A casino is a place where you can gamble, try your luck at poker or roulette, and generally have a good time. The best casinos are known for their high-end decor and exotic locations that give visitors a truly unforgettable experience, whether they’re playing blackjack or slot machines.

Gambling in some form has been around for millennia, with archaeological records showing the use of dice as early as 2300 BC and cards making their appearance in 800 AD. Even though gambling has been shown to have some negative effects on mental health, it is still a popular pastime and a way for people to spend their spare cash.

It’s no surprise that casinos are full of glamour and excitement, but underneath all the twinkling lights and blaring music, these establishments are designed to slowly bleed their patrons of their hard-earned cash. Despite knowing that the odds of winning are against them, players often ignore their rational brains and throw hundreds or thousands of dollars at a table based on nothing more than the roll of the dice or the spin of the wheel.

With Casino, Martin Scorsese crafted a film that is ruthless and brutal in its portrayal of the darker side of casino life. From De Niro’s character’s torture of a man with a vice to the murder of Sharon Stone’s Ginger, Scorsese never lets his characters’ immoral actions stray too far from reality. The result is a riveting and gut-wrenching movie that doesn’t lag or lose steam despite its nearly three-hour runtime.