movies, television shows and video games. These activities help to release feel-good hormones in the brain that relieve stress and improve concentration and cognitive function.

While some people are drawn to casinos because of the opulence and neon lights, others choose to gamble for money as a way of socializing with other people. The fact is, casino games are not only fun to play but can actually be quite beneficial for one’s mental health. Casinos can help to improve one’s mood by stimulating the brain with various stimuli and releasing feel-good chemicals, which in turn, reduces anxiety.