Casino — a place where the odds of winning are stacked against you. Every game has a built in advantage for the house that makes it impossible to walk out with more money in your wallet than you entered. It may be a small amount, less than two percent of the total bets placed, but it adds up over millions of rounds and is enough to fund elaborate hotels, fountains, towers and replicas of famous landmarks around the world.
While casinos are known for their opulence and neon lights, they also offer an experience that’s both intoxicating and exhilarating. Stepping inside is like stepping into an alternate reality, where glistening tables, flashy lights and the sound of clinking slot machines ring through the air. You might hear people chatting in the background and see them laughing around the table. The smell of cigarette smoke and cigars fills the room and you can’t help but want to try your luck!
Most movies don’t explore this darker side of the casino industry, instead focusing on the fun side of weekend getaways and partying. Casino takes a more in-depth look at the underbelly of Vegas gambling, highlighting the past ties to organized crime and showing how the opulence and bright lights can lure anyone into trying their luck at the table or machine. But it’s the film’s depiction of violence that’s most notable, with scenes ranging from a torture-by-vice sequence complete with popped eyeball to a graphically edited baseball bat beating. While many argue that Scorsese used the violence in Casino for style and shock value, it’s also a reminder of how a casino can encourage players to cheat or steal to get ahead.