4 Mob Myths Subverted in Casino (1995)

Movies like The Godfather are iconic for a reason, but they romanticize the mafia a bit too much. According to some sources, The Godfather captured the imagination of not just the general (civilian) public but the mob itself. In fact, it did it to the degree that some wise guys started acting like the movie characters. It was one of those scenarios where life imitates art. 

Other movies, like Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and Casino, are far more realistic in their depiction of mob life. First of all, they’re based on real people and events. Second, it’s clear that Scorcese made Goodfellas and Casino as a response to The Godfather, in an aim to give a more realistic depiction of the phenomenon.

With that in mind, here are the top five myths about the mafia that almost everyone believes but are clearly dispelled in Casino. 

1. Mob casinos are run differently

First of all, while the scene where cheaters are tortured may give away that particular impression, the truth is that, for the most part, mob-run casinos were well-organized and well-run. 

In fact, you wouldn’t believe how many people who frequented casinos in the 1970s would tell you that they preferred Las Vegas while it was run by the mafia. When people hear about the mafia, they imagine extortion, strong-arming, and cheating but this was not the case, most of the time.

Sure, underground gambling was always a different story, but the legitimate casinos were run like legitimate casinos. No one ever touched casual players and high rollers had all the privileges they still have today. Everyone recognizes them as high-value assets and even in online casinos, there are still different conditions for high-limit players and only a handful of sites allow players to spend (and withdraw) as much as they want to, according to Khadija Bilal. 

The thing is that, for the most part, the mob wanted to get into some legit venues. For the time being, they just cashed legitimate the already present enterprises, potentially sending one or two people to oversee the use of their funds. The approach was, for the most part, hands-off.

Sure, earlier on, we talked about people who liked it more when casinos were run by the mafia, but the truth is that they probably couldn’t even tell the difference. In other words, it’s just a saying. After all, The Mafia Is No Longer What It Used to Be, either. 

2. Mob prioritizes its code of honor

One more thing worth mentioning is a different take on mob priorities. In the majority of other mob-themed media, the mob prioritizes violence. However, this is not really the case. The threat of violence is always present; however, it’s never a preferred outcome.

People who owe money aren’t shaken down for as long as they pay interest, casino goers are not bothered as long as they aren’t caught cheating, etc.

With mob, it’s not about the honor, and it’s definitely not about the code. There are only two real rules in the mafia – making money and keeping your mouth shut. This is why, while Ace was making all that money for the East Coast bosses, he was untouchable. However, as soon as he started attracting attention, he was reprimanded. 

Omerta is the mob code of silence, the most sacred of mob rules. While Ace was not a made man (thus taking the oath of silence), and he never mentioned anything about his bosses, he attracted too much attention. This is why he was eventually moved from Vegas and given another posting.  

3. All mafia is in New York

Almost every movie and book about the mafia is set in New York (unless it’s during the prohibition era, then it could be Chicago, as well). Sure, this is the biggest city in the country and the hotspot of mafia activity, but the influence or the activity of the mafia didn’t end in New York. 

Now, when it comes to Las Vegas, it’s really not a surprise. Even a layman would have easily guessed why this city would be so appealing to the mob. In fact, this desert city was depicted even in The Godfather. Near the end of Part One, the Corleone family plans to fully relocate to Nevada in order to legalize some of their assets.

Still, Casino goes a bit deeper into this. It goes on to show just how strong the East Coast mafia was in Vegas. This speaks volumes of their reach and influence all across the country. Sure, they may not have had direct representatives in all the little towns and remote areas, but there are associated and connected people everywhere.

4. All mobs are Italian

Make no mistake, Koza Nostra is an Italian thing, and in order to be “made,” you have to be an Italian. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to be an Italian to be a part of the organization.

In fact, one of the biggest myths is that the mafia has some sort of honor system that values made guys or Italians more than associates who make them money. This is just not the case. When forced to choose between Ace and Nick, the bosses don’t hesitate for a second. Ace makes them money, a lot of money. 

This is also shown in Goodfellas (Scorsese’s first attempt at mob genre subversion). Neither Jimmy nor Henry are Italian, yet they’re valued even more than Tommy since everyone knows he’s a hothead. 

According to some sources, during the golden era of the mafia (between the 50s and the 80s), each of the big families had barely 200-300 made men. This is a metropolis with a population of millions of people, like New York, that we’re talking about. Everyone else had no restrictions about whether they were Italian or not.

The reason why Casino makes such a strong point here is the fact that Ace is Jewish, and the difference in treatment is nowhere to be seen. 

Casino is the mob genre subversion at its finest

The thing is that, when it comes to dispelling myths about mob life, Scorsese is like no one else. He does the genre so well, but, most importantly, he bases his movies on real stories, events, and characters. Sure, he takes an artistic liberty here and there, but when it comes to seeing the mob for what it really is, his movies will get you as close as it gets.