Casino (Movie Review)

Casino is one of the most riveting movies ever made about gambling and the mob. It is filled with betrayal and avarice, but it also depicts the inevitable downfall of criminals. This is a theme that Martin Scorsese explores often, but never better than in this film.

The movie focuses on Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is hired by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. His relationship with streetwise chip hustler Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) and his dealings with the mob are examined in great detail, as is his gradual decline.

Casino examines the complex web of crime and corruption that ran through Sin City, with tentacles reaching into politicians, Teamsters unions, and even the mafia centered in Chicago. It is based on the nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Martin Scorsese.

Although it is more of a drama than a true story, Casino still does a great job of showing what happens behind the scenes of a casino. To catch cheaters, casinos train dealers and other staff to look for telltale signs, and they have “eye-in-the-sky” video cameras in the ceilings. Additionally, modern casinos employ a variety of other tactics, including placing radio frequency identification tags on chips that alert security if they are moved from their original position. This is all done to protect the integrity of the games and prevent players from making irrational decisions that lead to losses.