In 1995, Universal Pictures released a fantastic film based on the real-life story of a handicapper from Chicago who's hired by the mob to run a casino for them in Las Vegas. Aptly titled, 'Casino', it was directed by the American filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, and stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the locations featured in the aforementioned film, which includes an interactive map for each one. Please enjoy.
(The Parking Lot)
At the start of the film, we see a smartly dressed man named Sam Rothstein (as played by Robert De Niro) step out of a building and walk towards his car, situated in an adjoining parking lot. He then gets inside his car and turns the key to start its engine, when all of a sudden, his car blows up and seemingly throws Sam through the air. This dramatic sequence was filmed outside the Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel, which is still located at 200 North Main Street, even though the real-life event that inspired this sequence took place in front of the former Tony Roma's restaurant at 620 East Sahara Avenue, which has been a Hustler Hollywood lingerie store since 2016.
(Tangiers Casino)
Following his explosive introduction, the film goes back in time to reveal Sam's turbulent life story. A story that begins with him as a talented handicapper from Chicago who makes so much money for the mob, not only is he protected by one of their enforcers, Nicky Santoro (as played by Joe Pesci), but years later, he's also sent to Las Vegas to run a casino on their behalf, the Tangiers Casino. For legal reasons, the Tangiers Casino served as a fictional stand-in for the Stardust Resort and Casino, and for technical reasons, its on-screen portrayal was largely split between two locations: the Landmark Hotel and Casino, used for the exterior scenes, and the Riviera Hotel and Casino, used for most of the interior scenes. Coincidentally, both of these sites have since been demolished, with portions of each one now forming part of the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall.
(Sam and Ginger's Home)
While working at the Tangiers Casino, Sam meets a beautiful lady named Ginger McKenna (as played by Sharon Stone), who's a local hustler and a former prostitute. But despite these qualities, Sam is still very attracted to Ginger, and after a while, they both get married, have a daughter named Amy (as played by Darla House and Erika von Tagen), and move into a very lavish home. Their home can be found in the Paradise Palms neighborhood of Las Vegas, which is a mid-century modern housing community developed in the 1960s, known for its retro architecture and ties to old-school Las Vegas performers. The property used in the film is currently a privately owned residence with four or more bedrooms and bathrooms, situated near the Las Vegas National Golf Course.
(San Marino Italian Grocery)
Prior to Sam and Ginger's marriage, the mob sends Nicky to Las Vegas to protect their financial interests. At first, Nicky appears to comply with their demands, but he soon begins to orchestrate a series of daring robberies and then breaks some of their cardinal rules. Eventually, the FBI uncovers what Nicky and the mob are both up to, thanks to a planted wiretap that captures a dubious conversation at a grocery store owned by the underboss, Artie Piscano (as played by Vinny Vella). In the film, Artie's grocery store, the San Marino Italian Grocery, is said to be in Kansas City, yet it was actually located in Las Vegas. Today, it's a pawn shop called EZPAWN, and it can be found at 3010 South Valley View Boulevard.
So, there you have it, folks, four film locations featured in the 1995 crime classic, 'Casino'. More articles featuring famous film locations will be coming soon, but before then, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
FOUR FILM LOCATIONS FEATURED IN CASINO
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
November 12, 2025
Rating:
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
November 12, 2025
Rating:
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