Whether it’s the flashing lights or the joyful sound of slot machines, casinos create manufactured blissful experiences that entice people to gamble. Combined with the smell of food, gift shops, and casino-branded perfumes, this artificial euphoria drives people back to their favorite games again and again. But even when you’re winning, it’s important to remember that there are hidden costs associated with gambling. Bookies collect vig, casinos take a cut of every bet and poker rooms scoop up a share of the pot with their house edge. In addition, many casino staff steal from their patrons – stealing from the slot machines and other games, skimming tips from customers and food service, and even cashing checks for free drinks and cigarettes while gambling.

The most infamous of these scams is known as the “hot-spot” system. In this scheme, a casino employee would stand at a table and use a laser pointer to signal to a colleague standing near a slot machine when a player was close to hitting the jackpot. This allowed the casino to quickly collect a large sum of money while avoiding detection.

Although Casino is a little over three hours long, Scorsese never lets the movie lag or lose momentum, utilizing masterful editing and taut narration to keep it lean and mean from beginning to end. The cinematography is dazzling, and the cast carries itself with a slick sheen. Robert De Niro is particularly impressive, and his character’s descent into a vicious hound after Ginger is one of the best-built mob plotlines ever filmed IMO.