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American Casino
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American Casino

2009-01-0189 minUnited States

Idontthinkmostpeoplereallyunderstoodthattheywereinacasinosaysaward-winningfinancialreporterMarkPittman.WhenyoureintheStreetscasino,youvegottoplaybytheirrules.Thisfilmfinallyexplainshowandwhyover$8trillionofourmoneyvanishedintotheAmericanCasino.Forchips,thecasinousedrealpeople,liketheoneswemeetinBaltimore.ThesearenottheheedlessspendthriftsofWallStreetlegend,butahighschoolteacher,atherapist,aministerofthechurch.TheyweresoldontheAmericanDreamasasafeinvestment.Toolate,theydiscoveredthetruth.Cruelly,asAfricanAmericans,theyandotherminoritiesweretheprimetargetsforthesubprimeloansthatpoweredthecasino.AccordingtotheFederalReserve,African-Americanswerefourtimesmorelikelythanwhitestobesoldsubprimeloans.<br/>  Wemeettheplayers.Abankerexplainsthatthecomplexsecuritieshedesignedwerefourthdimensionalandsoldtoidiots.AseniorWallStreetratingsagencyexecutivedescribesbeingorderedtoguesstheworthofbilliondollarsecurities.Amortgageloansalesmanexplainshowborrowersincomeswereinflatedtojustifyaloan.Abillionairedescribeshowhemadeamassivebetthatpeoplewouldlosetheirhomesandhaswon$500million,sofar.<br/>  Finally,astheglobalfinancialsystemcrumblesandoutragedbutimpotentlawmakersfumeatWallStreettitans,weseethecasinosendgame:Riverside,Californiaaforeclosurewastelandgivenovertocoloniesofratsandmethamphetaminelabs,wheredisease-bearingmosquitoesbreedintheirmillionsonthestagnantswimmingpoolsofyesterdaysdreams.<br/>  Filmedovertwelvemonthsin2008,AmericanCasinotakesyouinsideagamethatourgrandchildrenneverwantedtoplay.

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