Casinos are designed to be exciting, pulsing places where people drink and dance while trying their luck at games of chance. They are usually decorated with flashy, bright colors, often red, that are believed to stimulate the brain and make people lose track of time. They feature loud, upbeat music, and they have special rooms reserved for high rollers, whose gambling often totals in the tens of thousands of dollars. These gamblers are often given special accommodations, such as free suites and personal attention from the staff.

While a casino is a place for people to let loose and have fun, the gambling business has serious implications. In the twenty-first century, casinos are becoming choosier about who they allow to gamble in their establishments. They focus their investments on the “high rollers,” who spend much more than the average gambler and generate the most profit for the company. This strategy allows casinos to control their risk and avoid getting caught by federal authorities.

The movie is a compelling tale of corruption and crime. While there are no good guys in this story, we do feel sympathy for some of the characters, particularly Sharon Stone’s Ginger. She is a seductive creature who seems unable to do anything wrong. While she is a powerhouse as a hustler, she is also a tragic figure. Her character’s downfall is a sad ending to an epic story of greed and betrayal. Casino, a riveting and epic drama about Las Vegas, features masterful acting from Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.