You can visit some of the places where top-grossing casino movies were filmed.
Seeing the spaces in real life is a must for any casino movie fan!
The Best Casino Films Ever Made
While the selection of the best casino films ever made has to remain a personal one, Casino (1995); Ocean’s Eleven (2001); and Ocean’s Twelve (2004) usually make it on to everyone’s list at some point.
While their actual ranking may differ from viewer to viewer, most of us who enjoy movies filmed in real-life casinos will have added them to our list of the best gambling movies ever made.
Casino
Martin Scorsese’s Casino was entirely filmed in the Las Vegas Valley, with many of the interior shots taking place at that city’s famed Riviera Hotel and Casino, on the Las Vegas Strip. The film depicts the two sides of this famous city: the glitter and glamour as well as the brutality and cruelty.
Two mobsters by the name of Ace Rothstein and Nicky Santoro, in Las Vegas to try to attain recognition and distinction, make their way in this world. The film is seen through the characters’ eyes, each a foil to the other, and covers the sordid details of the mob’s involvement in the gambling world of the 1970s and 1980s.
The real Riviera Hotel and Casino, located less than a mile from Las Vegas’ Convention Centre, was the Strip’s first high-rise, opening in 1955 and continued operations until May of 2015. You could have enjoyed real money blackjack games to your heart’s content until then, but the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority sadly demolished it in 2015, to make room for the Las Vegas Global Business District, and the beautiful building is gone for good.
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Eleven, released in 2001, tells the story of Danny Ocean, a man intent on scoring the largest heist in history. His eleven-man team targets the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand, all casinos owned by Danny’s nemesis, Terry Benedict. Their goal is to get in and out unnoticed, with a take of US$150 million.
The Bellagio is a luxury hotel, casino and resort, and is located on Paradise, Nevada’s Las Vegas Strip. Owned and operated by MGM Resorts International, and modelled on the Lake Como town of Bellagio, it offers patrons an elegant experience, an effect heightened by an 8-acre lake between it and the strip which houses the Fountains of Bellagio.
Ocean’s Twelve
Danny and his team return in Ocean’s Twelve, with a furious Terry Benedict demanding the return of the money they made off with, and the team attempts to hit three major European locations in order to make the millions they stole back and so stay out of jail.
One of the locations featured, the Monte Carlo Casino, is an entertainment and gambling complex situated in Monaco and is famous for its luxurious opulence and exclusive gaming salons.
Visit the Casinos Featured
One of the best aspects of these wonderful films is that they allow you to visit the places where some of the scenes took place! This is certain to add an extra thrill to any fans’ experience of these cinematic adventures!