Casino is a 1995 American
epic crime film directed by
Martin Scorsese, produced by
Barbara De Fina and distributed by
Universal Pictures. The film is based on the nonfiction book
Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas[4] by
Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Scorsese. It stars
Robert De Niro,
Sharon Stone,
Joe Pesci,
Don Rickles,
Kevin Pollak and
James Woods. The film marks the eighth
collaboration between director Scorsese and De Niro.
Casino follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), a
Jewish American gambling expert
handicapper who is asked by the
Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day casino and hotel operations at the Tangiers Casino in
Las Vegas. Supporting characters include Nicky Santoro (Pesci), a "
made man" and friend of Ace, and Ginger McKenna (Stone), a streetwise chip hustler whom Ace marries and has a daughter with. The film details Ace's operation of the casino, the difficulties he confronts in his job, the Mafia's involvement with the casino, and the gradual breakdown of his relationships and standing, as Las Vegas changes over the years.