Casino is a fascinating, layered movie with many captivating themes. It is much more than a Mafia story, unlike Goodfellas and Mobster or Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls, which are great Sin City movies but only skim the surface. Casino gets beneath the glitz and neon, to reveal Las Vegas’ past ties with organized crime. It also shows how the city is a machine that swallows and then spits out people like Ace, Nicky, and Ginger.

The film is anchored by a remarkable performance from Robert De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, who runs one of the top casinos in Vegas. He is tough but basically honest for a mobster. His partner, Joe Pesci’s Nicky, is a nut-job who lets anger govern his decisions. Both men have their downfalls.

Scorsese tells this story with the usual energy and pacing, but Casino is also filled with many little touches that feel just right. From a moment when Ace orders the casino cooks to put exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin, to an airborne feds’ plane running out of gas while spying on the gangsters on golf, to the fact that the mobster-owned Tangiers has no clocks or windows to hide its sleazy operations, these details show how much Scorsese immersed himself in the world he depicted. The violence is shocking and authentic, from a torture-by-vice scene with a popped eyeball to the eventual murder of Nicky (buried alive in a cornfield). Yet, for all its bravura set pieces and its own brand of filmmaking excitement, Scorsese’s sensibility here is less exuberant than rueful, and carefully attuned to institutional systems of grift.

Gambling is an activity where a person wagers something of value (money, possessions, or time) on an uncertain outcome. Gambling can take many forms, from playing card games like poker or bridge in a private setting to betting on football or horse races with friends or colleagues. It can also include taking part in a state lottery or visiting casinos. Research has shown that people who gamble often experience a variety of benefits, such as relaxation and the excitement of winning money. However, there is also evidence of negative impacts on health, relationships, and well-being. Problem gambling has been linked to family breakdown, mental illness and suicide. In addition, gambling can lead to financial stress and even poverty. The harmful effects of gambling can last throughout life and be passed down through generations.

There are several factors that can contribute to problem gambling, including genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Some people are more susceptible to developing a gambling disorder than others, with adolescents and young adults being particularly vulnerable. In addition, some people are influenced by the cultural context in which they live, with certain communities seeing gambling as a normal pastime and making it harder for individuals to recognise when gambling becomes problematic.

There are a number of positive effects associated with gambling, for example it can be used to raise funds for charities and local community projects. However, it must not be promoted to vulnerable groups and the health and social costs should be carefully considered.