Gambling in some form has been a part of human life for millennia. Whether it’s rolling dice, playing cards, or the newest video games, people take risks for a chance at a prize. However, the fact is that a lot of people lose money on casino games and end up owing the casino a big sum of cash. So why do we do it? Some say they go to casinos for the thrill of it while others may have a gambling addiction. Regardless of the reason, it’s important to know that you can control your gambling habits and keep from becoming addicted to it.
The movie Casino, based on the nonfiction book by Nicholas Pileggi, exposes the many ways organized crime infiltrated the gaming world of Las Vegas. The film stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, bringing to a close their triumvirate of collaborations that began with Raging Bull and Goodfellas.
In the end, Casino is less a drama of criminal machism than a cautionary tale of institutional systems of graft and corruption. Though the film’s violence is often over the top-including a torture-by-vice sequence that had to be trimmed for an NC-17 rating-it remains rooted in reality.
For example, casinos are designed to be labyrinthine, and their lighting is manipulated so that you can’t tell what time of day it is. To make matters worse, casinos serve free drinks, and booze can lower inhibitions and cloud judgment. A booze-fueled night of gambling can lead to disaster. This is why you should always play responsibly and limit your losses to a fixed amount of money.