Casinos are exciting places to be, a hive of activity with music blaring and coins clinking in the slots. It’s a place where people from all walks of life can let their hair down, play games and hone their skills. They’re also usually lavishly decorated with glamorous statues and details and there’s always the scent of pure excitement!

Gambling in all its forms, from the casual with a bookie to the high-end table game, has been around for millennia. It’s an inherently risky business but it has become one of the most popular past times in human history. It’s easy to see why, with games like roulette and blackjack offering such a high payout percentage.

But casinos aren’t just about the games and the glamour – they’re also about safety and security. With cameras everywhere and a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” system, casinos are always on guard for cheating or theft. It’s why they spend so much money on security. And it’s why they’re all too often the victim of crime and fraud themselves.

With a stellar cast led by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, Casino is a fast-paced, riveting thriller that explains how the mob lost control of a town minting money in the billions. Almost three hours long, it never drags and the film’s climax is shocking in its intensity. Despite this, the film never feels excessively exploitative – instead, it’s a revealing look at what happens when greed and corruption take over.