Casino is a riveting look at scumbaggery and greed. Its story is compelling, and the acting, especially that of Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone, is outstanding. The movie is not perfect, and the violence is a little over the top, but Scorsese does not use it for style or shock value. It is all part of the story, and the fact that it is all true makes it even more compelling.

Beneath the glamour of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos are engineered to slowly bleed patrons of their money. The house always wins. But why do otherwise rational people — people who work hard for their money and make reasoned financial decisions on a day-to-day basis — throw hundreds or thousands of dollars away based on a roll of the dice, a spin of the wheel, or a draw of the cards?

The movie answers that question in a compelling way, exposing the complex web of corruption that was centered in Las Vegas at the time. This included mob ties to politicians, the Teamsters unions, and gangsters from Chicago, as well as mafia bosses in other states. Moreover, the movie points out that casinos are able to keep gamblers playing by using the sunk cost fallacy and other psychological tricks. For example, a study by Gemini Research found that a large portion of players prefer slot machines, while blackjack, poker, and horse racing games are significantly less popular.