People who visit casinos share one thing in common – they are there to have a good time. The atmosphere is upbeat and exciting with music blaring, coins clinking and the opulent decor of shiny statues and tables. Casinos offer a rush that is unmatched and can make even the most jaded person feel a little more alive. There is something about the potential for winning big money and the energy that surrounds it that brings people back again and again.
Although casinos have evolved from their original locations in riverboats and taverns to the massive complexes of today, they still retain many of their traditions. Many of them offer free drinks and stage shows in addition to gambling and betting. Casinos also provide comps, a form of free goods and services that are offered to loyal patrons in return for their spending habits. These incentives can include anything from dinners and show tickets to hotel rooms, airline tickets or limo service.
The casino business is based on the idea that more risk-taking equals more money. To encourage more gamblers to place bets, casinos often have their games set up in a maze-like way with complicated and tightly packed arrangements of games. They also tend to have low ceilings and no windows near the gaming areas to block out distractions. Some casinos even prohibit dealers from wearing watches because they want the players to lose track of time and keep playing longer.
Casinos have long been a hub of organized crime activity. The mob had a presence in almost every city and town where gambling was legal. In some cases, the mob owned the casinos and controlled the payouts. This made the casinos a magnet for criminals and corrupt politicians. Scorsese’s Casino is more than just a movie about the mafia and Vegas; it is a history lesson on how huge gambling corporations took over Sin City.
Unlike other Vegas movies that only scratch the surface of the glitz and glamour, Casino is a movie about the seedy underbelly. The movie reveals how the mob ran Vegas with tentacles reaching to corrupt politicians, Teamsters unions and the Chicago mafia based in Kansas City. It also reveals the rot in the gambling industry that led to scandals and cheating.
The film has its share of twists and turns and it is hard to know who to root for in the end. But it is a great watch. The cast is excellent and the story is well-constructed. It is worth seeing for those who love a good drama and want to get the real scoop on Vegas history. It is also a must-see for anyone who wants to see how the film industry has changed over time.