Many movies have been set in Las Vegas, but few captured the city’s darker side like Casino. Its portrayal of mob-run casinos shows just how skeleton-ridden they were. Unlike Goodfellas, which had lots of over-the-top characters, Casino used its setting to make a statement about the inevitable nature of criminal downfall. The film also featured one of the best performances by Sharon Stone, who had already made a name for herself with overrated films like Basic Instinct and Silverr.

Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci do what they do best, but it’s the supporting cast that really elevates this movie to the top. It’s one of the few times in which Scorsese gave a major role to a character who wasn’t a wife or girlfriend, and it paid off big time. Her performance as Ginger is a career high point for Stone, and her character’s arc makes the whole thing work.

Another interesting aspect of the film is its depiction of gambling tricks. For example, it shows how casinos hide clocks and other visual cues to eliminate any sense of time. This allows them to make hours feel like minutes and increase the likelihood that players will spend more money than they had planned to. In addition, they use scented oils to create a manufactured blissful experience that encourages people to stay and gamble. It’s a brilliant way to keep customers hooked and spending money. In the end, the house always wins.