A casino is a building where people can gamble and play games of chance. Many states legalized gambling in the 1990s and cities like Las Vegas saw a boom in tourism from across the United States and other parts of the world. Modern casinos have evolved into more than just a place to gamble, with many offering top-notch restaurants, hotels and entertainment.
Something about the presence of large sums of money encourages some people to cheat, steal and scam their way into winning a jackpot instead of simply trying their luck at random. This is why casinos spend so much time and effort on security.
Despite the movie’s bravura set pieces and a few moments of filmmaking excitement, Scorsese never lets Casino lose sight of its grim subtext. De Niro is the picture of a beaten-down underworld hero, but he refuses to give up. He may have lost everyone who ever rightfully loved or trusted him and he may be bankrupt, but he is still playing the game because that’s what he knows best.
Casino is also elevated by the performance of Stone, who plays a character similar to Basic Instinct’s Catherine Tramell. Her ability to seduce and control men gives her an aura of invincibility that helps her make up for her lack of acting chops. The fact that she is a real-life stripper also makes her seem less artificial than a Hollywood actress would be. This combination of factors made the movie a massive hit at a time when violent and profane crime was at a peak in popular culture.