Despite the glamorous, exotic locales and elaborate themes that help draw in patrons, casinos are primarily about gambling. It’s the games of chance such as blackjack, poker, roulette and slots that help generate billions in profits for casino owners each year.

Guests who gamble at casinos are, on the surface, a diverse group. There are the regulars who strut around in confidence, expecting to win big, and there are the ones trying to make back what they lost on their last visit. But no matter their motivation or personal stake, most players have one thing in common – they have fun! With music blaring and coins clinking, it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of the moment.

As the world becomes more crowded and people have more responsibilities, films like Casino offer a way to escape into another world. Movies featuring casino scenes give viewers the opportunity to live out their fantasies of winning large amounts of money and rubbing shoulders with the elite.

While Casino has plenty of bravura set pieces, and Martin Scorsese’s flashy direction ensures that it isn’t shy about its glamour, the film is more a tale of despair than triumph. Ace’s refusal to budge and continue on his heist, even after the loss of everyone he has rightly or wrongly loved or trusted and the reupholstering of his stomping grounds, is a testament to his determination to remain true to himself.