Casino – The Dark Side of Las Vegas

Casino is a film that doesn’t hold back in showing the dark side of Las Vegas and its long history of mob ties and corruption. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this gambling epic has a cast of great actors that includes Robert De Niro in a role that’s all about greed and treachery as well as the always reliable Sharon Stone in her turn as Ginger McKenna. Joe Pesci is also on hand to add a measure of menace that makes his character, Santoro, a force to be reckoned with.

The Casino story begins on the casino floor, where security measures are put in place to prevent cheating. This involves a large number of employees, who keep their eyes on the patrons to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. The dealers are trained to spot blatant palming and marking of cards or dice, while table managers and pit bosses have a broader view of the tables to catch any betting patterns that could signal cheating. All of this is done under the constant supervision of high-tech surveillance equipment that can monitor all movements and activity on the casino floor.

Outside of the gambling facility itself, casinos often include dining and beverage facilities as well as performance venues where jazz, rock and other popular music artists come to play for casino guests. In addition, some have pools and spas and other luxurious amenities that help draw in gamblers looking for a more upscale experience than they’d find at a standard brick-and-mortar establishment.