Mobster Who Shaped Vegas Is Dead - FOX5 - 14th October 2008

Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal Dies Of Heart Attack

LAS VEGAS -- A mobster who shaped old Las Vegas has died.

According to published reports, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal died of a heart attack Monday night.

He changed the world of sports gambling and secretly ran the Fremont, Stardust and Hacienda casinos when they were controlled by the Mafia.

And if you don't know him, you might know his movie.

The movie “Casino” was modeled after Rosenthal's life. He was played by Robert DeNiro.

Rosenthal was the first to run a sports book operation inside a casino, which he did secretly for years.

His links to organized crime landed him in the courtroom several times. His attorney was current Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Rosenthal was dubbed “Lefty” after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment 37 times at a hearing.

In 1982, he barely escaped death when his Cadillac El Dorado was rigged with explosives. He was saved by a metal plate installed under his seat.

In 1988, the sports handicapper was put in Nevada’s Black Book and virtually kicked out of Las Vegas. But in interviews, he said he had snuck back into Sin City under disguise.

Not much information has been released about his death. Reports showed he died of a heart attack at his Florida home.

He will be a main feature in the city's Mob Museum that is slated to open in 2010.

Goodman said he would speak about the mobster’s death on Wednesday.

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