Gambling is a popular pastime that has been around for millennia and is found in almost every society on earth. Its precise origin is unknown but it is believed that gambling was first introduced in Ancient Mesopotamia. Since then the game has evolved into a number of forms and variations. The most popular among them is slot machines. In fact, some casinos have entire areas dedicated to these devices. These facilities are usually equipped with a variety of slot games and other gaming machines. They also have food and beverage outlets, and are often located in cities and tourist destinations.
The most famous casino is in Monte Carlo, Monaco but it is not the largest. That honor goes to WinStar World Casino and Resort in Oklahoma City, USA. This massive facility covers an area of over 600,000 square feet. It houses over 3,000 slot machines and other gaming devices. In addition, it has several restaurants and hotels as well as an entertainment theater. It is a very popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
While some critics claim that Casino is too long and stodgy, others praise the film for its thematic depth and the performances of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. It is a harsh movie about the Sicilian Mafia but it rises above the usual mean-spirited gangster fare and conveys a sense of grandeur that transcends a simple celebration of ’70s crime culture.
Like Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls of the same year, Casino is not just set in Sin City but about it. The film takes us inside the money-counting room of the mighty Tangiers, where skimming the till is an art form that Ace countenances as long as the kickbacks go to his old-school bosses in Kansas City.
Beneath the varnish of flashing lights and free drinks, casinos are engineered on a bedrock of mathematics that slowly bleeds away patrons’ money. This rigged game has been exploited for years by mathematicians who have used their knowledge of probability and game theory to beat the house.
But the story of Casino is not just about mafia dealings; it is a tale of two men and their relationships, particularly the uneasy one between Sam and Nicky. Both are portrayed as complex and flawed characters. While De Niro gives a finely nuanced performance, it is Sharon Stone who steals the show as the addicted-to-money femme fatale that any man would be tempted to tame. She is the kind of woman that most men would love to have and then quickly regret it once they learned her true character. As a result, Casino speaks to people even who may not be fans of organized crime. Like Boogie Nights a few years later, it is a bittersweet reminder of how things once were but it also looks forward to what will replace them. In that regard it is a much more accomplished and mature film than Goodfellas.