Casino (1995) is a crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi. The film stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci and is set in the 1970s and 1980s, during the rise and fall of a Las Vegas casino empire controlled by the mob.
The plot centers on Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro), a talented sports handicapper who is sent to run the fictional Tangiers Casino for the Mafia. As he navigates the complex world of casino operations, he becomes entangled with volatile mob enforcer Nicky Santoro (Pesci) and a beautiful, manipulative woman, Ginger McKenna (Stone), whom he marries. The film delves into themes of greed, power, betrayal, and corruption, as the criminal underworld’s influence on the casino industry leads to its eventual downfall.
Casino is renowned for its gritty depiction of the mob’s hold on Las Vegas, Scorsese’s signature direction, and the standout performances, especially Sharon Stone, who received an Academy Award nomination for her role. Like many of Scorsese’s films, it explores the complexities of loyalty, morality, and the consequences of a life dominated by crime.
The film is also notable for its luxurious yet dark portrayal of the Las Vegas lifestyle, its use of a rich soundtrack, and its brutal, yet fascinating look at the world of organized crime.