One of the main attractions that bring gamblers to Las Vegas is the sports book. Bettors can wager on any sporting event, get point spreads, money lines and futures odds. Betting on sports has evolved from a hidden affair with dangerous characters in smoky rooms to a multimedia event. Every major sports book in Las Vegas has huge televisions; well lit boards featuring different bets and a wealth of information on every wager available.
The man responsible for these advances was Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal. Formerly a bookmaker for the Chicago branch of the Mafia, he moved out to Las Vegas during the 1970s to oversee their casino operations. He was so influential in the development of sports wagering in Las Vegas, his story became the basis for the movie Casino. In the film, Academy Award Winner Robert DeNiro played Sam “Ace” Rothstein, the character based on Rosenthal.
One of Rosenthal’s associates was a hit man and thief named Tony “the Ant” Spilotro. The character of Nicky Santoro, played by Joe Pesci, was based on Spilotro. Spilotro’s main job was to make sure that the “bosses” received their cut of the casino’s take and to keep the casino and Rosenthal safe from the rival gangs that run the other Vegas casinos.
According to local legend, it was originally Rosenthal’s idea to bring the sports book into the Stardust casino, increasing foot traffic through the gaming floor and, thus, increasing their revenue. He also hired the first female blackjack dealers as a way to attract and keep more players, both male and female, at the tables. Again, his idea brought more money into the casino.
In 1982, Rosenthal was the victim of a car bomb attack. He survived due to a metal plate installed under the driver’s seat of his car, which protected him from most of the blast. To this day, no one knows who planted the bomb in his car. For a man who understood how to play the odds, Rosenthal had a bit of luck on his side that day. Rosenthal lived in Florida until he suffered a heart attack at age 79.