A casino is a place where champagne glasses clink, people try their luck at cards or slots and a buzz of excitement fills the air. It’s a place where you can feel the energy of those around you and it’s no wonder that casinos are so popular.
Whether it’s the glamorous lights of the Las Vegas strip or the illegal pai gow parlors in New York City’s Chinatown, gambling is a popular past time for over 100 million Americans. In this day and age, casinos are becoming more sophisticated and technologically advanced. They use a variety of tools to lure gamblers in, including offering great bonuses and an easy-to-use interface.
Modern casinos also use high-tech surveillance systems, which provide a “eye in the sky.” These cameras can be adjusted to focus on certain areas or particular patrons by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of security monitors. Casinos have also learned to be more choosy about who they accept as patrons. They often reward high rollers (gamblers who spend a lot of money) with special attention and comps worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The film is a brilliant depiction of how organized crime helped to shape the city of Las Vegas in a time when casinos were minting billions. With a cast led by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, Casino is a taut thriller that never lets up until the final scene. It is a harrowing look at human greed and betrayal, yet it’s also a fascinating historical document that shows how the mob’s power was gradually eclipsed by giant gambling corporations.