Where Was the Desert Scene in Casino Filmed?

The opening scene of the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino was filmed in the early morning hours of November 22, 1995. The location was the desert outside Las Vegas, and the shots were of the fictional Tangiers Casino.

The scene was shot in one take with a helicopter circling overhead.

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The helicopter shot was not originally in the script, but was added at the last minute by Scorsese. The original plan was to have the camera mounted on a crane, but the crane could not be brought close enough to the action without being seen in the shot.

PRO TIP:The desert scene in Casino was filmed in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. The Valley of Fire is a stunning area of red sandstone formations and is a great spot for a day trip if you’re visiting Las Vegas.

The helicopter provided the perfect solution.

The desert scene was filmed just before sunrise, and the light was perfect for the shots. The camera captured the beauty of the desert and the casino as it rose out of the darkness.

It was a stunning opening for a film that would go on to be one of Scorsese’s most successful.